I worked as an intern over the summer in 2008 and found it to be a wonderful experience. I had the opportunity to learn from stage managers in different stages of their careers and grew in my craft. I enjoyed being surrounded by so many theater artists in one place working on so many different things. It's wonderful how they support playwrights.
My husband and I have been attending these productions for the past twenty years. We have enjoyed participating in the development process enabling directors, authors, actors, set designers etc to work on their respective crafts in front of a live audience. We in turn provide a responsive audience for works and artists that are in various dyshrs of creation. It is exciting and at once pragmatic for all of us who are involved.
My friends and I have been going to the NYSAF summer readings at Vassar for five years and we continue to be amazed at how such talented and often well-known actors and directors give their time and effort to develop new plays. We saw Shanley's Doubt in an early manifestation and we have seen many promising plays, including some that were decidedly not commercial. Of all the playreading series we go to, this is by far the most rewarding in its choice of plays and its performances. Just listening to other audience members is itself a joy and an education.
Being New York Stage and Film/Powerhouse Theater subscribers was the highlight of our Summer, 2009. The extraordinary richness and variety included drama, musicals, short comic plays and even freebies (one favorite was "Hello, My Baby"). All in all a very appealing bargain.
I am an actor who has been involved with New York Stage and Film since it's inception, 25 years ago. I have been an audience member, a performer and now a member of the board. NYSF has never lost it's focus of developing plays and films in a safe, creative environment. I recommend that anyone come to Poughkeepsie in the summer and watch great actors perform exciting new works-in-progress. Many of these works go on to great success on Broadway and elsewhere. But it is most rewarding to see and hear them as they are just being born. Dana Delany
This is the best theater in the Hudson Valley.My Husband and I see all their plays, including full scale productions, semi-staged work and many readings of new plays. The actiong is outstanding and the plays are always interesting and stimulating. We plan our summer around the Powerhouse schedule. For anyone who likes Theater this is an experience not to be missed.
I have been a board member for several years. Every summer I check out a few of the productions. I've seen the gamut from readings to play workshops to fully staged musicals. What never ceases to amaze me it not just the calibre of the presentations but the palpable sense of a creative community at work. The excitement and enthusiasm of the artists is contagious. One year I was part of a producing team of a reading of a new play. The experience was unbelievably informative throughout the five day rehearsal period and at the performance. We had a wonderful dramaturg working with the writer and director and a first rate cast. There is better way to develop a new play than in such a supprtive, non judgmental environment. For audiences, it's a chance to participate in helping shape new works through their responses. I am truly proud to have even a smaall role in this terrific non profit.
I helped found this company 26 years ago, I have worked for and with this company, I serve on its board and I hope to work this company for years to come. Few arts organizations focus so much on the process of making theater with more practical and knowledgeable application (and not just on paper but in practice!). The number of theater and film artist served over the years is staggering and the emphasis on process over result is maintained at every level and in a community of theater artists unmatched in this country... The only thing holding this group back is budget, and even there they manage to get more money to artists and more bang for the buck than any group I have worked with over a thirty five year career in the arts....