New York Stage and Film and Vassar College have postponed the 2020 Powerhouse Theater season to 2021. Each year, the Powerhouse season runs in June and July and serves more than 400 professional artists, 50 student writers, directors and actors in the Training Program, 25 interns and 10,000 audience members. New York Stage and Film will continue to serve artists throughout the course of the full calendar year with workshops, readings and residencies, and to support artists at every stage of the life cycle of a project.
“New York Stage and Film and Vassar College have made the very difficult decision to pause the Powerhouse season for this summer. Our collaboration has been a staple of the Hudson Valley for 35 years, and will continue for many more after this unprecedented global crisis recedes. A large part of what makes the summer special is the intensive, residential community on the Vassar campus and we cannot wait to return next summer,” said artistic director Chris Burney.
Powerhouse producing director Ed Cheetham said, “We know it was the right decision to make, but it’s still heartbreaking that we won’t be able to gather as a community this season, to celebrate the work of hundreds of artists, whether they be established, emerging or just starting out.”
Vassar College president Elizabeth H. Bradley added, “Powerhouse is an annual tradition for many in the Hudson Valley community, and we will dearly miss welcoming them to the Vassar campus.”
The Powerhouse Theater Training Program will also be postponed until the summer of 2021.