Folks,
We love sharing news with our blog subscribers. And we’ve been keeping some great news under our hats for the past few weeks while we solidified some details. So we’re thrilled we can tell you that…we’re expanding. After a ridiculously busy winter, we are expanding in Cornwall - and Beacon, NY!
Read below for our official press release…
Veterans Repertory Theater Announces Major Expansions in Beacon and Cornwall, NY
BEACON, NY – Veterans Repertory Theater (VetRep) a pioneering arts organization dedicated to reinvigorating American theater through the work of veteran writers and artists, is excited to announce its expansion to 139 Main Street, Beacon, NY - the former location of Mechanics Savings Bank. This strategic move allows VetRep to significantly increase its presence in the Hudson Valley with a 12,000 square-foot space that will host potentially three performance areas.
Artistic Director and Founder Christopher Paul Meyer expressed his enthusiasm: "I can't tell you how great it feels to finally control our own calendar and be able to platform all the work we've compiled from our veteran writers and artists."
VetRep has planned a year-round program for the Beacon stage, beginning with the second Savage Wonder Festival of Veterans in the Arts, marking Phase I of the site's build-out. This festival is scheduled for the Columbus Day weekend, from October 11 to 13, 2024. The full development of the site will include a theater space and a multimedia performance area during its second phase.
Following the festival, the Main Street location will serve as VetRep’s main stage, featuring at least two bars and housing the future Savage Wonder Gallery of Veteran Art. The non-profit gallery will exhibit art from veterans, underscoring VetRep’s commitment to the arts and the veteran community.
In Cornwall, NY, VetRep will maintain its 16-seat Parlor at 16 Quaker Ave. The Parlor will host shows on Saturday nights from April to December in 2024. Further exciting developments include VetRep's agreement to occupy the Lemon Building at 257 Main Street in Cornwall, envisioning it as the VetRep Imaginarium, a permanent show incubator complete with a gallery, bar/cafe/lounge, and jewelbox performance space. "Our community is proud of the fact that we helped support VetRep as they began their journey in Cornwall at the Parlor and are now expanding to multiple locations at 257 Main Street in Cornwall - known as the Lemon Building - and in Beacon. We look forward to finding out later this Spring whether VetRep's New York Forward project application is awarded and to a continued partnership with Chris Meyer and the rest of their team as they embark on fulfilling this important mission for veteran artists," said Josh Wojehowski, the Cornwall Town Supervisor
VetRep’s pursuit for a permanent home has seen changes, with initial plans for 1 Angola Road in Cornwall being replaced by the new opportunities in Beacon and Cornwall. Meyer states, "People have asked me what went wrong at 1 Angola and my answer is, ‘You mean, what went right!’ We're incredibly grateful things have played out the way they did. Having the opportunity to execute two transformative projects in two of the most dynamic and interesting municipalities in the Hudson Valley is a privilege we don't take lightly."
While the expansion has led to the difficult decision of forgoing the Savage Wonder Festival at Donohue Farm in Cornwall-on-Hudson, Meyer explained, “We have to make moves that will allow us to be a viable entity in the Hudson Valley for years to come. And now that we have, we're not going anywhere. As we get settled into our new homes, there’s going to be a lot of interesting possibilities for the festival in the coming years."
The 2024 season at the Parlor will commence on April 6 with staged readings of ten-minute comedies and dramas by veterans. The lineup for the Savage Wonder Festival in Beacon and additional programming will be announced later in the summer. For tickets and information, visit vetrep.org.