Our new permanent open-air theater will be named in honor of Samuel H. Scripps (1927-2007), a visionary philanthropist whose passion for theater and dance profoundly shaped American culture. Learn more about Samuel H. Scripps’ incredible legacy here.
The design creates a singular theatrical destination for New York and the wider performing arts community and a cultural anchor for the Hudson Valley, while providing the company with greater versatility for its actors, audiences, and back-of-house operations and will extend the viable performance season into the fall. Bringing nature and art closer together, the permanent 6,800 square feet, 480 seat open air theater with a timber-framed grid shell and timber columns emerges from the landscape to create a dialogue with the Hudson Highlands. The stage’s proscenium arch is carefully oriented to frame picturesque views of the Wey-Gat (or “Wind Gate”) of Storm King Mountain, the Hudson River, and Breakneck Ridge, and allows the actors to utilize the existing topography to emerge from the landscape. Landscape elements are also integrated into the theater’s architecture: outdoor gathering spaces adjacent to the theater encourage visitors to connect with each other in an extraordinary natural setting, while a nearby overlook offers an intimate space for pre-and post-performance programming.
