Hudson Valley Shakespeare ‘Raises the Curtain’ on New Venue

The Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center in Garrison opened as the new home of Hudson Valley Shakespeare on May 14. Photo by Thornton Tomasetti consulting firm.

The new home of Hudson Valley Shakespeare – the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center in Garrison – opened May 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the culmination of a seven-year journey to create the company’s first permanent home and theater.

The summer season will kick off in June, featuring William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and “King Lear.”

The $33 million project, which includes is the first public purpose-built LEED Platinum theater in the U.S., and ecological land restoration, was supported by a combined $15.25 million investment from the New York State Council on the Arts, Empire State Development, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, and the NYS Education Department. An additional $250,000 investment combined from Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, former Assemblymember Sandra Galef, and State Sen. Peter Harckham contributed to the overall $15.5 million state investment in this world-class arts venue.

“To be among NYSCA’s historic grant recipients is a profound honor, and has been instrumental in getting us to this moment where we are opening a permanent home for our theater that is rooted in language, landscape, and community,” said Hudson Valley Shakespeare Artistic Director Davis McCallum. “For our artists, audiences, students, and neighbors, this campus creates new possibilities for gathering, learning, and experiencing the arts in one of the most extraordinary settings in New York.”

In 2022, Hudson Valley Shakespeare moved from its longtime site at Boscobel House & Gardens to a 98-acre property in Philipstown provided by philanthropist Chris Davis as a permanent home for the nonprofit theater company. The new Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center establishes more versatility for the actors, audience, and back-of-house for one of New York’s most beloved open-air theater companies.

Designed by the renowned architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang, the 14,850-square-foot venue is protected from the elements yet open to the landscape, accommodating a performance season from June through September. Construction began Sept. 25, 2024.

At the heart of the campus is a 6,800-square-foot, 451-seat open-air theater, whose curved timber-framed grid shell and columns rise naturally from the land, creating a dialogue with the Hudson Highlands. The stage’s proscenium arch is carefully oriented to frame iconic views of the Wey-Gat (“Wind Gate”) of Storm King Mountain, the Hudson River, and Breakneck Ridge, allowing performers to emerge directly from the surrounding topography.

Anchored by the theater, a series of thoughtfully designed pavilions – including rehearsal studios, a costume shop, teaching and education spaces, artist accommodations, administrative offices, concessions, and public amenities – are clad in natural materials that reflect the region’s character. Outdoor gathering areas, picnic lawns, and a scenic overlook invite visitors to linger before and after performances in an extraordinary natural setting.

“The Hudson Valley Shakespeare campus is a landmark investment for the Mid-Hudson region – one that strengthens our cultural identity, drives economic growth, and sets a national standard for sustainable design,” said Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Dr. Marsha Gordon and Dr. Kristine Young. “By bringing together world-class architecture, ecological stewardship, and the performing arts, this project proves that economic development and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Hudson Valley Shakespeare's first permanent home is named in honor of Samuel H. Scripps (1927-2007), a visionary philanthropist whose passion for theater and dance profoundly shaped American culture. From an early age, Scripps developed a deep love for Shakespeare, which would guide his lifelong commitment to the arts.