Certain evenings in New York feel less like performances and more like cultural reunions — intimate gatherings where the city’s artistic community comes together to celebrate music, storytelling, and the enduring elegance of live performance. The 3rd Annual NYC “Friendraiser” for Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea at The Triad Theatre was precisely that kind of evening.
Hosted by Co-Producers Donna Rubin and Josh Gladstone, the celebratory night brought together an impressive lineup of Broadway veterans, cabaret icons, patrons of the arts, and cultural tastemakers for a musical preview of the highly anticipated 2026 Hamptons summer season. Benefiting LTV Studios, the event also served as a sophisticated prelude to the acclaimed East End concert series presented at LTV’s Studio Three Theater in Wainscott, scheduled to run from June 28 through August 29, 2026.
Under the glow of Manhattan theater lights, guests were immersed in an evening that honored the timeless artistry of the American Songbook while reinforcing the growing cultural significance of Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea as one of the East Coast’s most beloved seasonal performance series.
The evening opened with the award-winning Barbara Fasano, whose performance of A Swell-egant, Elegant Party immediately established the tone of sophistication, warmth, and classic cabaret glamour.
Her polished vocals and effortless stage presence reminded attendees why the Great American Songbook continues to resonate across generations.
The Broadway-centered celebration continued with Laurence Maslon — host and producer of WLIW-FM’s Broadway to Main Street — who brought his signature wit and encyclopedic knowledge of musical theater to the evening. Veteran journalist and broadcaster David Alpern then introduced acclaimed singer-pianist Eric Yves Garcia, whose Rodgers and Hart tribute delivered both nostalgia and virtuosity in equal measure.
Lifestyle personality Pamela Morgan added a playful, culinary-inspired twist to the evening with her spirited rendition of "I Can Cook Too," blending theatrical charm with the intimate atmosphere synonymous with the Hamptons Summer Songbook experience.
As the evening unfolded, the program moved seamlessly between Broadway classics, sophisticated cabaret, and beloved American standards. Cabaret icon KT Sullivan, Artistic Director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, spoke passionately about the organization’s enduring mission to preserve and celebrate classic popular song.
The evening reached a vibrant crescendo with award-winning entertainer and pianist Mark Nadler alongside Broadway veteran Stephanie Pope, whose celebrated credits include Chicago, Fosse, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. Together, they delivered an energetic closing sequence featuring selections from Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Lerner and Loewe, and other iconic composers who shaped the golden era of American musical theater.
Following heartfelt closing remarks from Donna Rubin and Josh Gladstone, performers gathered for a celebratory group photograph before guests descended downstairs for an intimate post-show reception filled with conversation, laughter, and anticipation for the summer season ahead.
Notable attendees included Jean Shafiroff and legendary nightlife personality Carmen D’Alessio, further reinforcing the evening’s blend of philanthropy, culture, and timeless New York glamour.
In an era increasingly dominated by digital experiences and fleeting entertainment, Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea continues to offer something increasingly rare: authentic artistic connection.
The annual fundraiser not only celebrated the upcoming summer season but also reaffirmed the enduring power of live music, Broadway storytelling, and intimate performance to bring communities together across generations and creative disciplines.
For New York’s cultural insiders and Hamptons devotees alike, the evening was more than a preview — it was a reminder that the spirit of cabaret, Broadway, and the American Songbook remains vibrantly alive.