Mission – Voice Theatre

Through plays and workshops, Voice Theatre brings people together to experience the full diversity of being human. We transform lives by creating theatre and giving workshops.

Started in Paris with funding from the French government, we moved to NYC in 1989. We’ve produced more than 45 full-scale productions, from original plays to American classics, plus festivals, and many more activities. We’ve led regular, free, in-school workshops in New York City and Upstate, NY, as well as offered adult classes and summer youth workshops. We accomplished renovating the historic Byrdcliffe Theater in Woodstock, NY; toured internationally through Europe and the Middle East; and have done significant work with underrepresented youth and teen refugee populations. We are one of only two Equity theatre companies in rural Ulster County, routinely employing 21–32 theatre workers each year. We primarily produce in Kingston, NY.

Voice Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are fully tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

WHAT WE DO:

One of only three Equity theatres in Ulster County, Voice Theatre typically produces two or more full-scale main stage productions each season with free in-school workshops for Hudson Valley public high school students. Our ensemble of actors and designers come from New York City and upstate. Every production receives a five-week rehearsal period, far longer than the norm.

We perform for those who cannot afford to come to the theater and for those who can. Our audiences range from first-time to seasoned theater goers. We are committed to building a vibrant and diverse young audience and offer $22 tickets to full-time students and audience members aged 25 or younger as well as seniors.

In-school educational outreach programs combat bullying, racism and anti-Semitism. Using theatre, presentation, communication and writing skills we strive to enhance empathy and understanding between young people. We offer these workshops, as well as student matinees and post-performance discussions free of charge. Most of our students represent underserved communities in upstate. Many students have never seen live theatre before. Starting in 2017, we have been working with undocumented, unaccompanied, teen refugees in a locked facility in Kingston, NY. The program brings refugees to upstate and downstate high schools to participate in workshops alongside American students. Through sharing values, ideas, histories, fears and dreams, these workshops provide a dynamic space for exchange, compassion and empathy.

Voice Theatre offers summer youth workshops in movement for actors, voice for the speaker and singer, improvisation and acting techniques for ages 9-18 in our theatre. Each summer concludes with a free presentation for family and friends to celebrate all that they have learned. Throughout the year we offer evening acting classes for adults.

Our Spring Reading Series attracts playwrights from all over the country. Focused on developing new plays for our main stage, our productions of “Birds on a Wire” and “End Days” were developed through this program. The series includes a vital community feedback component as well.

During the COVID 19 pandemic we have presented classes and workshops online, and Zoom productions of classics, modern American plays, and original works. Each of these performances have included fund drives for local organizations including Family of Woodstock homeless shelter, New Horizons Refugee Program Children’s Home of Kingston, New York Coalition for the Homeless, Woodstock Food Pantry, and for Voice Theatre.

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

We believe our theatre cuts through barriers of ethnicity, language and nationality, bringing together diverse peoples seeking mutual respect because of their shared experiences of humanity in order to enrich as many lives as we can.
We believe in maintaining a group of artists dedicated to working in live theatre, to exploring the depth and wonder of the human experience regardless of ethnicity, race, gender or religion.
We believe in exploring all that is human that informs us to create a better community of understanding, acceptance and inclusion.
We believe that laughter is a powerful tool that can bring people together. Voice Theatre produces plays that make us laugh and plays that challenge.
We believe that live theatre creates a visceral imprint on our beings, an affirmation of life.

Voice Theatre has no restrictions on whom we work with and is dedicated to working and employing people of all races, ages, sexual orientations, national heritages, disabilities and nationalities. We have in place and adhere to a no-tolerance bullying, racial and sexual harassment policy.

BRIEF HISTORY:

Started in Paris in 1988 with initial funding from the French Government, Voice Theatre moved to New York City in 1989. Since then we have produced more than 40 full-scale productions, from original plays such as “Birds on a Wire” (four stars at the Edinburgh Festival), to American classics, Off-Broadway shows, Spring Reading Series, 10-Minute Play Festivals, and many more activities in the United States, Germany, France, Britain and the Middle East. Since 2003, we have led free, in-school workshops in New York City and Upstate, NY. We also offer adult classes and summer youth workshops. In 2014 Voice Theatre renovated the historic Byrdcliffe Theater in Woodstock, NY.

Voice Theatre’s first production in Paris was “Family Cycles”, a theatre piece for 30 actors. The following year, at La MAMA in New York City, Voice Theatre produced “Pushing Through” (University of Nebraska Press), a music theatre piece performed by Palestinian and Israeli women.

Off-Broadway productions include; “Retzach” at 59E59 Theatres, “Our Country’s Good” at the CSV Cultural Center, and “The Laramie Project” at the Barrow Group Theater. Featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition” Voice Theatre has received press from the New York Times, London Times, Daily Telegraph, and The Washington Post, among many others.

