Designed by Studio Gang, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival is set to redefine the meaning of performance with the new Samuel H. Scripps Theatre Center. Located in Garrison, New York, the 1,380-square-meter theater will serve as a cultural hub, offering state-of-the-art facilities for actors, audiences, and all HVS employees.
Currently under construction, the facility aims to elevate the theater-going experience with its 475-seat capacity, an innovative design that harmonizes with nature, and its pursuit of LEED Platinum certification.
The project features a timber-framed grid shell with a gracefully curved form that integrates with the Hudson River’s highlands. Open-air performances extend the structure into nature, allowing for panoramic views of the surrounding ridgelines, including Storm King, Snake Hill, and Breakneck Ridge. This theatre embraces its environment, opening itself to nature for both patrons and performers.
Since its founding in 1987, HVS has staged its seasonal productions under a tent at Boscobel House and Gardens. The new theater retains this connection to nature but significantly enhances the spaces for rehearsal, performance, and amenities. Improved accessibility allows for a more inclusive experience, while modern technical facilities unlock new creative possibilities for HVS productions.
Visitors will approach the theater along accessible paths that wind through restored native grasses and wetlands, leading up to the theater, which sits atop a hill. This journey enhances the feeling of discovery and anticipation before the performance.
The main architectural elements—the A-frame timber columns and the sweeping curved shade roof—merge the building with its rolling landscape. On this stage, the proscenium arch serves as an entryway for both actors and spectators, framing the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley in the background.
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