Hampton Habitues

Fresh off his Lifetime Achievement Award at Bay Street Theater’s summer gala in July, the first and most famous “Cabaret” emcee Joel Grey has a host of new developments to be happy about. 

The Tony- and Academy Award-winner, who is no stranger to the Hamptons, recently directed “Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish” off-Broadway, to serious acclaim. Now he has a new photo book available. It’s called “The Flower Whisperer” and it’s 120 pages of flora photography that the actor, singer, dancer, director and author shot with his iPhone. Described as Grey’s “personal testament to the mysterious sexual nature of the universe of flowers,” the tome is a companion piece to a photo exhibit now on view at the Staley-Wise Gallery in SoHo. 

Grey also recently hosted the 25th annual Fire Island Dance Festival. And, additionally, he has lent his talent to the star-studded cast of “The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts,” a play based on the Mueller Report, in which he portrays former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

On to another favorite “Cabaret” performer and East End familiar, Alan Cumming, who is brilliant in the CBS crime drama “Instinct.” Now in its second season, the show centers on Cumming as Dr. Dylan Reinhart, a former CIA operative and current author and professor who is searching out a serial killer. 

The multitalented actor has a number of other projects in development including the films “Run” and “Bright in a Hollow Sky” and television projects “Going Back” and “Briarpatch.” The New York Times bestselling author and memoirist is also working on another book. Can’t wait to see this one! 

Not sure how we missed this but gotta share it now. Actor and professional chef David Burtka’s debut cookbook is out now and perfect for Hamptons hosts. It’s called “Life is a Party: Deliciously Doable Recipes to Make Every Day a Celebration” and it looks divine. 

In the book, the East Hampton resident, who is married to Neil Patrick Harris, includes some of his favorite hosting tips, party themes and recipes. Favorites include Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Gruyère Popovers and Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich Cake. Yum! 

And then there’s Gayle King, whose hellish Hamptons-bound bus ride earlier this summer trended like crazy and was most definitely not a party. But, she did make the most of a slightly uncomfortable, and all too familiar, situation with some killer social media posts. 

We’re still shocked that this big-time BFF of Oprah and high-profile network journalist isn’t being chauffeured in a car at the very least. Huh. Who knew? 

A frequent under-the-radar East End visitor, the “CBS This Morning” co-anchor most recently attended a Hamptons magazine party at the Southampton Hunt & Polo Club. In May, it was announced that she had doubled her salary by negotiating an $11 million-a-year deal with CBS News. Good for her. 

And since we’re talking about super strong women, we guess we gotta give it up for Madonna. The music icon must be elated that her “Madame X” album earned her the top spot on the Billboard 200 when it was released at the end of June. This is the ninth number one album for her over the course of a 35-year pop career; her first was 1984’s “Like a Virgin.” 

And lastly, a hearty round of applause to Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, who donated a million dollars to the Human Rights Watch. The money will be used to fight discrimination and unfairness in the US justice system. It was given in honor of late producer Sid Sheinberg, Spielberg’s first TV boss, who hired the young director to helm an episode of Rod Serling’s “Night Gallery” way back in 1969. 

Never one to sit idle, the Georgica resident has a ton of works in various stages of development, such as a documentary titled “Why We Hate” and follow-ups to some of his biggest works, including “Jurassic Park,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and “Gremlins.” One project that we are very excited about is a “West Side Story” adaptation. This update to the classic musical stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler and is currently filming, with a release planned around the 2020 holidays.