Norm Lewis opens Hamptons Summer Songbook season as Jean Shafiroff gets broadcast philanthropy honor

Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea launched its 2026 season at LTV Studios in Wainscott with Broadway star Norm Lewis headlining the opener on July 5. The event also marked Jean Shafiroff’s recognition with the 2026 Frances Ann Dougherty Award for Broadcast Philanthropy, underscoring the series’ mix of performance and community-minded programming.

Why it matters: - Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea is now in its third season, keeping Broadway and cabaret programming on the East End through the summer. - The opener paired a marquee performance with a philanthropy award, reinforcing LTV Studios’ role as both a performance venue and a community platform. - The season gives East End audiences access to nationally known performers in an intimate setting.

What happened: - Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea opened its 2026 season on July 5 at LTV Studios in Wainscott. - Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Norm Lewis headlined the season premiere in the black-box studio setting. - Donna Rubin and Josh Gladstone, the series producers, welcomed Jean Shafiroff onstage during the evening. - LTV Studios presented Shafiroff with the 2026 Frances Ann Dougherty Award for Broadcast Philanthropy. - The evening began with a summer reception featuring spirits from BottleHampton and passed hors d’oeuvres from East Hampton Kitchen.

The details: - Lewis has starred in “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess,” “Les Misérables,” “Ragtime” at Lincoln Center and “The Phantom of the Opera.” - The opener was described as a rare East End appearance for Lewis. - The Frances Ann Dougherty Award recognizes leadership, generosity and a commitment to strengthening the community through media. - The award is named for Frances Ann Dougherty, wife of LTV founder Frazer Dougherty. - Shafiroff was recognized for years of support for LTV and for her program “Successful Philanthropy,” which focuses on charitable leadership and civic engagement. - Notable attendees included Donna Rubin, Josh Gladstone, Norm Lewis, Jean Shafiroff, Alex Donner, Joy Behar, Eleanor Morgan and Howard Morgan. - LTV Studios operates as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), and donations are deductible under IRS regulations. - More information is available on LTV’s website.

Between the lines: - The award presentation signals that the series is not just a concert series but also a venue for civic recognition and donor visibility. - The booking strategy leans on well-known Broadway names to draw audiences across the season while preserving an intimate cabaret format. - The mix of entertainment, philanthropy and local hospitality is built to make the series feel like an East End summer destination.

What's next: - The 2026 schedule continues July 11 with Ann Hampton Callaway. - Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch will perform the songs of Hoagy Carmichael on July 18. - David Alpern will host Maria Abous and Eric Yves Garcia in a Lorenz Hart program on July 25. - “A Swell-egant, Elegant Party,” hosted by Laurence Maslon and starring Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, is set for August 1. - KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler will appear with Stephanie Pope and Christine Pedi on August 22 in a program co-sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation. - Tony Award-winning “A Chorus Line” star Donna McKechnie will close the season on August 29. - Jean Shafiroff’s website is here.