Paramount Hudson Valley Arts (PHVA) will host its annual Fall Benefit on Sunday, October 18, at the historic Paramount Theater in Peekskill. The afternoon will bring together music, theater and Hudson Valley history while supporting PHVA’s year-round arts education and community programming.
The event begins at 1 p.m. with Music & Cider and a special guest appearance by Daisy Jopling’s Rays of Liberty, performing Revolutionary tunes.
At 2 p.m., a cast of seven actors will present a full reading of Intent, a new historical fiction play by Mona Z. Smith inspired by one of the most famous espionage plots of the American Revolution.
Intent interweaves the true story of British spy Major John André with the fictional story of Katje, a widowed tavern worker whose son has joined the rebellion and is missing in action. Set at a time when the emerging nation was divided by a deadly clash of convictions, the play explores how the politics and battles of war collide with the very personal grief of the families left behind.
Seven actors portray more than 20 characters, including André, Benedict Arnold, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, General Nathanael Greene, Benjamin Tallmadge and the Marquis de Lafayette.
The cast features Patrick Halley, Carl Howell, Sean McNall, Ryan Quinn, Kurt Rhoads, Chris Thorn and Nance Williamson.
“I’m so honored to have a reading of my new play Intent featured at the Paramount’s annual Fall Benefit,” said playwright Mona Z. Smith. “I’ve spent an exciting year researching and writing about spies during the American Revolution. I hope people will enjoy seeing actors play some famous historical characters, as well as fictional characters. Intent reminds us of the hard choices Americans made during a brutal war where a clash of convictions divided us against each other.”
At 3:30 p.m., the reading will be followed by a Tavern Chat featuring Rev250 historians Char Weigel and Marc Cheshire, young adult historical fiction author Robert J. Skead and Smith. Peekskill historian Tim Warn will moderate the conversation about the real people, places and events behind the play.
The event takes on special meaning as the nation marks its 250th anniversary and celebrates the Hudson Valley’s important place in Revolutionary history.
“There is something very special about experiencing these stories here in the Hudson Valley, where so much of this history unfolded,” said Abigail Adams, Executive Director of Paramount Hudson Valley Arts. “It’s a wonderful afternoon of music, theater and conversation – and, most importantly, it helps us continue bringing meaningful arts and community programming to the Paramount throughout the year.”
Proceeds from the Fall Benefit support PHVA’s year-round arts education and community outreach programs, including reduced and free tickets for schoolchildren and veterans and the theater’s sensory-friendly performance series.
PHVA gratefully acknowledges the support of the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Tickets are $40, $56 and $76 and are 100% tax deductible. The $56 ticket honors the 56 delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence, while the $76 ticket recognizes the nation’s 250th anniversary.
100 percent of ticket proceeds will directly support PHVA’s education and community outreach programs.
EVENT SCHEDULE
1:00 p.m. – MUSIC & CIDER
Revolutionary Tunes with Daisy Jopling’s Rays of Liberty
2:00 p.m. – PLAY READING
Full-cast reading of INTENT
3:30 p.m. – TAVERN CHAT
Conversation with historians, author Robert J. Skead and playwright Mona Z. Smith, moderated by Tim Warn
