Blackhurst and Stritch bring Hoagy Carmichael tribute to Wainscott

Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea continues its third season July 18 at LTV Studios in Wainscott with Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch performing Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael. The one-night concert mixes Broadway and cabaret star power with Great American Songbook classics ahead of four more shows in the series this summer.

Why it matters: - Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea is using its third season to lean into intimate, high-profile cabaret programming on the East End. - The July 18 concert pairs two established Broadway and nightclub performers in a one-night-only Hoagy Carmichael tribute. - The series is built for audiences who want live performance, storytelling and classic American songs in a small-room setting.

What happened: - Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch will perform “Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael” at LTV Studios in Wainscott on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. - The show is part of Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea, a live concert series featuring Broadway, cabaret and American Songbook artists. - The concert is billed as a one-night-only event centered on Hoagy Carmichael’s music.

The details: - Hoagy Carmichael wrote standards including “Skylark,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Heart and Soul” and “Stardust.” - “Dreaming of a Song” was created as the first artistic collaboration between Blackhurst and Stritch. - The program includes well-known songs and deeper cuts such as “Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief,” “My Resistance Is Low” and “Walk It Off.” - The performance is designed to give both artists room for solos and duets. - Blackhurst brings Broadway and cabaret credits from venues including Carnegie Hall, The London Palladium, The Royal Albert Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Cafe Carlyle and The Bluebird Cafe. - Blackhurst starred in Goodspeed Musicals’ production of “Hello, Dolly!” and in “Gypsy” at Drury Lane in Chicago. - Blackhurst’s Off-Broadway credits include “Party Face,” “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” “Bingo,” “Radio Gals” and “Oil City Symphony.” - Stritch has worked on the New York and national nightclub scene for nearly four decades. - Stritch spent 25 years as musical director for Liza Minnelli. - Stritch also served as musical director for Marilyn Maye, Linda Lavin, Melissa Manchester and Tony Bennett. - Stritch is the bandleader for “Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” at Birdland. - LTV Studios offers black-box seating, café-style seating, strong acoustics and an up-close concert format.

Between the lines: - The booking signals a programming strategy built around trusted performers and familiar repertoire, not large-scale spectacle. - The series appears aimed at summer audiences looking for a polished, nostalgic night out rather than a traditional theater production. - The Carmichael tribute also gives the series a recognizable hook tied to the Great American Songbook.

What's next: - The season continues July 25 with David Alpern hosting Maria Abous and Eric Yves Garcia in a Lorenz Hart-themed evening. - “A Swell-egant, Elegant Party,” hosted by Laurence Maslon and starring Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, follows on Aug. 1. - KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler will be joined by Stephanie Pope and Christine Pedi on Aug. 22 in a program co-sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation. - Donna McKechnie will close the season on Aug. 29. - More information is available at the venue’s website.