New theater scheduled to open in 2026
After several years of reviews, public meetings and modifications, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival on July 18 received its final set of approvals from Philipstown for the first phase of development at its new home at the former Garrison Golf Course.
Planning Board approval sets the stage for a groundbreaking in the fall for a 13,850-square-foot outdoor theater on the former 11th hole, which provides an expansive view of the Hudson River. Chris Davis, who owned the course, donated 98 acres to the festival, which moved to the site in 2022 after staging its productions for more than 30 years on the grounds of Boscobel on Route 9D.
Once completed, the structure will be the first purpose-built theater in the nation rated LEED Platinum. Among other criteria, the international standard — which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — judges buildings on how well they reduce global warming, protect water resources, enhance biodiversity and improve a community’s quality of life. Platinum is the highest of four levels.
Renderings by StudioGang
The site plan was initially presented to the Philipstown Town Board in 2020 and revised several times to address concerns by Planning Board members and neighbors about issues such as noise and traffic. Plans for an inn and an indoor theater were removed from the first phase, more trees will be planted along Route 9 and a parking lot positioned on a wetland was relocated.
Artistic Director Davis McCallum said this week that he appreciated the time that Town Board, Planning Board and Conservation Board members dedicated to the project. He also thanked residents who offered feedback during five public hearings.
“We tried to listen to the community with openness and curiosity about how we could adapt this project to serve the community best,” he said. “The process has yielded a better outcome.”
The theater will have solar panels, a green roof, natural ventilation and rainwater capture systems and will use low-carbon building materials. McCallum said that HVSF hasn’t determined how much the project will cost, but that because of “quiet fundraising” and a $10 million state grant, it will begin construction on the theater in the fall and open the facility before the 2026 season. Since 2022, the festival has been staging its plays in a tent elsewhere on the site.
The site was designed by Studio Gang, whose recent projects include the Richard Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Its design there drew acclaim for its flowing and curvaceous granite interior that evokes desert canyons and beehives. “For us, they have delivered a design that is beautiful, sustainable and consonant with the landscape of the Hudson Highlands,” McCallum said.
Although the theater will have fewer seats than the tent, it won’t include support poles that block views. In addition, McCallum said it will allow HVSF to extend its season from early September to mid-October, allowing for weekday matinees for students.
The 2025 season is being envisioned as a “farewell to the tent,” according to HVSF. McCallum said next year’s schedule will be announced in October.
He hinted that the company has known for years what show it will perform to open the theater in 2026. He wouldn’t budge when pressed for a reveal but said: “It will be the fulfillment of something that we’ve wanted for many years, which is that moment when the actors can appear over the hillside and approach the theater. That’s the thing that I’m most looking forward to on the first night.”
