Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Inc

In its 30th year, hudson valley shakespeare's education program engaged over 13,500 students across more than 20 schools in the tri-state area through 326 in-person workshops, performances, and residencies led by professional teaching artists. The centerpiece of the 2024 education tour was a 90-minute production of much ado about nothing, directed by kholoud sawaf and performed by a six-member ensemble with live music. Touring to 14 middle and high schools across the hudson valley, connecticut, and northern new jersey, the production introduced students to shakespeare through playfulness, collaboration, and direct engagement, exploring themes of love, misunderstanding, and perception.

In april 2024, hudson valley shakespeare and processional arts workshop presented the third annual highland lights, a free community celebration of art and nature at the festival's garrison home. Centered on the theme full fathom five, the project included 12 free workshops led by alex kahn and sophia michahelles, engaging more than 120 volunteer participants in creating lanterns inspired by the waterways of the hudson river estuary. The month-long collaboration culminated in an evening procession on april 20, attended by over 300 community members, celebrating the region's natural beauty and shared stewardship.in november 2024, hudson valley shakespeare presented its 9th annual community bake-off, themed "adaptation: a shake of the kaleidoscope, and inspired by heidi armbruster's the murder of roger ackroyd. Conceived by pulitzer prize-winning playwright paula vogel, the bake-off invites participants to create ten-minute plays using a shared list of "ingredients" connected to the theme. Held in partnership with five local libraries, the 2024 series offered free workshops led by christine scarfuto, acting director of the mfa playwriting program at hunter college, and attracted over 100 participants, resulting in nearly 50 original play submissions. Six plays were selected for a public reading performed by professional actors, continuing hvs's commitment to nurturing new voices and fostering creative exchange across the hudson valley.