Colin Quinn and more LI theater stories

Long Story Short (Guild Hall's John Drew Theater, East Hampton, June 8-26). Direct from Broadway: Colin Quinn brings his acclaimed one-man show, an insightfully comic history of the world -- from Socrates to Snooki (a sure sign of civilization's demise) -- to the Hamptons. Jerry Seinfeld directed, and Quinn predicts he'll show up at his neighborhood theater. guildhall.org, 631-324-4050

Tru (Bay Street Theatre, Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, May 31-June 26). Darrell Hammond of "Saturday Night Live" fame stars in the title role of Jay Presson Allen's play about Truman Capote. Judith Ivey directs. baystreet.org, 631-725-9500

'S Wonderful (Gateway Playhouse, Bellport, June 1-18). A New York area premiere, this new Gershwin musical showcases more than 40 songs by brothers George and Ira, including "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Our Love Is Here to Stay." gatewayplayhouse.com, 631-286-1133

Betty's Summer Vacation (Bay Street Theatre, July 5-31). The rollicking farce by Christopher Durang should be perfect seasonal fare for the Hamptons as a summer share at the beach goes bizarrely awry. baystreet.org, 631-725-9500

Hairspray (John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, July 7-Aug. 28). The feel-good 1960s musical set in Baltimore opens the Engeman's 2011-12 season. Based on the irreverent 1988 John Waters film, the Broadway hit led to the 2007 movie musical starring Great Neck's Nikki Blonsky as the weighty civil rights activist and teenybopper. engemantheater.org, 631-261-2900

Legally Blonde (Gateway Playhouse, June 22-July 9). The Broadway musical-comedy based on the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon makes its Long Island premiere. A California girl with a 4.0 GPA enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back the man of her dreams, who may not be so dreamy after all. gatewayplayhouse.com, 631-286-1133

Spring Awakening (Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, July 20- Aug. 20). Except for the one-night stand at Staller Center by a national touring company, this production marks the Long Island premiere of the 19th century cautionary tale of teen sex and tragedy that won the 2007 best musical Tony. smithtownpac.org, 631-724-3700

Spamalot (Gateway at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, July 13-30). Another Long Island premiere with an asterisk: The national tour of "Spamalot," the 2005 best musical Tony winner based on "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," played Tilles Center for one night. Gateway brings "Spam" to the 1,200-seat Patchogue Theatre for the company's only production there this summer. gatewayplayhouse.com, 631-286-1133

Enter Laughing: The Musical (Bay Street Theatre, Aug. 9-Sept. 4). It's the musical retelling of Joseph Stein's play based on the semiautobiographical novel by Carl Reiner about a kid from the Bronx who makes it on Broadway. Yes, but will they laugh in the Hamptons? baystreet.org, 631-725-9500

Shakespeare at the Vanderbilt (Arena Players at the Vanderbilt Museum, Centerport). Under the stars in the cobblestone courtyard of the mansion overlooking Northport Harbor: Tragedy ("Romeo & Juliet") July 1-31, followed by comedy ("Much Ado About Nothing") Aug. 5-28. arenaplayers.org, 516-293-0674

And keep in mind . . .

Celebrity Autobiography (two shows Aug. 26). Comics, often celebrities themselves, read from published tell-alls by the rich and famous. (Cast to be announced.) Guild Hall's John Drew Theater, East Hampton, guildhall.org, 631-324-4050

Xanadu (June 10-26). Long Island premiere of the musical-on-roller-skates spoof of the 1980s movie fantasy. In honor of the decade, buy one ticket at full price and get a second for 80 cents on Wednesday nights. CM Performing Arts Center, Oakdale, cmpac.com, 631-218-2810

The Gift of the Gorgon (July 8). Staged reading of the Peter Shaffer ("Equus") play directed by Tony Walton and starring Alec Baldwin, Jerry Stiller, Melissa Errico, Harris Ulin and Sam Underwood. Q&A follows. Guild Hall's John Drew Theater, East Hampton, guildhall.org. 631-324-4050

Airmid Theatre Summer Festival (July 5-Aug. 14). First, performances of "Jack and the Princess Who Never Laughed" followed by "A Little Betrayal Among Friends" fulfill Airmid's mission to produce plays by women authors. Nissequogue River State Park, Kings Park, airmidtheatre.org, 631-704-2888

Sunset Boulevard (Aug. 3-20). Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony-winning adaptation of the movie classic about a faded film diva and a young screenwriter. Long Island's Patti LuPone, who originated the role in London, was fired before the Broadway opening. Gateway Playhouse, Bellport, gatewayplayhouse.com, 631-286-1133

A Chorus Line (July 16-Aug. 21) BroadHollow's summer musical, the Tony and Pulitzer dance-audition classic, performed at three venues: BayWay Arts Center in East Islip, BroadHollow at Elmont and Huntington's Summer Arts Festival. broadhollow.org, 631-581-2700, 516-775-4420

Sweeney Todd (Aug. 24-Sept. 11) Stephen Sondheim's darkest, and in many ways funniest, musical. A Tony-winning masterpiece from 1979. Gateway Playhouse, gatewayplayhouse.com, 631-286-1133