Dear All,

In the summer of 2022, the Powerhouse Theater Program returned to the Vassar campus after a pandemic-induced hiatus. Vassar continued working with its longtime partner, New York Stage and Film (NYSAF), but also expanded access and opportunity by working with and supporting a number of other local and regional theaters and artists. This morning New York Stage and Film announced its artistic programming will now be hosted by Marist College year-round, marking the end of its summer collaborations with Vassar College.

Although the partnership with NYSAF has ended, with its rich, decades-long history, the Powerhouse Theater Program will continue without pause at Vassar. Planning for this summer’s programming is already in full swing. The Powerhouse Producing team is deepening collaborations with other local, regional, and New York City-based theater groups and artists to bring a robust season of new works to the Vassar campus from June 22 to July 30, 2023. Keep an eye out for a Powerhouse Season announcement, including performances, casting, and ticketing information in the spring!

The Powerhouse Training Program, which runs concurrently with the Powerhouse Season, will not be affected by the change in producing partners. Applications for the 2023 Powerhouse Theater Training Program are being accepted between January 1 and April 1, and the Powerhouse team is actively recruiting young artists from around the country, and the world, to participate in this rigorous program alongside a number of Vassar students.  The Program offers students a unique opportunity to dive into a conservatory-like intensive experience on the Vassar College campus. Actors, directors, and writers hone their respective crafts through class work and practical experiences. By engaging with professional theater companies and artists who are in residence each summer, students deepen their understanding of the art and the industry.

Each summer, The Powerhouse Program welcomes many Vassar students, faculty, administrators, and staff into our theaters, rehearsal spaces, and classrooms to participate in the vital process of new play and artist development. If you're interested in participating in the Training Program or in attending a performance this summer, you can visit the Powerhouse website for more information. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Powerhouse Producing Director Ed Cheetham at edcheetham@vassar.edu.

Warmly,

Carlos Alamo-Pastrana
Dean of the College
Associate Professor of Sociology and Latin American and Latina/o Studies