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CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC) presents musicals, plays, community events, and educational programs throughout the year. While its productions entertain thousands of theatergoers annually, one initiative has become especially meaningful: Sensory Sensitive Performances, thoughtfully designed for neurodivergent audience members and those with sensory sensitivities.

CM Performing Arts Center Sensory Sensitive Shows: Creating a Stage Where Everyone Belongs

Posted on July 20, 2026

Perhaps it is just a coincidence that the colorful floral artwork on the cover of our July 17 edition of Fire Island News is named Lori Bloom—then again, maybe it isn't! Active on Fire Island both artistically and civically, she is part of a two-person art exhibition at the Ocean Beach Historical Society, opening July 18 and running through August 9. This is her story.

Meet the Fire Island News Cover Artist: Lori Bloom

Posted on July 18, 2026

The Fire Island Dance Festival returns to Fire Island Pines on July 18 and 19, bringing world-class dance performances to a waterfront stage overlooking the Great South Bay. The annual event combines acclaimed dance performances with the unique setting of Fire Island, drawing audiences together for a weekend of artistry, community, and philanthropy. The festival serves as a fundraiser for Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that provides support to people affected by HIV/AIDS and other critical health challenges. Leadership and patron ticket packages include cocktails and a DJ party at Whyte Hall. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at the Pines Harbor. Additional information and ticket details are available at https://dradance.org/

Books & Authors

Smoke on the Water: Things To Do on Fire Island and Along the Great South Bay July 18-26

Posted on July 17, 2026

In her artist statement, Marlene Weinstein writes: “This hanging assemblage reflects the beauty and fragility of freedom. The fifty sun‑printed cyanotypes embody the serenity and joy that freedom makes possible, while the collaged stripes echo our long, imperfect, and ongoing pursuit of liberty. Each fragment is pinned in place with the most delicate of connections, suggesting how easily these ideals can fray. Freedom survives because we choose, again and again, to protect the ideals that hold it together.”

Meet the Cover Artist Marlene Weinstein and the Women Sharing Art at Suffolk County Historical Society

Posted on July 13, 2026

Long Island’s longest-running music event returns as the 18th annual Great South Bay Music Festival runs from July 23 to July 26 at Shorefront Park in Patchogue. The four-day celebration of Long Island's arts and culture includes family fun and activities for all ages.

The Great South Bay Music Festival Makes Waves in 2026 with “Best Lineup Yet”

Posted on July 9, 2026

Gateway Playhouse is upping its ante. Formerly known as The Gateway, the regional theater in Bellport, known for its Broadway talent and ebullient musicals, announced its new name, Gateway Playhouse, at its recent Cabaret Night Benefit Fundraiser. Besides the name, Cabaret Night is new too. The new Cabaret Night Fundraisers debuted in March, with standing-room-only attendance in the barn theater and top-area restaurant food and drink.

Gateway Boosts Its Cache with a Name Change

Posted on July 8, 2026

Fire Island Water Taxi cut through the Great South Bay as the afternoon sun started to turn everything golden. Jeff and I had decided to make a proper night of it: Low Tea at the Blue Whale, the Barn on Fire presentation at Whyte Hall, dinner at Pines Bistro, and dancing at the Pavilion.

Date Night Fire Island: Dinner, a Show, and Dancing Under the Stars

Posted on July 8, 2026

Time feels a little more precious during the summer compared to the other times of the year, making the question of how to spend it all the more consequential. Like many, I devote a great deal of my time to reading. Whether lazing in a hammock or lounging on a beach chair, this summer's stack has something for everyone: a giant glowing jellyfish, an art heist in Paris, a missed romantic connection at 30,000 feet, family secrets on Block Island, murder, mystery, and enough emotional drama to keep you slathered in sunscreen and suspense all summer long.

Books & Authors

SUMMER READING: What’s in My Beach Bag?

Posted on July 4, 2026

Before Fire Island, on one hazy 1960s summer, at a Girl Scout Camp on Long Island, a young Meryl Meisler hears whispers of a mystical realm just across the bay. On this island, they say, “fairies ran about naked and lived in little houses with charming names like Shirley’s Temple.” This opening vignette — shared by a now-renowned, longtime photographer of queer New York nightlife — sets the tone for John Dempsey’s ambitious account of Fire Island’s art history.

Books & Authors

John Dempsey’s Fire Island Art: 100 Years

Posted on June 29, 2026

If America were handing out scores for the stories it chooses to remember, LGBTQ+ ballroom culture would earn a verdict without hesitation: tens across the board.

Tens Across the Board: Why Ballroom Culture Belongs at the Center of LGBTQ+ History

Posted on June 25, 2026

“I'm growing spiritually, and now in my 81st year, I've become more understanding of myself and am really enjoying the journey of spirituality. I'm also in AA, and I share my so-called system of growth with others, and I'm having a great time.” — Lynne Milnes

Meet the Cover Artist: Lynne Milnes

Posted on June 19, 2026

“It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.,” goes the all-too-familiar lyrics of the Village People song that gets everyone moving on the dance floor, remains a crowd favorite during the seventh-inning stretch at Yankee Stadium, and easily boosts people’s spirits. But the lyrics also ring true. It is fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A., especially if you’re a college student in New York City (NYC) during the ‘80s, which is the case for Evan, the protagonist in Sloane by Kevin Banks.

Books & Authors

The Sloane House: Where ’80s NYC Art Students Found Community

Posted on June 15, 2026

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