Stephen’s Bio

Stephen Hamilton is an arts administrator, director, producer, actor, educator, and acting coach with more than three decades of professional experience across theatre, film, television, and arts leadership.

In 1991, Steve co-founded Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY with Emma Walton Hamilton and Sybil Christopher. Over seventeen years as Executive Director, he oversaw the development and production of more than fifty productions, guiding Bay Street’s evolution into a nationally recognized professional theatre. During his tenure, productions included Jon Robin Baitz’s adaptation of Hedda Gabler (Broadway transfer, Tony nomination – Kate Burton) and Sandy Wilson’s The Boy Friend (directed by Julie Andrews, followed by a national tour). Additionally, Steve produced new work by Jon Robin Baitz, Paula Vogel, Lanford Wilson, Cynthia Ozick, Terrence McNally, Marsha Norman, Chris Durang, Rick Dresser, and Joe Pintauro. Among the many actors and directors featured during this period are Cherry Jones, Alan Alda, Diane Wiest, Richard Dreyfuss, Mercedes Ruehl, Twiggy, Sidney Lumet, Joe Mantello, Leonard Foglia, Diane Paulus, Nicholas Martin, and Marshall Mason.

In addition to his long tenure at Bay Street Theatre, Steve has played key leadership and advisory roles during pivotal transition and growth periods for a number of mission-driven organizations and educational initiatives. Following his tenure at Bay Street, Steve worked with Stony Brook University to help create the MFA in Theatre program and founded the annual Southampton Theatre Conference, building professional development pipelines for emerging artists. He then served as Interim Executive Director of Sag Harbor Cinema, providing early organizational leadership and operational support. He provided community relations support for Friends of Bay Street Theatre around its planned transition to a new permanent home and later served as Executive Director of South Fork Bakery during a founder transition, guiding the organization through leadership change and program stabilization. He also served as a Trustee of Ensemble Studio Theatre during a period of founder transition, contributing to governance and long-term strategic planning.

As a director, Steve’s credits include Arthur Miller’s All My Sons starring Alec Baldwin and Laurie Metcalf at the John Drew Theatre, and the world premiere of Ira Lewis’s Gross Points starring Alec Baldwin at Bay Street Theatre. Additional directing credits include the American premiere of Ben Woolf’s Angry Young Man (Urban Stages), Neil LaBute’s The Furies (59E59 Theaters), Yasmina Reza’s Art, Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan (John Drew Theatre), The Lonesome West (Quack Theatrics), and The Pillowman (Playwrights Theater of EH/Kassar prods.), John Logan’s Red (John Drew Theatre), and Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (adapted by Hamilton, Bay Street Theatre).

Steve has performed extensively as an actor in Off-Broadway, regional theatre, film, and television, with appearances at Lincoln Center Theater, Circle in the Square, Soho Rep, The Actors Studio, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, Alliance Theatre of Atlanta, and Arizona Theatre Company.

Steve has taught acting for over thirty years, including long-standing affiliations with Ensemble Studio Theatre (NYC) and Bay Street Theatre. In addition, Steve maintains a private coaching practice in Sag Harbor, working with actors at all stages of their careers.

Steve is married to writer, producer, and Bay Street co-founder Emma Walton Hamilton. They live year-round in Sag Harbor, NY, and have two children, Sam and Hope.