The Arts

Creator, Writer, Producer

HUDSON VALLEY PLAYWRIGHTS. From 2014 to 2017, in collaboration with the Morton Memorial Library & Community House and Starr Library, dozens of new short plays by established and aspiring playwrights living in the Hudson Valley area were created and produced, culminating in the Short Play Festival at The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. The generosity of Arts Mid-Hudson helped fund the 2017 production.

Hudson Valley Playwrights
playwriting lab
Writer Lew Gardner working with fellow writer and reader, Wally Carbone.
script development
Debut at the Morton Memorial Library and Community House in Rhinecliff, NY. Home of the lab.
morton debut, 2015
(l-r) writers lisa kimball, ellen o'neill, and carol elkins.
lab reading
Short Play Festival, 2015-2017 The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
the center for performing arts at rhinebeck
Firefighter, husband, father, playwright. Tim's play, "The International Society of Competitive Poets," was scheduled to be performed Sunday, May 10. Tim died on May 5th.
the first annual
short play festival, 2015 – dedicated to the memory of
tim gunther
"The Mediator" by Bill Duncan Directed by Frank Marquette L-R: Ed Kleinke, Sharon Coughlan, Dana Page, and Frank Marquette.
opening night, 2015
“the mediator”
"Callista Jumps" Written & Directed by Sharon Breslau L-R: Phillip X Levine, Gregor Trieste, Ron Morehead, Amy Knoth, and Kimberly Kay.
“callista jumps,” 2015
"Waxer" by Carol Elkins (d. 2020) Directed by Susanne Gottesman Traub (L) Jody Satriani (R) Stephen Jones (d. 2021)
“waxer,” 2015
"The Truth About Landing" by Elaine Fernandez Directed by Lou Trapani Back L: Brett Owen Front C: Lynda Sales Back R: Sharon Coughlan and Bruce Engholm

“the truth about landing,” 2016
"All in a Day's Work" by Marianna Boncek Directed by Patrick McGriff L-R: Jennifer Delora, Patrick McGriff, Andrew Martin, and Lynda Sales.
“all in a day’s work,” 2016
Caterpillars That Turn Into Birds by Samantha Enright Directed by Tracy Carney L-R: Anthony Leiner, Joyce Hauserman, Tracy Carney, Lisa Lynds, and Samantha Enright.
“caterpillars that turn into birds,, and Samantha Enright 2016
"A Change in Climate" by Nadeen Currie Directed by Johny Dell L-R: Andy Crispell, Dana Page, John Schmitz, Howie Riggs, Jennifer Delora
“a change in climate,” 2016
Special thank you to Arts Mid-Hudson for support of the 2017 Short Play Festival and to Morton Memorial Library & Community House for being our fiscal sponsor and home to the lab.
arts mid-hudson
"Rent Hair" Written & Directed by Sandy McKnight L-R: Isabel Costa, Kristina Newcomb, and Andrew Joffe.
“rent hair,” 2017
"Eastern Exposure" by Richard Gotti Directed by Andy Weintraub L: Alan Lipper R: Elisabeth Henry

“eastern exposure,” 2017
"The Remembrance" by Cheryl Veach DelVecchio Directed by Johnny Dell L: Kirstin Horn R: David Temple
“the remembrance,” 2017
"An American Noel" by Marianna Boncek Directed by Thom Webb L: Thom Webb R: Mike Ralff
“an american noel,” 2017
"Ful Nabit" by J. Thalia Cunningham Directed by Elisabeth Ruthman L: Barbara Richards R: Wendy Power Spielmann
“ful nabit,” 2017
A multi-media presentation depicting middle-class life from the 1950s through the new millennium.
a middle-class retrospective, 2017
"Daddy's Girl" by Nadeen Currie Directed by Johnny Dell L: Gina Leonaggeo C (Front): Ben Fundis C (Back): Cheryl Veach Delvecchio R: Jay Spano Photo provided by Director.
“daddy’s girl,”
revisiting the 1950s & 60s
"Shuttlecock" Written & Directed by Dana Page Front: Linda Kupiac Back (L-R): Sharon Coughlan, Gregor Trieste, Starr Kupiac, and Andrew Joffe. Photo provided by Director.
“shuttlecock,”
the free-spirited 1970s & 80s
"Live Free or Die" Written & Directed by Elaine Fernandez Assistant Director: John Schmitz L-R: Lynda Sales, Anthony Leiner, and Joe Felice.
“live free or die,”
god, family & country
in the 1990s
"The Note" by Marianna Boncek Directed by Thom Webb L-R: Wendy Urban-Mead, Susan Rosenthal Gies, Farrell Reynolds, and Jillian Nadiak.
“the note,”
struggle & uncertainty in the new millennium