Pre-Show Programs

Discover our Enrichment Events, a lively series of weekly gatherings at the Borthwick Crescent (view HVS map). These free pre-show programs are designed to spark curiosity, entertain, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at our productions. The perfect accompaniment to your picnic, these events extend your evening offering conversations with artists and creatives, music from local musicians, and more!

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Best in Show

Wednesdays
6:15 pm (June 24–Aug 26)
6:00 pm (Sept 2–23)
The Crescent

Join members of HVS’s Company and a canine co-star for some tail-wagging, behind-the-scenes conversation about the season, their roles, and the pets who rule their lives. Partnering with regional shelters and rescue groups, each event spotlights an adoptable dog ready to steal the show, and maybe your heart. Its theater talk fur a purpose!

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Up Next:

Wed, July 1 at 6:15pm

Helen Cespedes (2026 Acting Company) & Strong Paws Rescue

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Prologues

Thursdays
6:15 pm (June 25–Aug 27)
6:00 pm (Sept 3–24)
The Crescent

Our Prologue series brings together invited artists, scholars, authors, and cultural thinkers for a lively, curated conversation before the performance. These brief talks may dive directly into the evening’s production or branch out into the artistic, historical, and contemporary ideas swirling around, offering fresh perspectives and new ways to experience the work on stage. Come curious, leave inspired!

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The Matchmaker. Photo by Gabe Palacio

Up Next:

Thurs, July 2 at 6:15pm

Sophia Michahelles and Alex Kahn (Processional Arts Workshop) on Highland Lights

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Photo by Jeff Mikkelson

Overtures

Fridays
6:15 pm (June 26–Aug 28)
6:00 pm (Sept 4–25)
The Crescent

Before the play begins, the music sets the mood. Friday Night Overtures celebrates the extraordinary musical talent of the Hudson Valley with a thirty-minute live acoustic performance ahead of the show. Featuring invited artists drawn from HVS collaborators, local musicians, and the wider community, these performances are conceived as an opening prelude not a full concert to showcase the range and artistry of musicians in the region.

Content Matchmaker Overtures Enrichment Events Community
Carl Howell in "The Matchmaker." Photo by Gabe Palacio

Up Next:

Fri, July 3 at 6:15pm

Kat Lee Rivers & Stephen Selman (American Roots & Originals)

Kat Lee Rivers: Hudson Valley singer-songwriter, performing artist, and music educator Kat Lee Rivers offers listeners a warm place to land with her captivating voice, and themes that feel like a deep breath. Kat blends Americana with folk storytelling, crafting intimate yet energetic acoustic sets. Her musical journey has taken her around the world, from the rooftops of Barcelona, to singing backup for a band opening for Willie Nelson in TX, to singing alongside Ben Folds with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. A Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition finalist holding a Master’s in Vocal Jazz, she beautifully blends technical mastery with deep vulnerability, creating folk-rooted original music that reminds us we aren't broken. 

Stephen Selman: Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and studio engineer Stephen Selman is the kind of musician who can pick up just about anything, guitar, drums, bass, piano, or banjo, and make it look easy. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Stephen is both a seasoned songwriter and a total wizard behind the audio console. But what he loves most is sharing that passion. Stephen specializes in private and group instruction, and he absolutely loves diving into songwriting and music production with his students. He hosts the East Mountain Studios YouTube channel and blog, sharing his teaching philosophy and practical advice for navigating the musical journey as an up-and-coming voice in modern music education. 

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Family Day

Engaging hands-on workshops and activities for participants of all ages. These special events will take place at 3.30 pm and are designed to accompany the 5 pm relaxed performance.

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Stage Combat Family Workshop