“SAIDTHERIVER:IMAGINEEVERYTHINGYOUCANIMAGINE,THENKEEPONGOING.”
-MaryOliver
Shakespeareisapoetintouchwiththe powerofplace.Hischaractersoften embarkonajourneyfromthecourtto thewoods,fromthepressuresofpolitics andcommercetotheclarityand possibilitiesofthenaturalworld:aplace whereaprocessofdiscoveryand transformationcantakeroot.The HudsonRiverValleyissuchaplace,and haslongbeenawellspringofinspiration topoets,painters,writers,and musicians.
Thepowerofthisplacehasshaped HudsonValleyShakespeare(formerly theHudsonValleyShakespeareFestival) throughoutitsthirty-sevenyearhistory. Nowandforthefirsttime,wewillhavea permanent,year-roundhomeintheheart oftheHudsonHighlands:Philanthropist ChrisDavishasconveyedover98acres ofbreathtakingriver-viewlandtoHVSto bereimaginedasanopen-airtheater campuswithpubliclyaccessiblegreen space,picnicgrounds,andaworld-class, LEEDPlatinumperformancevenue designedbyvisionaryarchitectJeanne GangofStudioGang.Ournewcampus willempowerHVStoserveasavibrant hubforourlocalcommunity,ayearroundculturalanchorforthegreater HudsonValleyregion,andamodelfor environmentalsustainabilityinthewider
landscapeoftheAmericantheater,as were-imaginetheperformingartsfor thepost-pandemicera.
MaryOliverisright:asithasforaslong asanyonecanremember,theriveris askingustoopenupourimaginations. Weareheedingthatcallbyembracing thepowerofplaceandcreatingaspace wheretheexperienceofnatureand cultureisavailabletoeveryone.Weare callingonourcommunityoncemoreto helpusoverthefinalhill,andtransform thissharedvisionintoamaterialreality thatwillnurtureourregionfor generationstocome.
Warmly,
DavisMcCallum ArtisticDirector
KendraEkelund ManagingDirector
WORK
MISSION VALUES Excellence
RootedinthelandscapeoftheHudsonValley,withtheplaysofWilliam Shakespeareasourtouchstone,HVSengagesthewidestpossibleaudienceina theatricalcelebrationofoursharedhumanity.
Foundedin1987,HVSisacriticallyacclaimed,professional,non-profittheater companybasedinGarrison,NY,onehournorthofManhattan.TheFestivalhas establishedareputationforlucid,engaging,andhighlyinventiveproductions–playsbyShakespeareandcontemporaryplaywrightsalike–stagedinanopen-air theateroverlookingtheHudsonRiver.Byreachingover35,000audiencemembers andmorethan15,000studentsandeducatorsannually,theimpactsofourworkare broadlyfeltthroughoutthetri-stateregion.Inrecentyears,we’vetouredtovenues withintheHudsonValley,transferredproductionstootherregionaltheaters, engagedourcommunitythroughradicallyparticipatoryart-making,andconnected withareaschoolsthroughyear-roundeducationprogramming.
Inclusion
Generosity
“IMPROVISATORY,FROLICSOME, ANDOFOURTIME.”
ThetransferfromphilanthropistChris Davisencompassesover98acresonthe siteofwhatwasformerlyTheGarrison:a golfcourse,inn,restaurant,andevent venue.Betweennowand2026,weare reimaginingtheparcelasanopen-access theatercampuswithparkland,picnic space,trails,andaworld-class performancevenue–thefirstpurposebuiltLEEDPlatinumtheaterinthe country.
Morethanjustahomeforourtheater company,though,weenvisionthenew campusasamodelforenvironmental sustainabilityintheperformingarts,a vibranthubforthelocalcommunity,anda nationalartsdestination.Itwillcreate opportunitiestofostermeaningfulhuman connectionsattheconvergenceofnature andculture,atatimewhenourneighbors aremostinneedofinspirationand connectedness.
“Iamdelightedtohavefoundtheperfect stewardforthisextraordinarilybeautiful land,”explainsMr.Davis.“HVSisa nationallyrecognizedartsorganization withdeeprootsinthiscommunity.With thistransfer,wecanassurethatthisplace continuestobeapositiveforceforthe regionwhilebecomingaculturalhubfor theHudsonValley.”
Aclassicalrepertorytheaterthat speakstothepresentmoment. Forus,Shakespeareandtheclassicsare morethantexts;theyaresitesof inclusionandcommunity,co-createdby artistsandaudiencesinthehereand now.
