New Festival Brings NYC Downtown Theater to Hudson Valley

In an era marked by pandemic isolation, endless streaming options and familiar TV reruns, some might wonder: why venture out to see live theater at all? Unlike television, theater offers a unique communal experience in real time, gathering audiences of all ages and introducing an element of unpredictability that makes each performance distinct.

The towns of Pine Plains and Ancram are set to become a hub for innovative theater this September with the launch of the first annual Downtown Upstate Festival. Produced by Pine Plains resident Robert Lyons, the festival aims to bring the best of New York City’s downtown theater scene to the Hudson Valley from Sept. 7-22, 2024. With performances at the Ancram Center for the Arts and Stissing Center for Arts & Culture, the festival features three different shows over three weekends.

When Lyons was 22, he painted houses in Rockford, Mass., and occasionally wrote poetry. One night, on a whim, he hitchhiked to Gloucester to see blues musician Luther “Guitar” Johnson, only to discover that the opening act was a short play. By the time he hitchhiked home, Lyons was hooked on theater. Determined to be part of it, he moved to Philadelphia and immersed himself in the industry, working various jobs at the Wilma Theater—from mopping floors and moving lights to selling tickets and watching every production. This hands-on experience fueled his passion and led him to become a playwright. Local audiences may remember his recent work at The Stissing Center, Upstate Untitled, which was well received as part of the venue’s Local Produce series.

“Downtown theater is driven by the passion of the artist,” Lyons told the Herald. “It allows for experimentation and the development of unique works without the pressure of catering to a large audience. This kind of theater adds a different color to the array of performances one might see, offering a fresh and alternative storytelling experience.”

Lyons emphasizes that while downtown theater may be unfamiliar to some, it is no less entertaining than more traditional forms. “With an open mind, audiences can find these alternative storytelling strategies just as thrilling as mainstream performances,” he said. “We encounter alternative storytelling every day on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, but this is live and in person.”

In addition to live theater, the festival will offer a free two-part workshop, Performing the Real: Solo and Alternative Performance, at The Stissing Center, led by renowned performance artist Lenora Champagne. Participants will create their own short solo performances and explore strategies for larger pieces through exercises engaging the body, imagination, and memory. The workshop is open to local residents, including teens, and will be held on Wed., Sept. 11, and Wed., Sept. 18, from 4-6 p.m. To register, contact rlyons@sohothinktank.org.

Tickets for the festival are available on the websites of both the Ancram Center for the Arts and Stissing Center. The festival’s lineup includes:

Ancram Center for the Arts: Sept. 7, 7 p.m.; Sept. 8, 2 p.m.
La Musica Deuxième
Written by Marguerite Duras
Directed by Jessica Burr
This piece, written by the radical novelist and playwright Marguerite Duras, explores the intense reunion of separated lovers. Lyons describes it as “very physically intense and highly theatrical.”

Ancram Center for the Arts: Sept. 14, 7 p.m.; Sept. 15, 2 p.m.
Puzzling Evidence
Written and Directed by Robert Lyons
Composed and Music Direction by Rhys Tivey
This quirky, funny, mini-musical follows two activists who perform a “Post-Capitalist Realism” concert while working through their complicated relationship on stage. The performance blends beat poetry, free association, and live music.

The Stissing Center for Arts & Culture: Sept. 21, 7 p.m.; Sept. 22, 3 p.m.
Plays
Written by Gertrude Stein
Performed by David Greenspan
This production features a provocative lecture on theater by legendary downtown performer and six-time OBIE Award winner David Greenspan, showcasing his unique blend of theatricality and wit.