Below you will find a collection of press articles about the Chatham area. Check back frequently for the latest news.
Curtains Up On Summer: Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham enters 51st season
TimesUnion.com | May 24, 2019
On a sinuous country road lined with emerald fields and foliage, between the John Deere dealership and the county fairgrounds, sits a theater with a round stage 22 feet across, nestled amid 350 seats that each summer hold crowds exceeding 35,000. Now in its 51st season but the first without either of its founders, Mac-Haydn Theatre is a throwback that’s also finding its future. It is a true summer-stock company, in the old-fashioned sense of the term, meaning it is built on guest artists in leading roles and a core group of young actors who stay for the whole season to act in or otherwise work on most if not all of the seven Main Stage and three Children’s Theatre productions that run from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends.
Inside One of the Last VHS Rental Stores in America
Inside Edition | April 6, 2019
Nestled in the quiet town of Chatham, New York, is Video Visions, one of the last-remaining video stories in America. Steven Campbell opened Video Visions in 1984 with Jim Donovan. At the time, they had just 200 titles. Now, they have over 26,000 that customers can rent for a few bucks a day.
Austerlitz, N.Y.: Visual presentation on Ghent bicentennial
The Berkshire Eagle | Tuesday, April 16, 2018
Austerlitz Historical Society will present Ghent Town Historian Gregg Berninger who will speak on “200 Years of Ghentness” at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Austerlitz Firehouse. The presentation is a fun, thought-provoking visual romp through Ghent’s 200 years.
A View from the Tracks: Day Tripping in Chatham & Ghent, New York
Greylockglass.com | Tuesday, April 2, 2019
The morning sun reflects off the remnants of a hard crust of snow with a luminous quality that makes the towns of Ghent and Chatham, New York, appear suffused by stage lights. It’s been a long winter—about six months’ worth, by most people’s accounts, though they use much more colorful language; like the Inuit and their multiple words for snow, residents of upstate New York have a remarkable array of vivid, sometimes profane, epithets for the season.
Artist Ulrike Grannis Exhibits at Camphill Ghent Art Gallery
Hudson Valley 360 | Thursday, March 28, 2019
Chatham artist Ulrike Grannis will have an exhibition of her abstract painting, paper marbling and collage in the Joan Allen Art Gallery at Camphill Ghent in Chatham, from April 1 to May 31, 2019.
The artist will give a short talk at an opening reception on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.
Bridgman-Packer Dance to present ‘Video Playground’ at PS21
The Berkshire Edge | Thursday, March 28, 2019
Performance Spaces for the 21st Century will present Bridgman-Packer Dance and its Video Playground Saturday, March 30, at 3 p.m. in the Black Box Theater. The interactive installation allows participants to create their own video magic by playing with time, scale, juxtaposition and shadow.
Crandell Theatre Elects New President
The Crandell Theatre website | Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The Crandell Theatre’s Board of Directors elected a new president and other officers at their annual meeting on January 27. Lydia Kukoff, elected as President, will take over for Fred Ulrich, who steps down from that role after five years but remains on the board. Other officers elected by the board include Sara McWilliams as Vice President for Theater Operations; Peter Biskind as Vice President for Programming; Lael Locke as Secretary; and Viki Sand as Treasurer.
Call for Entries Farm Film Fest 11
Film entries are now being accepted for Farm Film Fest 11, the annual event sponsored by the Chatham Agricultural Partnership, the Columbia Land Conservancy, and the Crandell Theatre. The one-day film festival takes place on Sunday, March 24, 2019, at the historic Crandell Theatre in Chatham, New York.
The festival will screen films that focus on farms and farming issues with special consideration for those that have a regional connection. Films can have a running time of 5-20 minutes and submitted either in DVD or digital format. The program will include films made by professional and amateur filmmakers. Students of all ages are encouraged to submit entries. Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2019.
DVDs can be sent to:
Farm Film Fest 11
c/o The Crandell Theatre
PO Box 305
Chatham, NY, 12037
Digital links can be sent to .
Submission requirements are also available at FarmFilmFest.org.
Things to Do in Chatham in August
There’s so much to do and see in the village of Chatham, NY and the surrounding area. Chatham in August is an especially exciting time. Not only is August the month of the Chatham Dance Festival, but there’s live music, art gallery shows, the grand opening of a cidery and so much more. As a matter of fact, there is so much going on that we decided to make a list and share it with others who love Chatham as much as we do.
Experience the Joy of Dance
Throughout the month of August, PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century presents the Chatham Dance Festival, a celebration of contemporary dance. The festival includes four renowned dance companies: Parsons Dance, Bill Shannon, Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre, and the Bang Group.
See A Movie
The Crandell Theatre, Columbia County’s oldest and largest movie theatre, was built in 1926 as a vaudeville house. The theater is open seven days and features first run movies throughout the week. In addition, each Sunday afternoon the theater presents an independent, documentary, or foreign film.
Take in Some Live Music
Several venues throughout the village offer live music. First of all, The People’s Pub and Chatham Brewing frequently have live bands, and the Blue Plate has live jazz every Wednesday evening from 6:15-9:00pm. Furthermore, on Saturday, August 4 at 3:00pm hear award-winning Out of Time Barbershop Quartet, together with the Vintage Harmonics, at Camphill Ghent. The concert is free.
Visit an Art Gallery
The Chatham area has several excellent art galleries. The Thompson Giroux Gallery features Mark Lariviere “A Certain Light” through August 5. Beginning August 11 a show featuring Marie-Claude Giroux, Jim Holl and Arthur Sordillo begins. In addition, the Chatham Bookstore features the landscape paintings of Newburyport artist Annalee Johnson through August 18. Equally important, the Spencertown Academy‘s current gallery show is “They Made the Cut” through August 12. The six local artists exhibiting each use cutting as an integral role in creating their own unique artistry. Additionally, art can be found at the Joyce Goldstein Gallery and The Gallery @ Chatham.
Attend the Grand Opening of a Cidery
This event will be held Friday-Sunday, August 10-12 at the Chatham Berry Farm. As a matter of fact, there will be five guest taps featuring NYS farm beer, cider and wine. A food truck, and more.
Participate in an Outdoor Yoga Event
Supersoul Yoga has teamed up with the Columbia Land Conservancy to support their similar initiatives of connection with and through nature. Classes are Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00pm.at Sutherland Pond at Ooms Conservation Area. Furthermore, the proceeds support the Columbia Land Conservancy.
Attend the Sangria Festival
Don’t miss the Hudson-Chatham Winery’s signature Sangria & Jazz Festival Saturday, August 11, from 11:00am-6:00pm. Five fresh-made sangrias, local food options, tarot card readings, and live jazz with Patricia Dalton and the Jazz Colleagues.
See Live Musical Theater in the Round
Mac-Haydn Theater welcomes back a dream cast for this stunning retelling of the Victor Hugo classic “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Chatham in August
For more details about upcoming events visit our Sales and Events page. In addition, we encourage you to see our photo gallery of previous events.
Global Farm-to-Table cuisine at People’s Pub
Spectrum News, May 19, 2018
The quaint town of Chatham is slowly becoming a foodie destination, and People’s Pub on Main Street is setting itself apart.