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 35 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!

Read More

September 25th, 2021

A Benefit reading of SAFE HOME – A ‘Trip-Tik’ of Stories by Tom Hanks, Adapted and directed by James Glossman

  

 

Visit Gallery

August 27th, 2020

Our own Collier family is named “Arts Patron of the Year” at the Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards!

Watch Video

October 10th, 2019

SHADOWLAND STAGES is named the best Actors Equity Theater in the Hudson Valley!

Read More

The 2019 Season

     

    

 

Visit Gallery

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. 

Read More

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”!

Read More

The 2018 Season

        

       

Visit Gallery

October 12th, 2017

Ribbon cutting on Phase I STUDIO renovations

Read More

The 2017 Season

  

  

Visit Gallery

The 2016 Season

  

  

Visit Gallery

March 10th, 2016

Shadowland Theatre becomes

Read More

The 2015 Season

  

  

Visit Gallery

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!

The 2014 Season

   

  

Visit Gallery

June 11th, 2013

SHADOWLAND receives the Arts Organization of the Year Award at the Ulster County Executive Arts Awards!

Read More

The 2013 Season

   

 

Visit Gallery

The 2012 Season

    

  

Visit Gallery

July 25th, 2011

LIGHT THE WAY Capital Campaign Announced

Read More

The 2011 Season

   

 

View Gallery

The 2010 Season

   

    

View Gallery

December 22nd, 2009

PROVIDENT BANK (now STERLING) donates Actor Housing

 

Read More

September 6th, 2009

Time Lapse Video! Watch our stage transition from ACCOMPLICE to AMERICAN BUFFALO September 6th – 8th, 2009 

 

View video

The 2009 Season

    

 

View Gallery

The 2008 Season

    

  

View Gallery

April 10th, 2008

Our arts education program begins with acting clases for kids, and we call it

The Academy

The 2007 Season

    

  

View Gallery

The 2006 Season

   

 

View More

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

Visit Gallery

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

Visit Gallery

June 1st, 1985

A group of artists band together and start a theatre. . . 

Read More

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.

Pin It on Pinterest