Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Sets 'Week of Revolution' Events

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) has announced its Week of Revolution, honoring the Hudson Valley's significant local history and in celebration of HVSF's production of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA, a play written by Richard Nelson and presented in association with Boscobel House and Gardens.

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival will partner with Boscobel House and Gardens, West Point Museum, Putnam History Museum, Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, and Constitution Island Association to allow audiences of all ages to engage with local Revolutionary War history and to enhance their understanding of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA.

THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA tells the story of a newborn United States of America engaged in a fight for its life, with the Hudson Valley at the center of the action. As whispers of treason creep through the colonies, history's quintessential malefactor, Benedict Arnold, plots his defection and flight from this fledgling nation. Featuring the year's hottest founding father, Alexander Hamilton, as well as President George Washington, this retelling will be well-served on the banks of the Hudson, overlooking West Point - Arnold's own command.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with these fantastic local organizations in telling such a fascinating story from the early chapters of American history. Audiences and visitors will be able to learn about the American Revolution through many channels: museum exhibits, treasure hunts, boat tours, hikes, military reenactments, and, of course, our theatrical production of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA," said HVSF Managing Director Kate Liberman.

Week of Revolution begins Sunday, August 27 with a Revolutionary War re-enactment on the grounds of Boscobel House and Gardens in the morning. This interactive, historical experience will be followed by an evening performance of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA at 7:30pm.

On Monday, August 28, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival will host a Free Community Day featuring the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. Taking place under HVSF's Theater Tent at Boscobel, the evening will feature live musical entertainment reminiscent of the Revolutionary Era, alongside excerpts from THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA and readings from notable speeches from American history. Additionally, Boscobel's historic house will be open to the public.

HVSF will host two Trivia Nights themed around the concept of Revolution in history, pop-culture, literature, and more. The first, an all-ages event, will take place on Wednesday, August 30 at 5:30pm, prior to that evening's 7:30pm performance of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA. The second, for those aged 21+, will be held at roughly 10:00pm following the Friday, September 1 performance of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA, including local beer and wine offerings.

In partnership with Boscobel House and Gardens, HVSF will host an afternoon of free activities for the younger set on Thursday, August 31 on the grounds of Boscobel. Kids of all ages may experience educational games, interactive demonstrations, Boscobel's beloved Patriots & Loyalists program involving role-playing to recreate military battles, and more.

Friday Night Prologues, HVSF's popular series of free pre-show discussions anchored to Friday night performances, will cast its focus on the Revolution on September 1. The evening's Prologue will be led by playwright Richard Nelson along with Revolutionary History scholars and experts to be announced. The conversation will begin at 6:15pm on Boscobel's Great Lawn prior to the evening's 7:30pm performance of THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA.

On Sunday, September 3 at 10:00am, the Hudson Highlands Land Trust and Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk will lead a family-friendly hike along Arnold's Flight to the overlook where he made his escape by boat. Hikers will be able to follow "clues" left along the trail in pursuit of Arnold - just like the spies who tracked him at General Washington's request. The trail's moderate, changing terrain and inclines will add to the sense of adventure.

Also on September 3, HVSF and the West Point Museum (WPM) will host a Brown Bag Lunch at the Museum, where participants will be treated to a panel of West Point Scholars speaking about the Revolutionary War period and Benedict Arnold's role in its history. Following the conversation, there will be a commissioned boat ride across the Hudson River to historic Constitution Island to experience Arnold's own flight across the river.

WPM will also create a custom Revolutionary War treasure hunt guide to encourage exploration through its halls and discovery of items relating to the Revolutionary period and Arnold himself. In collaboration with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, the treasure hunt guide will be offered in WPM's gift shop throughout the summer.

Additionally, the Putnam History Museum (PHM) will present an exhibit, Benedict Arnold in the Hudson Highlands, opening to the public on Sunday, July 23 and running through the fall. PHM will display documents, clothing, art, books, and other artifacts to help tell this historical non-fiction, with a preview reception for PHM members on the evening of Saturday, July 22. Material will be loaned from the West Point Museum at the United States Military Academy, the Unique Collections department of the West Point Library, and several local collectors.

"The Hudson Highlands is rich in Revolutionary War history," said PHM Executive Director Mindy Krazmien,. "We are delighted to partner with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival to bring this history to new audiences."

As a supplement to the exhibition, PHM will complete several major outreach initiatives including a brochure directing guests to Arnold-related public sites. PHM's popular monthly lecture series will focus on Arnold and THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA in the months leading up to the exhibition, and PHM will host HVSF Actors at its summer Lawn Party on July 8 where they will perform pieces from THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA to over 300 guests. Additionally, PHM will host A Bite of History on Saturday, September 2 from 2:00pm-5:00pm, allowing visitors to sample homemade Revolutionary-era food and to try their hand at Revolutionary War trivia.

Week of Revolution and HVSF's 2017 Season will conclude on Monday, September 4 with a Regency Lawn Party and the closing performance of another HVSF production, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Guests are encouraged to attend in Regency Era attire to toast the end of the season.

Directed by Penny Metropulos, THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA begins performances on August 4, with an opening night set on August 8 for a run through September 3, THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA will feature costume design by Charlotte Palmer-Lane, lighting design by Matthew Richards, and set design from Kristen Robinson. Roxana Khan will serve as production stage manager.

The cast will feature Mark Bedard*, Michael Broadhurst, Kimberly Chatterjee, Kate Hamill*, Stephen Paul Johnson*, Jason O'Connell*, Amelia Pedlow*, Kurt Rhoads*, Chris Thorn*, John Tufts* and Nance Williamson*.

Tickets for THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA and the full 2017 Season are on sale now at www.hvshakespeare.org or by calling (845) 265-9575.

In addition to THE GENERAL FROM AMERICA, the previously announced 2017 season will contain two world premiere productions: THE BOOK OF WILL (Rolling World Premiere) by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Davis McCallum; and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Kate Hamill (Bedlam's Sense and Sensibility) and directed by Amanda Dehnert in a co-production with Primary Stages. The season will also feature TWELFTH NIGHT directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Hand to God) and LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, directed by Ian Belknap and co-produced with The Acting Company.

Celebrating its 31st season in 2017, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) is a critically acclaimed (The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal), professional, non-profit theater company based in Garrison, NY, one hour north of Manhattan. HVSF was named among The New York Times' 50 Essential Summer Festivals in 2016, was Hudson Valley Magazine's 2016 Editors' Pick for Best Summer Theater, and was nominated for a Drama League Award for its 2015 production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. The Festival has established a reputation for lucid, engaging, and highly inventive productions featuring exceptional industry talent and a backdrop of stunning vistas overlooking the Hudson River at historic Boscobel House and Gardens.

Each year, its productions attract a total audience of more than 35,000 from the Hudson Valley, New York City, and beyond, including New Jersey, Connecticut, and 40 other states, and regularly achieve over 80% capacity under its open-air Theater Tent. HVSF also takes the magic of Shakespeare and live theater throughout the tri-state region by touring limited runs of fan favorites through its HVSF On the Road series and by bringing student-oriented productions and education programs to nearly 50,000 elementary, middle, and high school students and educators each year. HVSF's acclaimed arts education programs also include training for early-career theater artists by way of its Conservatory Company, professional development for educators, and free audience engagement offerings before and after performances throughout the summer. For more information, visit WWW.HVSHAKESPEARE.ORG.

*denotes members of Actors' Equity Association.

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