Though there's still no news on the status of the oft-delayed premiere of Terrence McNally's Corpus Christi, the playwright hasn't been idle. The author of Master Class, The Ritz and The Lisbon Traviata has co-written a play with Jon Robin Baitz, the author of Three Hotels and the newly revised Mizlansky-Zilinsky, or "schmucks", now at Manhattan Theatre Club.
Joe Mantello, who staged McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion! on Broadway, will direct a workshop of House at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, Long Island, Aug. 12-Sept. 6. As first reported by Reuters, the play concerns a couple buying a house from another couple. Act I, by Baitz, follows the sellers; act two, by McNally, the buyers.
House caps the Bay Street Theatre season, which begins May 20 June 7 with the American premiere of Bob Kingdom's Elsa Edgar. Much like House, the show is split into two parts, the first about social doyenne Elsa Maxwell, the second about FBI director (and possible cross-dresser) J. Edgar Hoover.
Following Elsa Edgar will be a new play by Pulitzer Prize-winner Horton Foote. A Coffin In Egypt (June 17-July 5) tells of "passion, infidelity and murder" in the deep South. Leonard Foglia directs this drama by the author of The Widow Claire, The Trip To Bountiful, Texas Town and The Young Man From Atlanta. Foote wrote his first play 58 years ago.
A change of pace comes July 15-Aug. 2 when Twiggy (of My One and Only fame) stars in the biographical revue Noel & Gertie, by Sheridan Morley. This look at Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, featuring Coward's tunes, will be directed by Leigh Lawson. Cabaret is also on the Bay Street schedule, featuring solo gigs by Chicago's Marcia Lewis (Sept. 26), Sunset Boulevard's Karen Mason (Oct. 11), David Campbell (Oct. 10) and Julie Wilson (May 2).
Other major events include "Tuesdays in August," featuring stars discussing their craft; weekend play reading series in May and October; and the annual Summer Gala Benefit Bash (July 11).
The Bay Street Theatre opened for the spring season Mar. 2. Its next major event is an April 4 tribute to Elaine Steinbeck, novelist John Steinbeck's widow.
For tickets and information on Bay Street events call (516) 725-9500.
-- By David Lefkowitz