Anartsorganizationthat valuespeopleoverstuff. Ourworkspringsfromthemost essentialofelements–actor,audience, language,andlandscape.Weprioritize humanrelationships,andourpeoplefeel stronglyinvestedinoursuccess.
Ayear-roundcommunityresourcefor thepeopleoftheHudsonValley. Ourcampusisanextraordinaryspacefor gathering,andweactivelyshareitwith ourneighborsasapublicgood.
Anationalmodelfor sustainabilityintheperformingarts. Ecologicalrestoration,solarpanels, rainwatercapture,reducedembedded carbonandotherdesignelementswill minimizeclimateimpacts.
PROJECTVISION
Cultural Placemaking
HVS’smissionistoengagethewidest possibleaudienceinatheatrical celebrationofoursharedhumanity,and ournewhomewillbeaplaceofgathering andbelonging,withthetheateratits center.
Improvedfacilitieswillsupportour commitmenttoartisticexcellence,witha permanentopen-airtheaterandbackstage spacestosupportit,aswellason-site artistlodgingtoensureHVSisaplace wherethecountry’sbesttalent continuallywantstowork.
Thesocialisolationthatweexperienced duringthepandemicmustnowbe counteredwithcommunity,andwith artisticinspiration.Ourexpansivenew campuswillbeanimmersivearts destination,andwillbeoneofthefew significanttheatersconstructedinthe yearsimmediatelyfollowingthe pandemic.
Ourambitionistocreateoneofthemost extraordinaryopen-airtheatersinthe world,inoneofthemostbeautifuland importantlandscapesinAmerica,andwe
wantthisexperiencetobeavailableto everyone.Forthatreason,weare designingthecampusanditsstructuresas modelsofinclusivityandaccessibility, withanextensiveinstitutional commitmenttoequity,diversity,and inclusion.
Allbuildingswillbefullyaccessibleand ADAcompliant,andtherollingparklandon thepropertywillbeavailableforpassive usessuchaswalkingandbiking,aswe transitionagolfcoursetoanopengreen spaceofferedasanamenitytothepublic.
ArtisticExcellence
PermanentOpen-AirTheater ImprovedBackofHouse Support
On-SiteArtistLodging NewPlayCommissions
AccessforAll Equity,Diversity&Inclusion Focus
ComprehensiveAccessibility Upgrades
CommonGround
OutdoorGathering
ParklandforPublicUse
Community Engagement PROJECTVISION
Ournewhomewillenableustogrow fromaseasonalfestivaltoayear-round culturalanchorforthecommunity.
Ouralreadyrobusteducation programmingwillwraparoundthe calendaryear,andanextended performanceseasonwillallowforfall studentmatinees.
Wewillactivatenewpartnershipswith otherHudsonValleynon-profits (environmental,Indigenous,historical, amongothers)throughon-site programmingtoofferatrulyintersectional educationalexperienceforstudents.
Bysharingspacewithotherorganizations inourcommunity,wewillensurethatthe campusservesasayear-roundresource andlocalhub.
Wewillcontinuetofacilitateandproduce
large-scaleparticipatorytheater,forginga moreinterconnectedandresilient communitythroughthesharedexperience ofart-making.
Finally,withcompleteownershipofour calendarandfacilities,ourregionalimpact isprojectedtogrow65%–to$7.6M annuallyby2026.Theeffectsofour relocationwillbefeltacrossindustries throughoutourcommunity–in construction,hospitality,retail,and beyond.
Education&Outreach
StudentMatinees
IntersectionalProgramming
Year-RoundResidencies
On-SitePartnerships
CollaborativeProgramming
SpaceSharing/Gathering
ParticipatoryArt-Making Workshops
Community-LedTheaterMaking
PROJECTVISION Environmental Sustainability
ChrisDavisboughtthislandinthe1990s toprotectitfromdevelopmentandto wardoffthethreatofsuburbansprawlin theHudsonHighlands.Now,hisvisionary transferallowsthislandtobepreserved, whilealsotransformingitintoavibrant assettothecommunity.
Ourroleasstewardscallsustocarefor thislandonbehalfofourcommunity,by transformingthegolffairwaystonative meadows,reducingfertilizerand supportingbiodiversity,plantingnew trees,rehabilitatingwetlandsand establishinganecologicalmaintenance planfortheentiresite.
Asatheater,wewillserveasanational modelforsustainabilityintheperforming arts,withbuildingsdesignedfor environmentalresilienceandtominimize climateimpacts.
