Questions About Our Future Answered

In 2022, Hudson Valley Shakespeare moved from its longtime site at Boscobel House and Gardens to a 98-acre property in Philipstown provided by philanthropist Chris Davis as a permanent home for the non-profit theater company. With a focus on ecological restoration and climate-smart investment in green design, the new Hudson Valley Shakespeare campus is unique in the wider cultural landscape of the American Theater, bringing together cultural placemaking, community engagement, and environmental sustainability onto one spectacular site. 

The centerpiece of the campus is the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, a permanent open-air theater overlooking the Hudson River. Designed by the renowned architecture firm Studio Gang and scheduled to open in the summer of 2026, this timber-frame theater will be the first purpose-built LEED Platinum theater in the United States.  

The transfer from philanthropist Chris Davis encompasses what was formerly The Garrison: a golf course, inn, restaurant, and event venue. Between now and 2026, we are reimagining the parcel as a year-round open-access theater campus with parkland, picnic space, trails, and a world-class performance venue – the first purpose built LEED Platinum theater in the country. 

More than just a home for our theater company, though, we envision the new campus as a model for environmental sustainability in the performing arts, a vibrant hub for the local community, and a national arts destination. It will create opportunities to foster meaningful human connections at the convergence of nature and culture, at a time when our neighbors are most in need of inspiration and connectedness. 

CULTURAL PLACEMAKING

HVSF’s mission is to engage the widest possible audience in a theatrical celebration of our shared humanity, and our new home will be a place of gathering and belonging, with the theater at the center. The improved facilities will support our commitment to artistic excellence, with a permanent tent theater and the backstage spaces to support it, as well as on-site artist housing to ensure that HVSF is a place where the most talented artists in the country continually want to work. Our ambition is to create one of the most extraordinary open-air theaters in the world, in one of the most beautiful and important landscapes in America, and we want this exalted experience to be available to everyone. For that reason, we are designing both the campus and the structures to be models of inclusion and accessibility. The built structures will be optimized for the differently-abled, and the rolling parkland on the property will be available for passive uses such as walking and biking, as we transition a golf course to an open greenspace offered as an amenity to the public.

With the construction of an on-campus cluster of lodging and communal buildings to accommodate visiting artists while they are rehearsing and performing at HVS, we underscore our commitment to centering the health and well-being of our artists. Previously, our artists stayed at a highway-adjacent hotel in a neighboring county, causing them to have to spend an inordinate amount of time commuting throughout the day, diminishing their overall experience with our theater. Our Artist Lodging will greatly increase the quality of their live-and-work time, making employment at HVS ever more attractive and eliminating a barrier to hiring and retaining the industry’s top talent.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

Thanks to the opportunities made possible by our new home, we have already begun to expand our celebrated year-round education programming, including the addition of student matinees. We will continue to build more after-school programming as we move forward with our project, including plans to host unique, intersectional field trips that may include a performance, a nature tour, and arts workshops in partnership with local nonprofits (environmental, historical, etc.). 

HVS’s new flexible spaces not only provide essential rehearsal and meeting capacity but also offer a year-round home for our education and community engagement programs. In collaboration with local partners, including environmental and cultural organizations, we are also making our spaces available for community events, meetings, retreats, and participatory art-making programs driven by local residents.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

As a part of our new role as responsible stewards of 98+ acres of land, we have adopted sustainability as a core value. Our new open-air theater is currently on track to be the first purpose-built LEED Platinum theater in the country, and our goal is to achieve site-wide carbon neutrality by 2040. We have already begun partnering with local and national conservation organizations to responsibly transition and restore the grounds from manicured golf course into biodiverse meadows, gardens, and walking paths, using native plants and rehabilitating wildlife habitats. We’re now working with our project team to implement additional efficiency throughout the site, which is on track to include solar energy, natural convection cooling, and water and waste reduction, among other initiatives. Our theater will use sustainable materials, and our circular approach extends to production design and hospitality operations, including composting and reducing single-use items. As climate advocates, we will continue to collaborate with community partners and engage visitors in stewardship efforts across the Hudson Valley.

The new Hudson Valley Shakespeare campus is located at 2015 Route 9, in Garrison, NY. The campus is also home to The Garrison, a wedding venue and events space, as well as the Valley Restaurant. 

In the fall of 2024, after securing all the required permissions and a four-year effort to raise funding for the initial costs of construction, HVS began construction of a new permanent open-air theater that is a model of green design – The Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center. We were honored to welcome NY Governor Kathy Hochul and other elected officials and supporters for a ceremonial groundbreaking on September 25, 2024. 

