It was just a few weeks ago that Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in Nyack delivered its final performance in its first annual five-week celebration of arts and culture in our beautiful Hudson River village. The Festival was hosted and produced by the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble (PTE), an internationally recognized leader in the world of contemporary theater and winner of multiple awards for excellence in theater arts.
Audience enjoying a performance at Upper Nyack’s Marydell Faith & Life Center (Photo Courtesy of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble)
The vision of PTE was to create a celebration of theater, arts and community culture rivaling that of national arts festivals – with Nyack providing the stage for it all. Despite having to become amateur meteorologists at times (outdoor theatre during hurricane season is no small undertaking!), the organizers of the event were able to do just that.
Running from mid-September to mid-October, the festival took place during the Hudson Valley region’s beautiful fall season and featured over a dozen live, outdoor performance programs in both downtown Nyack’s Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center and at Upper Nyack’s Marydell Faith & Life Center at the foot of majestic Hook Mountain.
Live theatre and wildlife coexisted on Nyack’s stage for the Phoenix Festival. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble)
Productions included three iconic plays revisited by PTE in the context of our current world: Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth and Anton Chekov’s The Harmfulness of Tobacco. There were also performances by, Rockland’s Children’s Shakespeare Theatre, tributes to Nyack resident Helen Hayes, walking tours of Nyack village and more.
“A big bonus for Festival goers was Nyack village itself,” said Craig Smith, Phoenix Festival Executive Director. “Nyack was the perfect anchor for this unique festival that blended classic theater and local history with breathtaking natural beauty in a jazzy, upbeat river town setting,”
Community arts organizations like Arts Rock, Rivertown Film, Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center, Rockland Poets, Nyack Library, and the Historical Society of Rockland also created and hosted a variety of events throughout the month for people looking to keep the magic going between shows.
The Festival invested over $200,000 in the local economy. More than 80% of production dollars went to local businesses, e.g., sound engineering, scenery and set building, bus and limo services, housing, and catering.
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble
Community support exceeded expectations. Over 30 local businesses contributed more than $30,000 in direct funding and raffle prizes valued at over $3,500, including dining, merchandise, and hotel stays for theatre-goers. In addition to local funding and support from national institutions, Rockland County Office of Economic Development and Tourism was a major contributor
“Tourism is important for Rockland,” said Smith. “The Festival attracted a broad audience – nearly 60% came from outside of local communities – New York City and boroughs, plus Westchester, Long Island and New Jersey.”
Now that a successful first run at an arts festival has concluded, the ensemble is looking forward to returning to town in 2023.
“Taking a step into a completely new endeavor takes faith,” Smith stated. “This magic could never have been possible without generous contributions and unflagging support from the Rockland community. Building on the faith placed in us this year, we’re looking forward to an even more successful Festival in 2023, and to many years of collaboration that will bring continuing joy, growth and prosperity to our special community.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Phoenix Festival and the villages of Nyack and Upper Nyack gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of the public institutions, foundations, businesses and individuals who have made this event possible.
Public Support
Humanities New York (affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities) The National Endowment for the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts
Rockland County Office of Economic Development and Tourism
Sustaining Sponsors
MR Bonner
Orange and Rockland Utilities
Phoenix Theatre Ensemble Board of Trustees
The Sheree Stone Trust
SmithStone Family Trust
The Zisson Foundation
Corporate Sponsors
Gold
Hotel Nyack
Howard Hanna Rand Realty
Palisades Center Mall
Windsor Hills Wine & Spirits
Silver
Creative Financial Planning
Bronze
Audi Nyack | Don Thompson
DPNB Pasta & Provisions
Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty
Rosemarie Pelatti, Peter Garruba and Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty
The Greekish Nyack
Metal and Stone Jewelers
Montefiore Nyack Hospital
Munn and Associates, Ameriprise Financial Services
Robert Panzera and CCSD Sport Events
Weld Realty
Patrons
Cane and Boniface P.C
Creative Arts Workshop | Joseph Garreffa
El Cuñao Deli
Modern Druid
Pickwick Bookshop
Punta Cana Latin Fusion
The Rock Shop Nyack
Sniff A Pickle
Trilogy Consignment
Friends
Allstate Insurance | Don Dietrich
Arts Council of Rockland
Broadway Bistro
The Breakfast & Burger Club
The Corner Frame Shop
Patisserie Didier Dumas
Quantious
Somos Designer Jewelry Gallery
Today’s Outfit Band
Individual Patrons and Friends
Gold
Monica R. BIonner
David Duke Burger
Kevin Confoy and Jodi Wright
Patrick Hall
John Lenartz
Michael Miller
Barrie Peterson and Bea Pohl
Linie and Joe Rand
Yasser Rathore
Thomas Schneck and Susan Wilmink
The Estate of Sheree Stone
Dan Zisson
Silver
Karen C. Cook
Cricket Jeranick
Robert and Carole Koros
Drake Mann
Derek Tarson
Joan Weingarten and Bob Donnalley
Bronze
Harris Berlinsky
John Bower
Harriet Cornell
Kathleen and Tom Dallessio
Dick Donovan and Susan Fawcett
Peter Garruba
Andrew Horn and Joe Brancato
Marlene May
Tony Mulanix
Thomas and Mana Nassisi
Robert Scotto
Marion Shaw
Narelle Sissons
Michael Surabian
David Wagner
Community Partners
ArtsRock
Children’s Shakespeare Theatre
Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center
Elmwood Playhouse
Historical Society of Rockland
Marydell Faith and Life Center
Nyack Chamber of Commerce
Nyack Center
Nyack Library
Rivertown Film Society
Rockland County Community College
Rockland Poets
Village of Nyack
Village of Upper Nyack
