Schumer pledges $1.5M for new Hudson Valley Shakespeare theater
Nancy Cutler and Peter D. Kramer- Rockland/Westchester Journal News
GARRISON – Hudson Valley Shakespeare can expect a $1.5 million boost to its building fund, thanks to a grant pledged by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York. The festival has unveiled ambitious (and expensive) plans for a permanent theater on the hilltop overlooking the Hudson.
The funding has been placed in the Senate Agriculture-FDA appropriations bill, Schumer announced Tuesday.
Schumer said HVSF brings tens of thousands of visitors to the region every year and it one of the area’s largest employers.
“For too long this long-desired project to create a permanent home for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare and beautiful new theater overlooking the scenic Hudson River faced a question: ‘To be or not to be?’” Schumer said during an announcement at the site. “Well I am here today to announce that I have just secured the final piece of the funding puzzle to say it is to be.”
The Hudson Valley Shakespeare is in its third season the Garrison location, on 98 acres of a former golf course gifted by philanthropist Chris Davis. Prior to that, the festival was held at Boscobel.
Philipstown’s Town Board amended the town code to permit a Garrison Cultural Conservation Planned Development District and the planning board in July passed final approvals for Phase I of the project.
Plans call for a open-air pavilion and 500-seat theater on the crest of a hill overlooking Storm King mountain and the Hudson River. If all goes as planned, construction will commence in fall with a planned opening in the spring of 2026.The Hudson Valley Shakespeare — which stirred a bit of controversy this year when its roster didn’t contain any Shakespeare plays — had earlier received a $10 million grant, via Schumer and the Save Our Stages Act, to weather COVID shutdowns.Read on LoHud