Construction is scheduled to take 14 months. HVS plans to open Phase One of the project (the new open-air theater, picnic lawns, and native meadows) in June of 2026. Accordingly, the upcoming 2025 Season will be the final season in the current seasonal theater tent.

Phase Two will include the construction of on-site Artist Lodging, which will feature 32 units of artist and guest accommodation. It is our hope that we will be able to secure sufficient funding by the end of 2024 so that we can begin to build Artist Lodging concurrently with our new theater.  

The former golf course is being transformed into an ecologically managed, community-accessible landscape. The design for the campus includes EV charging stations, ADA accessible pathways, picnic lawns, and wildflower gardens. Formerly sterile golf fairways and greens are being transformed into vast native meadows, so much better for pollinators and wildlife habitat, as well as increased carbon sequestration in the soil. The native plant materials planned for the campus will allow for maintenance practices that eliminate the regular application of pesticides and herbicides and support a dramatic reduction in the use of irrigation. 

The center of the campus is the site of HVS’s new open-air theater. The Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum purpose-built theater in the country. LEED Platinum represents the highest level of green design certification! Solar panels, rainwater capture, reduced embedded carbon and other cutting-edge green design elements will minimize climate and other environmental impacts, and better protect the theater from extreme weather.

In addition, former golf maintenance sheds have been converted into two rehearsal spaces, and a state-of-the-art costume shop. On a lower part of the campus, HVS is planning a cluster of accommodations, which will serve as on-site lodging for our company of artists during the performance season, and allow for overnight guests the rest of the year. 

To complete this project, HVS’s board and senior leadership have engaged a team of experts:

• Architect: Jeanne Gang + Studio Gang
• Landscape Architects and Master Planners: Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects
• Civil Engineering + Survey: Badey & Watson
• Legal: Sive, Paget & Riesel
• Traffic Engineering:  Kimley-Horn
• Environmental Planning:  Kellard Sessions
• Acoustics: Threshold Acoustics
• MEP: Buro Happold
• Owner’s Representation: About The Work
• Theater Consultant:  Fisher Dachs Associates

HVS plans to build a cluster of five buildings, comprising a total of 32 beds, on the lower part of the property, far away from Route 9, and not visible from any point outside of the perimeter of the campus. While the Artist and Guest Lodging was thoroughly vetted and approved in the SEQRA review process, it will also be the subject of a separate site plan application before the Philipstown Planning Board. 

In the non-profit regional theater, it is a union requirement to provide housing for visiting artists. Currently, our artists stay in commercial motels 15 miles north in Fishkill. We are eager to establish on-site lodging that can accommodate HVS artists during the season, as well as other guests in the remainder of the year. Having lodging near the theater will reduce carbon emissions and commutes for artists traveling between different locations.

Absolutely nothing! The property is large enough that both weddings and performances can happen concurrently without disturbance or interruption, and that has been proved by the successful operations of both since HVS’s relocation to the campus. The for-profit hospitality business is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the non-profit theater company, and any revenues from that business will go to the maintenance of the entire campus, and the support of HVS’s mission-based programming. 

While we share your fondness for the tent at Boscobel, the new theater and campus will offer an even more immersive and enjoyable experience. Opening in 2026, the Samuel H. Scripps Theater will feature an open-air design with a permanent pavilion-style roof, providing better shelter than the fabric tent while still allowing you to enjoy the natural surroundings. Sightlines and acoustics will be significantly improved, ensuring every seat has a clear view and crisp sound. Parking will be easier and more accessible, with pathways leading directly to the theater. Restrooms will be modern and nearby, and you’ll have the option to picnic right next to the venue, watching as the landscape becomes part of the performance. With enhanced accessibility features throughout the site, including for those with mobility needs, the new campus will truly elevate your experience in every way.

Yes, HVS will be expanding programming in our new home! We will now be able to extend seasons into the beautiful Hudson Valley fall, offering performances through mid-October, allowing us to grow our education partnerships and host school groups for matinees. 

Our new flexible spaces will also support a variety of community events, after-school programs, and professional development for educators. We’re making performances even more accessible with closed-captioned shows and sensory-friendly productions. Our new accommodations will also create opportunities to host Artists-in-Residence during our off-season, attracting top talent to incubate their best work with us. Plus, we’re opening our indoor spaces at The Garrison for use by local nonprofits and community groups, providing a vibrant, year-round hub for education, engagement, and artistic collaboration in the region.