PRODUCTIONS, READING SERIES, 10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVALS

2023

REFUGEE STORIES by Bertolt Brecht, Bethany Hall, Kingston, NY

SUMMER AND SMOKE by Tennessee Williams, Bethany Hall, Kingston, NY

2022

“ART” by Yasmina Reza, Bethany Hall, Kingston, NY

2021 Pop-up Performances: Popcorn, three new plays by Karen Gill about food and love presented on the back of a pick-up truck at four farmers markets in the Hudson Valley.

2020/21 COVID Zoom performances

U.S – original play presented through Zoom

Our Town — presented live through Zoom

An Enemy of the People — presented live through Zoom

Fuddy Meers — presented live through Zoom

I Hate Hamlet — presented live through Zoom

Covid Pages — presented live through Zoom

Republican and Democratic Women Speak – presented live through Zoom

2019

Legacy — Cornelia Street Cafe, NYC

Legacy — Byrdliffe Theatre, Woodstock, NY

Spring Reading Series — School for Young Artists, Woodstock, NY

Blithe Spirit — Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY

2018

Spring Reading Series — Golden Notebook, Woodstock, NY and Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

All My Sons — Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY

2017

Spring Reading Series — New World Café, Woodstock, NY and Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

The Skin of Our Teeth — Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY

2016

Spring Reading Series — New World Café, Woodstock, NY and Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

End Days — Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY

Ten Minute Play Festival — Fall and Winter, Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

2015

Our Country’s Good — Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY

Ten Minute Play Festival — Fall and Winter, Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

2014

Birds on a Wire— Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY, — Sanctuary Arts Initiative, New York City

Ten Minute Play Festival — Fall and Winter, Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

2013

Master Class — Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, Phoenicia, NY &

Sanctuary Arts Initiative, NYC

2012

Season’s Greetings — Creekside Grill Theatre, Woodstock, NY

Lovers: Winners — Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, Phoenicia, NY &

Byrdcliffe Theater, Woodstock, NY

2011

Gaza Monologues — United Nations & LA MAMA, NYC

Legacy — Berman Center for the Arts, West Bloomfield, Detroit, MI

Hay Fever — Sight Specific Production, Woodstock, NY

2010

Birds on a Wire — Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Off-Broadway, NYC

2006

Retzach — 59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway, NYC

Our Country’s Good — La Tea Theatre, CSV Cultural Center, NYC

2004

Mamet Miller Dreaming — The Loft Theater, The Barrow Group, NYC

2003

The Laramie Project — The Barrow Group, NYC

Legacy (The Gift) — T. Schreiber Studio, NYC

1999

Warriors of Fate — Ashtar Theatre, Ramallah, Palestine & Ilana Goor Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel

1998

Legacy — Cockpit Theatre, London, UK

1997

Legacy — Klecks Theater, Hannover, Germany and in France at; Musee de Resistance, Bordeaux, Olympia Theatre, Bordeaux, France Salle des Fete, Libourn

1996

Loveplay — Shepard Festival, Battersea Arts Centre, London, UK

1995

Legacy — Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Bristol, UK

1993

Pushing Through — Carver Center for the Arts, San Antonio, TX

The Homecoming Project — Columbia Festival of the Arts, Columbia, MD

1992

The Homecoming Project — Circum Arts, NYC

1991

Pushing Through — Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh, Scotland, Aberdeen Alternative Festival, Aberdeen, Scotland, Cumbernauld Theatre, Cumbernauld, Scotland, Columbia Festival of the Arts, Columbia, MD, HOME (presently Here), NYC, Wesleyan University, Middletown, NY, Advancement for Judaism, NYC, Arab American Cultural Foundation, Washington, DC,

Unitarian Society, NY, Pyramid Arts Center, Rochester, NY

1990

Pushing Through — Unison Arts Center, New Paltz, NY, The Glasgow 1990 Festival, Glasgow, Scotland, The Village Gate, NYC

1989

Pushing Through — LaMama, NYC

The Achievement — Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Wales

1988

Family Cycles — L’ Espace de la Grace, Paris, France

PRODUCTIONS, READING SERIES, 10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVALS

2022

‘ART’ by Yasmina Reza, Bethany Hall, Kingston, NY

2021 Pop up Performances

Popcorn, three new plays by Karen Gill about food and love presented on the back of a pick-up truck at four farmers markets.

2020 COVID Zoom Performances

Our Town — presented live through Youtube

An Enemy of the People — presented live through Youtube

Fuddy Meers — presented live through Youtube

I Hate Hamlet — presented live through Youtube

Covid Pages — presented live through Youtube

Republican and Democratic Women Speak – Upcoming – presented live through Youtube

House.US – a new play presented live through Youtube

2019