Thearchitectureitselfisresponsivetothe environment,withmaterialsfromlocaland sustainablesourcesandadesigninspired bythecontoursofthesurroundingHudson Highlands.Inoureverydayoperations,we willbeafieldleaderinclimateactionand greenproductionpractices.
Conservation/Preservation
ContinuingChrisDavis’Legacy Low-ImpactSiteUse
GolfCourseRestoration
EcologicalMaintenancePlan
NativePlantings
Wetland&Biodiversity
Protections
Climate-SmartPerformingArts
LEEDPlatinumTheater
ClimateResilientDesign
SustainableProductionPractices
PROJECTVISION Artist Lodging
HVShasretainedaward-winningarchitect SusanT.Rodrigueztodesignouron-site artistlodging.Envisionedasasmallvillage ofresidencesandcommunalbuildings, thiscomplexwillbelocatedjustashort walk,bicycleride,orgolfcartdriveaway fromourtheater,aswellasournew RehearsalStudioswhichopenedin2022.
Inspiredbythetimber-frameconstruction oftraditionalHudsonValleyarchitecture, ourplansincludealongbarn-likestructure with16single-occupancystudio apartments,andfourfour-bedroom cottagesforfamiliesandgroupsofartists.
Connectedtothelongbarnbuilding,we willcreateacommunalhubwhereour artistscancongregateandsocializeasa company.Thishubwillcontainshared laundryandexercisefacilities,aswellas communityspacesforeatingandrelaxing togetheramidstarigorouscreative scheduleofrehearsalsandperformances.
Morethanjustaplacetostayduringagig atHVS,thelodgingdemonstratesour commitmenttocenteringthehealthand well-beingofourartists,empowering themtodotheirverybestwork,and offeringthemtheopportunityfor inspirationandrenewalthatcomeswith
aseasoninthenaturalsplendorofthe HudsonHighlands.Artisticexcellenceisat theveryheartofourmission,andwithour new98–acrecampus,wehavetheunique opportunitytodesignandcreatean environmentthatallowsourartiststoform athrivingcreativecommunitysupporting eachotherandlearningfromeachother onstageandoff,overthecourseofa seasonormanyseasons.Wealsoenvision utilizingtheartistlodgingforresidencies andretreatsduringtheoff-season, allowingustodevelopandincubatework thatwillcometofruitioninfuture seasons.
CenteringandNurturingour Artists
MoreCompetitiveArtist Recruitment
AnimatingtheCampusYear Round
EnvironmentalSustainability CommissioningandDeveloping NewWork
Off-SeasonRevenueAnchored inPhilipstown
OperationalTransformation
““THIS THISGGREEN REENPPLOT LOT
SSHALLBEOURSTAGE.” HALLBEOURSTAGE.”
AMidsummerNight’sDream (Act3,Sc.1)
THECAMPUS
1.Theater
2.BackofHouse
3.ConcessionsandRestrooms
4.PicnicLawns
5.EntryRoad
6.PerviousParkingLot(225Spaces)
7.WelcomeCenterBoxOffice+ PicnicPickup
8.WelcomeGarden
9.RehearsalandAdministration
10.Parking-Staff(45Spaces)
11.5ArtistandGuestLodging Buildings+1AmenityBuilding
12.Pavilion
13.WeddingVenue
14.Restaurant
15.ExistingGuestLodging
16.ExistingParkingLot(94Spaces)
17.PerviousParking-Staff+ Overflow(80Spaces)
18.FutureResidence
PLEASEJOINUSINOURNEXTACTBY PLEDGINGYOURSUPPORTTODAY.
Yourbackingatthiscrucialstagewilldeterminetheextenttowhichwe canachieveourvision.Helpusreshapetheculturallandscapebymaking aformalcampaigncommitment.Tosupportthecampaignortorequest othermaterials,includingalistofnamingopportunities,pleasecontact:
KendraEkelund,ManagingDirector kekelund@hvshakespeare.org
ROOTED: A CAMPAIGN FOR OUR PERMANENT HOME
Credits:Allmapsandrenderingscourtesyof NelsonByrdWoltz,StudioGang,andSusanT. Rodriguez.P2-3:PhotosbyAmyBrown.P4-5: PhotosbyT.CharlesErickson,GabePalacio, andRichardTermine.P6-7:PhotobyT. CharlesErickson.P8:PhotobyAshleyGarrett. P10-11:PhotosbyGabePalacioandAmy Brown.P12:PhotosprovidedbyNelsonByrd Woltz.P26-27:PhotobyT.CharlesErickson. HudsonValleyShakespeare P.O.Box125,Garrison,NY 10524hvshakespeare.org @hvshakespeare 845.265.9575