HVS’s new home has a jaw-dropping northward view of the Hudson River, with Storm King Mountain on the left, Breakneck Ridge on the right, and the gateway to the upper Hudson Valley. Audience members can continue to picnic before performances, just as they have done for decades. Additionally, guests will have the option of dining indoors or on the terrace at the Valley Restaurant or World’s End Bar. The magnificent new view will provide the backdrop for our performances in the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, and our company of actors will continue to appear over a ridge on the horizon, a signature of HVS productions.

Since the initial announcement of its move to a new home in August 2020, HVS has taken steps to keep its audience, artists, and the Philipstown community fully informed of our plans. As the planning process progressed, we’ve taken many suggestions into consideration and adjusted our plans significantly to get the best results for our community. To date, changes include:

• Permanently protecting a substantial area of land with important environmental and scenic attributes.
• Further safeguarding Philipse Brook, its tributaries and adjacent terrain with a committed contribution of 17 acres to the Hudson Highlands Land Trust.
• Redesigning the plan for Artist Lodging to ensure minimal visibility of the structures from Route 9; an eco-friendlier design by conglomerating units; and the privacy and safety of our visiting staff.
• Removing an initially proposed 20-room inn and a year-round indoor theater from the long-term planning application.
• Adjusting the placement of the proposed parking lot out of the designated wetland buffer zone.
• Proposing a new open-air theater design, made of wood and with a very low profile, as opposed to a white tent with a higher profile. 
• Sharing the intention to plant additional greenery and trees to provide further screening and limit any view of its permanent open-air theater from both Snake Hill Road and Route 9.
• Eliminating a proposed new entrance to Snake Hill Road, and the bridge that would be constructed for the new entrance.

The SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) process was extensive, with numerous agencies involved, and evaluated any possible impacts in areas such as traffic, noise, light, community character, water, and many others, and found that any potential impacts had been mitigated to the greatest extent practicable.

Yes! While not envisioned as a public park, we intend to continue to allow passive-use access for neighbors to walk their dogs, or snowshoe in the winter, as they have done in the past. Because of its spectacular view of the surrounding landscape, the site is a unique place from which to appreciate the natural beauty of the Hudson Highlands. As a privately owned property, with reasonable restrictions on permitted uses and times of access, we want to be able to share this experience with our neighbors and the members of the public, not just with HVS patrons. At the same time, HVS will reserve the right to thoughtfully and responsibly manage access to the property to prevent overuse.

HVS is already one of the largest employers in Philipstown, with over 100 employees at the height of our season. A permanent campus and the ability to add amenities and extend our season will grow our economic impact by several million dollars, from $4.6M to $7.6M annually by 2027, adding 239 full-time-equivalent jobs, with downstream effects on area industries—hospitality, retail, construction, and local small businesses. As testimony to its economic importance, the project was designated as a “Priority Project” by the State of New York Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and so far has received $3.25 million in state economic development funding.   

HVS’s new year-round campus and its associated institutional costs are being funded through a healthy and diverse mix of individual, foundation, and government support. With a total campaign goal exceeding $58 million, we’re thrilled to have raised over $50 million to date. Nearly half of that—$25 million—has come from individual donors, including our dedicated Board and loyal supporters. We’ve also received substantial foundation support, with contributions from some of the country’s leading philanthropic organizations.

In addition to private giving, our campaign has been significantly bolstered by government support, with $18.5 million raised through state and federal grants. Key partners include the New York State Council on the Arts, which awarded us a $10 million capital grant, the largest in its history, along with vital support from the Hudson Valley Regional Economic Development Council and federal backing facilitated by Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and United States Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.

As we enter the public phase of our campaign, we’re focused on raising the necessary funds to build on-site Artist Lodging, which will reduce operating costs and enhance the artist experience. We’re inviting our broader community to participate, with opportunities for gifts of all sizes, including naming rights for campus features like gardens, pathways, benches, and theater seats. Every contribution helps ensure the success of our new home and the lasting legacy of HVS in the Hudson Highlands.

We are actively fundraising for the final phase of our campaign to construct on-site Artist Lodging and to build critical reserve funds for the long-term stability of our organization. We would be delighted to welcome you to HVS’s growing group of friends and supporters who are working together to bring this project to fruition.

If you still have questions and would like additional information about the project –  including the naming opportunities that are still available on our campus – please email Interim Director of Development Stephanie Paul at spaul@hvshakespeare.org.