In the height of summer in the Valley, locals and visitors alike savor warm-weather days during long hikes toward breathtaking views, ice cream cones filled with farm-fresh scoops, and lazy afternoons at beaches and swimming holes. Fairs and festivals sweeten the deal, bringing communities together while highlighting the creativity and talent of the region.
For theater lovers, no fest captures the magic of summer in the Valley quite like the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Each year, the fest, which is fondly known as HVSF, converges in Putnam County for a season filled with heart-racing adventures, shoulder-shaking humor, and convoluted drama as only the Bard could create.
Currently in the midst of its 2024 season, the festival once again welcomes visitors to its new, permanent home in Philipstown for a stellar lineup of shows. It relocated to its current address at the conclusion of the 2021 season after 30-plus years in residence at Boscobel House and Gardens nearby. The location is less than three miles away from Garrison in Philipstown and is a generous gift from philanthropist Christopher Davis.
“I am delighted to have found the perfect steward for this extraordinarily beautiful land,” Davis says. “HVSF is a nationally recognized arts organization with deep roots in this community. With this gift, we can assure that this place continues to be a positive force in the region while becoming a cultural hub in the Hudson Valley.”
While the tent that this year’s theater-goers experience is a temporary one, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival just received the final approval for its new, open-air theater design that will be quite the innovative construct in the region. Through a partnership with architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang, HVSF productions will soon reside in the first purpose-built LEED Platinum theater in the United States.
“The approval process has been extensive and rigorous, and we’ve worked to listen to all of the stakeholders in our community to responsibly steward this incredible land,” says Davis McCallum, HVSF’s Artistic Director. “The ambition of creating a space that equally serves the theater, the community, and the environment is enormous and the responsibility is not lost on us. We are grateful for the diligent review of the Planning Board in Philipstown, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with our community as we realize the vision of this cultural campus as an important resource for our community and the region.”
So what exactly does the new design entail?
Unlike the classic white tent with which HVSF fans are familiar, the new design will rest at 13,850 square feet along the 98-acre campus that HVSF calls home. It will feature natural materials as part of the curved, timber-framed grid shell architecture and timber columns. Unsurprisingly, the theater’s construction aims to pay homage to the surrounding landscape, which is why the stage’s proscenium arch will be oriented to frame the Wey-Gat (“Wind Gate”) of Storm King Mountain, Breakneck Ridge, and the Hudson River. Plus, staying true with the awe-inducing entries of HVSF actors in many a show, the landscape will still allow the players to “emerge” into the theater.
While the theater’s hillside location at 2015 Route 9 at the intersection with Snake Hill Road is bound to be a delight for theater-goers, it’s far from the only thing happening on the grounds. In addition to the construction of the theater itself, visitors can also expect the addition of outdoor gathering spaces next to the theater, along with a nearby overlook for pre- and post-performance programming.
If all goes well, the new design will see a groundbreaking in fall of 2024, with the new theater scheduled to open in time for the 2026 summer season.
“HVSF is such a beloved cultural institution, with a truly unique natural setting in the Hudson Valley,” says Studio Gang’s founding principal and partner Jeanne Gang. “Our design aims to help the company build on their strengths, with low-carbon architecture that improves daily functionality and amplifies the traditions that define their open-air performances—like the spectacular proscenium arch framing an iconic Hudson River view—as well as create new opportunities for audiences and actors to interact before and after the show. The ecology of the site also receives a new level of care, replacing a monocultural lawn with a biodiverse landscape that brings resiliency, wildlife, and seasonal beauty for all to enjoy.”
Prior to gifting the parcel of land to Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Davis purchased it back in 1999 to protect it from commercial development. He owns The Garrison next-door and has modified the layout of the grounds so as to ensure sufficient room for both enterprises.
“Chris Davis’s historic gift preserves this land and allows HVSF to transform from a summer festival to a year-round cultural anchor in the region,” enthuses McCallum. “With this enhanced role comes a greater responsibility to serve the entire Hudson Valley community, and we are actively exploring how we can share this enormous opportunity with community partners across the region.”
For Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, which received a $10 million grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) as part of the organization’s Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture in 2023, its location near The Garrison and Valley Restaurant is a boon for both organizations. With dining and overnight accommodations nearby, HVSF visitors have all they need for a picture-perfect weekend at their fingertips. What’s more, depending on how far HVSF chooses to extend its season in the future (a permanent venue means there’s potential for year-round programming, after all), its move could lead to a significant boost for surrounding Hudson Valley businesses beyond just the summer season.
Until then, don’t miss out on all Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has to offer. The remainder of the 2024 season promises thrilling performances, including Medea: Re-versed, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and By The Queen. Check the HVSF website for special discounts on tickets leading up to the season’s close in early September.
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