“A classical theater for the 21st Century” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Cover: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, 2024, photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Above: By The Queen, 2024, photo by Gabe Palacio.
DEAR FRIEND,
From my office window, I can see HVS’s first-ever permanent home—the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center— rising on the hill overlooking the Hudson River. The dream is becoming a reality. And it is a dream that belongs to all of us—to all the artists, audiences, patrons, donors, and friends who have nurtured Hudson Valley Shakespeare over its 39 glorious years. We can’t wait to welcome you there in the summer of 2026. (For more information about HVS’s new theater, please scan the QR code to the right! →)
But before we cut the ribbon on our magnificent new open-air theater, we’ll gather this summer for a final season in our beloved tent, to celebrate our artistic legacy, honor the magical summer evenings we’ve shared over nearly four decades, and look forward to all the exciting possibilities ahead.
To mark this watershed year, we’ve curated a season that truly showcases what makes HVS so unique: two A-list titles from our resident playwright William Shakespeare (The Comedy of Errors and Julius Caesar), alongside one of the greatest of all American classic comedies (Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker), as well as a thrilling new musical (Dave Malloy’s Octet), in its very first production following its 2019 Off-Broadway premiere.
And there’s so much more to explore here—pizza night in the restaurant after a twilight Sunday performance, afternoons packed with activities for the kids, pre-show talks with scholars and artists, free community-based art workshops, picnics on the hill in front of the Tent, ASL interpreted and Open-Captioned performances, special events for members to mingle with our incredible company of artists (join today!), and hard hat tours that offer a sneak peek at our new home.
It’s thrilling, when—as Shakespeare once wrote—you can “feel the future in the instant.” This is one of those moments. So come join us this summer, and remember why you fell in love with open-air theater in the Hudson Valley in the first place. We can’t wait to welcome you home.
Warmly,
Davis McCallum Artistic Director
SAVE THY DATE
WEEKLY EVENTS
HARD HAT CHATS
SUNDAY FAMILY DAY WORKSHOPS
Sundays, 3:30 pm
July 20, July 27, August 24
A PREVIEW OF THE SAMUEL H. SCRIPPS THEATER CENTER!
Mondays, 6:15 pm
June 23–September 1
Come meet a member of the HVS leadership team and get an inside look at the plans for the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, opening in 2026. Get up close and personal with an amazing scale model of the innovative design, hear insights on the design process, see the latest renderings, and hear more about our plans for the next chapter in our new home.
THURSDAY NIGHT PROLOGUES
Thursdays, 6:15 pm
June 12–September 4
Picnic? Check. Wine? Check. Behindthe-scenes commentary from directors, actors, designers and industry experts? Absolutely! Arrive early, enjoy the site, and then join us for a lively discussion exploring the creative process and get inspired before the show. This program is free and available to all. hvshakespeare.org/prologue.
Step into the world of the play with an engaging pre-show workshop featuring hands-on, interactive activities for participants of all ages. These special events are designed to accompany our relaxed performances, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive experience for everyone.
SUNDAY NIGHT ENCORES
POST-SHOW PIZZA NIGHT AT THE VALLEY RESTAURANT
Sundays, June 29–Sept 7
5:00 pm curtain on Sunday means the show is done by 7:30 pm, and we’re opening up the Valley Restaurant for post-show pizza and drinks with the HVS Acting Company. Come and meet your favorite actors and enjoy the sunset over the Hudson from the deck.
Photos left to right: Cymbeline, 2019, photo by T. Charles Erickson. HVS Home, 2023, photo by Studio 6 Agency. Medea Re-Versed, 2024, photo by Gabe Palacio. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, 2024, photo by T. Charles Erickson.
OUT AT THE TENT
Sunday, June 22, 6:00 pm
Celebrate Pride month, mix and mingle, and get to know local LGBTQIA+ organizations while you enjoy a complimentary reception with drinks and light fare before the 7:30 pm performance of The Matchmaker
ENHANCED PERFORMANCES
OPEN-CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES
* Wednesday, July 23 (Matchmaker)
* Thursday, July 24 (Comedy)
* Friday, August 29 (Octet)
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
* Friday, July 4 (Matchmaker)
* Friday, July 11 (Comedy)
* Monday, August 25 (Octet)
RELAXED PERFORMANCES
* Sunday, July 20 (Matchmaker)
* Sunday, July 27 (Comedy)
* Sunday, August 24 (Octet)
MEMBER EXCLUSIVES!
SEASON OPENING TOAST
Sunday, June 15, 5:30 pm
Members are invited to join the HVS team to kick off the season with a toast on the Terrace overlooking the Hudson.
MIDSUMMER MINGLE
Saturday, July 26, 5:00 pm
Mix it up with HVS leadership, staff, and artists before that evening’s performance of The Matchmaker. Always a highlight of the summer, this special event is for membership levels $500 and up.
