December at the Montauk Library

In his discussion of his newest book, Right This Way: A History of the Audience, theatre historian and author Robert Viagas provides an entertaining history of the most important collaborator of all: The Audience.

When we sit down at a play or a movie or a concert we are taking part in one of the oldest and most mysterious forms of human behavior. Right This Way: A History of the Audience is longtime Playbill editor Robert Viagas’ informal history of audiences through the ages. Right This Way: A History of the Audience explains how and why the shared audience experience is so gratifying.

In his discussion, Robert Viagas sheds light on fascinating events from the past and issues that shape our lives. From the ancient Greeks to binge-watching on Netflix, everyone has been a member of the audience at one time or another. Few realized, however, how vital the audience experience is to human psychology and well-being until COVID-19 pandemic took it away. Right This Way: A History of the Audience explores what the audience experience brings us, what it is good for and how it may evolve.

In Robert Viagas’ four decades of experience as an author, journalist, lecturer, podcaster, and professor, he has spent much of his career working on Broadway for Playbill Inc. His twenty-two books on the performing arts include On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line, The Amazing Story of The Fantasticks, and Good Morning, Olive: Haunted Theatres of Broadway and Beyond. In addition, Viagas has served on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards. Having been present in the audience for over 2000 Broadway shows, in addition to countless movies, television shows, concerts, and cultural events worldwide, Viagas brings unparalleled insight into the world of audiences.

The DeRosa Trio: Holiday favorites performed by Montauk’s DeRosa family members.

Wednesday Movies: see montauklibrary.org/calendar

          Dec 1 at 5 pm: Philadelphia Story (1940) dir. George Cukor

          Dec 8 at 5 pm: Father of the Bride (1950) dir. Vincente Minnelli

          Dec. 15 at 5 pm: The In-Laws (1978)  dir. Arthur Hiller

          Dec. 21 at 5 pm: The Wedding Banquet (1998) dir. Ang Lee

         Dec. 29 at 5 pm: Monsoon Wedding (2001) dir. Mira Nair

A visit with The Snow Queen. Registration with a caregiver required: montauklibrary.org/events

Tween & Teens: Sat. Dec. 23 – 2-3:30pm – ELF (PG)

The Bellamy Trial by Frances Noyes Hart

          “…a pioneering courtroom mystery”

For Zoom link contact cbalducci@montauklibrary.org

Armchair Travel Book Club: Dec. 19 at 4pm on Zoom – American Notes & Pictures from Italy by Charles Dickens. American Notes details Dickens’ trip to North America in 1842.  The second part of the book includes his Pictures from Italy written four years later.  For Zoom link contact cbalducci@montauklibrary.org