Our History
SHADOWLAND STAGES was founded in 1985 by a group of 30 theatre artists who moved from New York City to Ellenville, NY and purchased the aging 400+ seat, 1920’s art deco vaudeville/movie theatre. 2019 marked Shadowland Stages’ 35th year of live theatre in the (now renovated) “neo-deco” 179-seat theatre.
But our history stretches back much further than even those 39 years. We’ll be sharing some of the milestones along the way below. . .
October 22nd, 2021
We celebrated the official ribbon cutting of The Studio at SHADOWLAND STAGES as a performance space!
September 25th, 2021
A Benefit reading of SAFE HOME – A ‘Trip-Tik’ of Stories by Tom Hanks, Adapted and directed by James Glossman
August 27th, 2020
Our own Collier family is named “Arts Patron of the Year” at the Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards!
October 10th, 2019
SHADOWLAND STAGES is named the best Actors Equity Theater in the Hudson Valley!
August 26th, 2018
Board Member Robert M. Osgood celebrates the grand unveiling of “The Lion” – the latest sculpture by artist Boutros Romhein as a benefit for SHADOWLAND STAGES.
June 5th, 2018
Board Member Jim McIntyre (pictured here with County Executive Mike Hein) is awarded the Ulster County Executive Arts Awards’ “Volunteer of the Year”!
June 10th, 2015
Board Member Robert M. Osgood (pictured here with Artistic Director Brendan Burke) is named the “Arts Patron of the Year” at the Ulster County Executive Arts Awards!
June 11th, 2013
SHADOWLAND receives the Arts Organization of the Year Award at the Ulster County Executive Arts Awards!
September 6th, 2009
Time Lapse Video! Watch our stage transition from ACCOMPLICE to AMERICAN BUFFALO September 6th – 8th, 2009
April 10th, 2008
Our arts education program begins with acting clases for kids, and we call it
The Academy
The 2005 Season
Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan Directed by Michael LaFleur
Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones Directed By Brendan Burke
All My Sons by Arthur Miller Directed by James Glossman
The Devil’s Music (The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith) By Angelo Parra Directed by Joe Brancato
The Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt Directed by Jack Wade
The 2004 Season
Proof By David Auburn, Directed by Brendan Burke
Wrong Turn at Lungfish by Lowell Ganz and Garry Marshall Directed by William Morris
Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon Directed by William Morris
Meshuggah-Nuns by Dan Goggin Directed by Michael LaFleur
Frankie and Johnny at the Clair de Lune By Terrence McNally Directed by Sara May
The 2003 Season
A Walk in the Woods by Lee Blessing Directed by Brendan Burke
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling Directed by William Morris
What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton Directed by Brendan Burke
The Taffetas by Rick Lewis Directed by Michael LaFleur
Romantic Fools by Rich Orloff Directed by William Morris
The 2002 Season
ART by Yasmin Reza
Sylvia by A.R. Gurney Directed by William Morris
Love, Sex and the I.R.S. by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Millmore, Directed by William Morris
Always, Patsy Cline by Ted Swindley
A Couple of Blaguards By Frank & Malachy McCourt, Directed by Brendan Burke
The 2001 Season
Shedding Light by Rich Orloff, Directed by Bill Lelbach
Talley’s Folly by Lanford Wilson, Directed by Bill Lelbach
Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire
Book of Days by Lanford Wilson, Directed by Jack Wade
Stop Kiss by Diana Son, directed by Bev Brumm
The 2000 Season
Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron Directed by Brendan Burke
Domestic Tranquility by Rich Orloff, Directed by Brendan Burke
Noises Off By Michael Frayn, Directed by Bill Lelbach
Bluff By Jeffrey Sweet, Directed by James Glossman
The Speed of Darkness by Steve Tesich, Directed by Bill Lelbach
The 1999 Season
Hedda Gabler by Hendrick Ibsen, Directed by T. Newell Kring
The Twilight Of The Golds by Jonathan Tolins, Directed by Bill Lelbach
The Mystery Of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam, Directed by Jack Harris
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott, Directed by Brendan Burke
The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson, Directed by Bill Lelbach
The 1998 Season
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
The Compleat Works Of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
The Fourposter by Jan de Hartog
Six Women With Brain Death
Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood
The 1997 Season
The Diary Of Anne Frank by Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday by Michael Brady
1959 Pink Thunderbird by James McLure
Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross
Valley Song by Athol Fugard
The 1996 Season
Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck
The Immigrant by Mark Harelik
Pump Boys & Dinettes
Veronica’s Position by Rich Orloff
The Sea Horse By Edward J. Moore
The 1995 Season
Terra Nova by Ted Talley, directed by Bill Lelbach
The Foreigner by Larry Shue by Nicola Sheara
A Shayna Maidel by Barbara Lebow, Directed by Bill Lelbach
I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick, Directed by Robert Miller
Keely & Du by Jane Martin, Directed by Bill Lelbach
The 1994 Season
Fifth Of July by Lanford Wilson
Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon
Social Security by Andrew Bergman
A Few Good Men by Aaron Sorkin
The 1993 Season
Frontiers
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
Other People’s Money by Jerry Sterner
Larry Park’s Day In Court by Ron Marquette
The 1992 Season
The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash
Dracula, The Vampire Play
Chapter Two by Neil Simon
The Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel
The Woolgatherer by William Mastrosimone
The 1991 Season
Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon
Murder At The Howard Johnsons by Sam Bobrick
Italian-American Reconciliation by John Patrick Shanley
Orphans by Lyle Kessler
Greater Tuna by Ed Howard, Jaston Williams and Joe Sears
The 1990 Season
Broadway Bound by Neil Simon
Butterflies Are Free by Leonard Gershe
I’m Not Rappaport by Herb Gardner
Crossing Delancey by Susan Sandler
Strange Snow by Stephen Metcalfe
The 1989 Season
Nonna by Ron Marquette
Mass Appeal by Bill C. Davis
A Frog In His Throat
6 Rms Riv Vu by Bob Randall
The Gin Game by D.L. Coburn
The Subject Was Roses by Frank D. Gilroy
The 1988 Season
And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little by Paul Zindel
Bus Stop by William Inge
Luv by Murray Schisgal
California Suite by Neil Simon
Talley’s Folly by Lanford Wilson
True West by Sam Shepard
The 1987 Season
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
Dames At Sea by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller
Dial M For Murder by Frederick Knott
Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade
December 19th, 1986
Marlena & Edward Jacobs donate the building housing our MainStage.
The 1986 Season
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee
Vanities by Jack Heifner
Star-Spangled Girl by Neil Simon
Crimes Of The Heart by Beth Henley
Key Exchange by Kevin Wade
The 1985 Season
Light Up The Sky by Moss Hart
Trixie True: Teen Detective by Kelly Hamilton
Cat Among The Pigeons by Georges Feydeau
Private Lives by Noel Coward
Deathtrap by Ira Levin
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Clark Gesner and John Gordon
Read about our MainStage theatre's early history
from movies to vaudeville, this article by Marion Dumond traces the building’s history back to 1920!
It is with gratitude and humility that we acknowledge that all of us in the Hudson Valley are on the ancestral homelands of the Munsee Lenape people, who are indigenous to this land. SHADOWLAND STAGES pays honor and respect to their ancestors past and present, and we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all.