CLOSING WEEKEND TOAST
Saturday, September 6, 5:30 pm
Raise a glass to another exciting season at HVS! Members enjoy the chance to celebrate together one more time over drinks and light bites.
HVS SEASON MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS!
Want to join us for these exclusive member events, AND get first shot at the best seats, as well as other great benefits?? By joining as an HVS Member, starting at $100, you’ll also help to power our artistic work. More information on the levels of memberships and their benefits HERE →
SUMMER 2025
* Preview Performance
�� Opening Nig ht
Closing Nig ht
Hard Hat Chat
�� Thursday Nig ht Prolog ue
♥ Family Day Workshop
▼ Sunday Nig ht Encore Out at the Tent Open-Captioned Performance
“I can’t imagine a world without love. Why, if you take away love, you take away the purpose for living!”
SET BETWEEN A SLEEPY HUDSON RIVER TOWN and the bustling metropolis of 1880’s New York City , Thornton Wilder’s comic masterpiece is a delig htful exploration of love, adventure, and the pursuit of happiness, set ag ainst the All-American backdrop of business and commerce. Don’t miss the play that inspired the musical Hello, Dolly! in a big boisterous production featuring HVS favorites Nance Williamson and Kurt Rhoads as Dolly Levi and Horace Vanderg elder.
BY THORNTON WILDER
DIRECTED BY DAVIS MCCALLUM
FEATURING KURT RHOADS & NANCE WILLIAMSON
JUNE 6–AUGUST 2
“I to the world am like a drop of water That in the ocean seeks another drop.”
ONE OF SHAKESPEARE’S MOST MADCAP COMEDIES, the play follows two sets of identical twins, separated at birth, who unknowing ly cross paths many y ears later. Their encounters spark a whirlwind of may hem, leading to a series of escalating comic misadventures. With sharp wit, slapstick humor, and the special kind of heartache that comes from searching for y our soulmate in a world turned upside down, The Comedy of Errors is a timeless celebration of human folly , in all its wondrous forms.
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY RYAN QUINN
AUGUST 11–SEPTEMBER 7
“If I go, will you go too? Will you follow me? Will you promise me?”
FROM THE CELEBRATED AUTHOR OF Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 comes a haunting ly orig inal new musical about the search for human connection in the dig ital ag e. Featuring rich harmonies and intricate vocal arrang ements, Octet finds compelling human drama in our middle-of-the-nig ht anxieties about the impact of technolog y on the nature of our relationships. The HVS production is the first to follow the orig inal Off-Broadway version, which won the 2020 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Musical.
BY DAVE MALLOY
DIRECTED BY AMANDA DEHNERT
PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH PLATE SPINNER PRODUCTIONS
SEPTEMBER 9–10 AND ON TOUR SEPTEMBER 15–OCTOBER 3
“Cowards
die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.”
AS PART OF HVS’S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
A TIMELESS EXPLORATION of power, loy alty , and betray al, Julius Caesar delves deep into the tensions between personal integ rity and public duty . In Raz Golden’s swift and phy sical production, featuring a cast of six brilliant y oung actors from the HVS Conservatory Company , Shakespeare’s political thriller feels more potent and relevant than ever.
This production will travel to reg ional middle and hig h schools this fall. To learn more about booking a performance for y our school contact Sean McNall, Director of Education: smcnall@hvshakespeare.org
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY RAZ GOLDEN
NEW! HVS CABARET
FATHERTIME: BIRTH, DEATH AND SONGS!
Book by Bry ce Pinkham and Zack Fine Music & Ly rics by Rona Siddiqui
Directed by Zack Fine
Dramaturg y /Co-Created by Kiry a Traber
Wednesday, August 6 & Thursday, August 7, 8:00 pm
A work-in-prog ress showing of a new solo musical, commissioned and developed by Long Wharf Theatre (Jacob Padrón, Artistic Director, Kit Ing ui, Manag ing Director), with additional support from Hudson Valley Shakespeare.
BEBE & FRIENDS –THE WOMEN OF WOODS
Friday, August 8, 8:00 pm
Bebe Nicole Simpson reunites with some of her HVS castmates from Into The Woods (2019) for a nig ht of their favorite song s, with all the joy and camaraderie that comes with g etting the band back tog ether.
JULIE ANN EMERY & KEVIN EARLEY –ON THE RECORD
Saturday, August 9, 8:00 pm
Two of Broadway ’s brig htest lig hts (and Beacon residents) Julie Ann Emery & Kevin Earley star in an orig inal cabaret show curated around their own personal collection of viny l records.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO HVS CABARET
For one week only , we're transforming the Valley Restaurant into the HVS Cabaret for a series of intimate musical performances. Have dinner in the restaurant before the show to make it a perfect summertime nig ht out! Dinner reservations strong ly recommended, as space is strictly limited. All tickets $50.
