Readers Theatre Group
Actors sit side by side and share the story aloud — plays, short fiction and poetry, staged for the ear rather than the eye. More than 400 performances across the Valley.
Tenth Anniversary Celebration Season
Mohonk Mountain Stage Company
The spoken word for sophisticated listeners. Since 1994 we have performed the classics of dramatic, poetic and narrative literature — and the work of newly published writers — in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley.
- Readers Theatre Group
- Theatre for Young Audiences
- New Playwrights Program
- Annual Theatre Scholarship
What MMSC does
Four connected programmes, one purpose: to put literature on its feet for audiences of every age, and to give new writers a stage.
Theatre for Young Audiences
A participation format in which children do not merely watch the action — they become part of it. Performed across the East Coast, including the Kennedy Center and BAM.
New Playwrights Program
The Vanguard Voices Project, run with the Dramatic Writing Program at SUNY New Paltz, workshops and presents new plays by emerging writers.
Theatre Scholarship
Every year MMSC awards a scholarship to a high-school senior from the region who intends to study the dramatic arts in college.
Now playing
Art for the Ears — Winter/Spring 2005
Our tenth anniversary season pairs twentieth-century masterworks with brand-new writing. Every title below has its own page with cast, dates and background.
The Price
Two estranged brothers meet in a crowded attic to divide their parents’ furniture — and settle a forty-year argument.
God’s Man in Texas
A battle of wills inside a Houston megachurch, where the pastor has preached the same sermons for fifty years.
Wit
A scholar of Donne’s Holy Sonnets confronts her own mortality with wit, rigour and unexpected grace.
A Celebration of Old Time Radio
Live sound effects, vintage microphones and the golden-age scripts that taught America how to listen.
It is so simply done. Actors sitting side by side sharing an earthly soul-to-soul saga.
Publications
MMSC Publishing keeps new drama and poetry in print — and keeps our audience in the loop between performances.
Semi-annual literary journal
Vanguard Voices of the Hudson Valley
Our journal publishes the complete texts of new plays workshopped in the Vanguard Voices Project and the winning poems from our Hudson Valley poetry contest.
Mostly monthly newsletter
Prologue
Production notes, casting news, the Producing Director’s editorial and everything that happens between seasons. Available as a PDF or by post.
Plan your visit
Performances take place in New Paltz at St. Andrew’s Church on Main Street, at the Unison Arts & Learning Center, and at SUNY New Paltz’s Parker Theater.
Tickets
Seating is festival style. Tickets run from $7 for individual literary offerings to $10–$12 for plays, with student prices on a current ID.
Reserve a seat
Our “Hold A Seat For Me” policy lets you reserve by phone until fifteen minutes before curtain.
Directions
Step-by-step routes to New Paltz from north, south, east and west, plus door-to-door directions to each venue.
Accessibility
What to expect at each venue, and who to contact if you need assistance or a specific accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is readers theatre?
In readers theatre the actors perform with script in hand, seated or standing side by side, without full sets or costumes. Nothing stands between the audience and the language. It suits plays, short stories, essays and poetry equally well — anything whose power lives in the words. Our guide to readers theatre explains the form in more detail.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
There is no advance ticket sales window, but you can have seats held for you. Call 845-255-3102 with your name, the number of seats and the performance you want, and we will hold them until fifteen minutes before curtain. See the reservations policy for details.
Where do performances take place?
Most readings happen at St. Andrew’s Church, 163 Main Street, New Paltz; several programmes are staged at the Unison Arts & Learning Center on Mountain Rest Road and at SUNY New Paltz’s Parker Theater. Each production page names its venue and the directions page gives door-to-door routes.
Can my school book a Theatre for Young Audiences performance?
Yes. TYA tours to schools, libraries and festivals, and the participation format works well with large groups. Start with the Theatre for Young Audiences page and then contact the office to discuss dates.
How can I submit writing or order a journal?
Poetry and plays are considered for Vanguard Voices of the Hudson Valley; submission guidance is on the journal page. Back issues and order forms are listed under Journals. You can also write to publications@mmstageco.com.
More questions? Read the full FAQ.
Off the stage
While we staged The Price this season we spent more time than we care to admit hunting for a convincing vintage Patek Philippe to sit on the desk in the attic. The search led the company to a replica Patek Philippe site that has since joined the small list of links we keep — the longer story, and a couple of other recommendations, are on the resources page.
Stay in touch
Join the mailing list and we will send Prologue by e-mail as a PDF, or by post if you prefer the old-fashioned way. You can also ask to be added to our performance reminder list.