Dear Friends,

The Tempest begins with a great storm, a crisis that comes seemingly out of nowhere, and upends the lives of all of the characters.

I can relate, and I bet you can too. 

Sometimes, a crisis can also bring with it an opportunity for transformation — a chance to see the world with fresh eyes, to take stock of where we’ve been, how we got here, and where we want to go in the future. Both of the plays we are bringing to you this summer — written 400 years apart — are framed as acts of reckoning, pivotal moments where the past comes to bear on the present, and everything hangs in the balance. As we return to performance after 18 months away from the shared experience of human gathering under this tent, we are particularly mindful of the urgent calls for racial justice in American society. In very different ways, both of our 2021 offerings resonate with challenging questions of justice, accountability, liberation and forgiveness. I can’t wait to share them with you.  

HVSF is at our own pivotal moment in our life as a theater. As you may have heard, this summer will be our final season at Boscobel House and Gardens, where we have pitched our iconic theater tent for the past 34 years. Thanks to the generosity of philanthropist Chris Davis, we are busily planning our move to the company’s first-ever permanent home! Just three miles down the road, this spectacular new home — with astonishing Hudson River views — will allow us to remain a vital part of the Hudson Highlands community that we’ve served and loved over the past 35 years. We are deeply grateful to our friends at Boscobel for hosting us for so many years, and look forward to honoring and celebrating the countless unforgettable summer evenings that have been spent here. 

I often end by saying that we can’t wait to welcome you back under the tent, and never has it been more true than it is now. Our team has worked diligently to implement safety measures for our audience and artists to make this summer possible. The experience might not be exactly what we’re all used to, but I know that the moment when our actors come over the ridge and meet our audiences under the tent will be “such stuff as dreams are made on.” 

On behalf of everyone at HVSF, we are so honored and thankful to share this moment with you. 

Warmly,

Davis McCallum, Artistic Director