Season key artwork and brochure by Ligature
Creative. Above: HVS Gala, 2024, photo by Tom Moore. Left, top to bottom: Highland Lights, 2023. photo by Jeff Mikkleson. Kurt Rhoads in Love's Labor's Lost, 2023, photo by T. Charles Erickson. Luis Quintero in Medea: Reversed, 2024, photo by Gabe Palacio. Love's Labor's Lost, 2023, photo by T. Charles Erickson.
SPECIAL EVENTS
HIGHLAND LIGHTS: MICROCOSMOS
Free Workshops starting March 22
Performance:
Saturday, April 26, 8:00 pm
Rain date: Sunday, April 27
Our popular community event returns for a fourth season. Join us, together with Processional Arts and the new home of our neighbors Hudson Highland Land Trust at Humble Bee Hollow Preserve. This year's theme highlights our interconnection with insects, and the critical role they play in our ecosystems. hvshakespeare.org/highlandlights
HVS2
Our popular reading series features HVS company members and talented guest actors in projects that we are developing for future seasons. Join us at the HVS Rehearsal Studios for a peek behind the curtain at these works-in-progress!
KING LEAR
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Davis McCallum Featuring Kurt Rhoads
Saturday, July 19, 2:00 pm
THE MINOTAUR
By Luis Quintero
Saturday, August 30, 2:00 pm
MEET THE ARTISTS PARTY
Sunday, May 4, 5:00 pm
Our big summer fundraiser is also your first chance to get to know this year’s crew BEFORE you enjoy their artistry under the Tent, and find out the inside scoop about what the actors and directors are cooking up in rehearsal! Tickets are $100 for an open bar and delicious bites from the Valley Restaurant.
GET TICKETS
2025 TICKETS
WHAT’S A PREVIEW?
Previews are performances that allow our actors and creative teams to put the finishing touches on a production before it opens. Book your tickets on these dates to be among the first audiences to see the show, at our most affordable ticket prices.
WAYS TO SAVE
STANDARD DISCOUNTS*
Students, Seniors (65+), Active Duty Military, Veterans save 15%!
EARLY BIRD SAVINGS
Save 15% on adult tickets to weekday performances before April 14!
LOYALTY PACKAGES
Includes Comedy of Errors, The Matchmaker, Octet
Save 25% before May 1
Save 20% after May 1
SAVE WITH FRIENDS*
WHAT’S A PARTIAL VIEW VS. AN OBSTRUCTED VIEW?
A partial view means a tent element may occasionally impact viewing. An obstructed view means a tent pole or set piece will obstruct viewing throughout the performance.
Groups of 12+ save 15%+
hvshakespeare.org/ groups
NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTS
Save 25% on full-price tickets for specific dates with a local ZIP code from Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester, Ulster, Orange, Rockland, and Bergen Counties.
hvshakespeare.org/ neighborhood-night
EXCHANGES
Exchange any ticket up to 48 hours before showtime for $10 per ticket (and any additional seat value). Exchanges are always free for members of our Saints & Poets Society and Festival Circles.
DETAILS
Only one discount may be applied to each ticket, and no discounts may be applied retroactively to completed purchases.
Non-Standard Discounts only apply to Adult ticket types.
*Excludes Center Front Section, and Saturday Performances
“Good company, good wine, good welcome can make good people”
HENRY VIII, ACT 1 SCENE 4
WHAT’S FOR DINNER?
PICNICS
BYO or pre-order a fresh, locally sourced picnic before 12:00 pm on the day of your performance. We invite you to slow down, enjoy our beautiful natural surroundings, and share good food with good company.
YOUR VISIT
BY CAR
2015 U.S. 9 Garrison, NY 10524
hvshakespeare.org/visit
VALLEY RESTAURANT
Reserve your indoor or outdoor table and enjoy a locally sourced three-course prix-fixe dinner in the Valley Restaurant. $55 per person, reservations recommended.
CONCESSIONS TENT
A delightful assortment of local brews, wines, non-alcoholic beverages, sandwiches, salads, sweets, and snacks before the show and at intermission.
BY TRAIN
Free weekend shuttle service from Garrison Metro-North Train Station, Friday–Sunday
$15 TICKETS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCE MEMBERS!
Gather your whole family under the tent: all tickets for audience members aged 18 and younger are only $15, with the purchase of an adult admission.
CURTAIN
Evening performances under the Tent begin at 7:30 pm. Beginning June 29, Sunday performances begin at 5:00 pm. All matinees begin at 2:00 pm.
Above: Valley Restaurant, 2023, photo by Studio 6 Agency. Highland Lights, 2023, photo by Jeff Mikkleson. Back cover: HVS Grounds, 2023, photo by Studio 6 Agency.
