Storm King Theater

Storm King Theater Now booking Hudson Hall the lobby to Storm King Theater opening Fall 2026.

A CFOSNY nonprofit art house for cinema, live performance & home to Storm King Events. Every private event helps fund free-low cost community programs and cultural experiences.

09/03/2026

Let’s play… what’s in the box.

On December 16, 1935, just five months after Storm King Theater opened, the world famous Don Cossack Russian Male Chorus...
07/28/2026

On December 16, 1935, just five months after Storm King Theater opened, the world famous Don Cossack Russian Male Chorus, under the direction of Serge Jaroff, performed on its stage for a benefit concert supporting the Cornwall Public Library

The Don Cossack Chorus wasn’t your average touring vocal group. The singers were former officers of the Imperial Russian Army who fled Russia following the Russian Revolution. Stripped of their citizenship by the Soviet government, many became stateless refugees, legally recognized as men without a country.

The Newburgh News covered the challenges they faced just to reach America. Because they had no recognized nationality, U.S. immigration laws prevented them from entering directly from Europe. Instead, they sailed to Mexico before making the journey overland into the United States. Simply arriving for an American tour required extraordinary determination.

Out of exile came one of the most celebrated male choruses in the world.

Founded in a refugee camp in 1921, the chorus was created to preserve the music and traditions of the homeland they had lost. Their performances became internationally renowned for their astonishing vocal range, military precision, and emotional power. Local newspaper accounts described audiences captivated by basses that descended to incredible depths and tenors that soared effortlessly above the chorus. They marched onto the stage in military formation and began singing without a conductor giving a starting pitch, leaving audiences spellbound.

For Cornwall, hosting performers of this stature in 1935 was extraordinary. Their appearance connected Cornwall to one of the defining historical events of the twentieth century while raising funds for the local public library.

Nearly ninety years later, their names may not be as widely recognized as they once were, but their story deserves to be remembered. The Don Cossack Russian Male Chorus endured unimaginable loss, carried their culture across continents, and transformed exile into something beautiful.

Many people have stepped forward to help make this dream of Storm King Theater a reality.Restoring a theater is about fa...
07/20/2026

Many people have stepped forward to help make this dream of Storm King Theater a reality.

Restoring a theater is about far more than recreating a beautiful space. Behind the curtain is an incredible amount of technical expertise. Projection systems, sound, lighting, acoustics, rigging, electrical engineering, audiovisual technology, and countless other specialized elements all have to work together to transform a building into a place where stories can come to life.

We are incredibly fortunate to live in a community filled with talented people who have generously shared their knowledge, equipment, industry connections, financial support, and time to help make that happen. It takes a village!!!

Welcome to a behind the scenes look at the people helping to bring the magic back to Cornwall.

First up is Cornwall on Hudson resident Gregg V. Paliotta, owner of Digital Media Systems.

Digital Media Systems designs and builds commercial cinemas and provides professional audiovisual solutions for permanent installations and live events. Their work is seriously impressive, and I encourage you to explore their social media to see their projects.

We’re incredibly lucky Gregg stepped forward to help. He has been instrumental in securing our movie screen, offering technical guidance, and connecting us with industry professionals that will help shape the future of the experience inside Storm King Theater.

Gregg has a genuine passion for cinema and the theatrical experience. He believes in the magic of the big screen and is excited to have this theater within walking distance of his home.

He is commitment to creating the best possible cinematic experience for our community has been invaluable, and we are grateful for his enthusiasm and all he is doing to support this effort.

A standing ovation for our friend Gregg!! Thank you. ⭐️👏🙌👏⭐️

07/18/2026

In 2023, we took a chance and submitted an application to the New York Forward grant to pursue a dream my family had spent 29 years trying to achieve at this point felt out of reach.

On May 21, 2024, we got the call. Storm King Theater had been selected.

More than a year of approvals, planning, engineering, and permits followed before we were finally able to break ground in September 2025.

I thought this journey would be about restoring a theater.

I was wrong.

It became a real-life treasure hunt.

Every week uncovered another forgotten story. Every photograph led to another mystery. Every conversation connected me with people who cared just as passionately about preserving the past and creating something meaningful for the future. Somewhere along the way, this stopped feeling like a construction project and started feeling like a calling.

This is about something more than a building we are restoring an experience that’s becoming endangered.

We are preserving a place for future generations to experience cinema and all forms of artistic experiences. To be inspired gather, to dream, to create, and to belong.

A place where a child discovers live theater for the first time. Where a filmmaker premieres a passion project. Where musicians, artists, performers, neighbors, families, and friends come together to share extraordinary artistic experiences they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

The stories that once filled this theater deserve to be remembered.

The stories that haven’t happened yet deserve a place to begin.

Storm King Theater is that place.

This next chapter belongs to all of us. Our promise is to preserve the arts, make them accessible, and build a home where creativity, community, tolerance and extraordinary experiences can thrive for generations to come.

Welcome to Storm King Theater.

What happened at Storm King Theatre on July 31, 1935, was extraordinary.Just four weeks after opening its doors, Storm K...
07/17/2026

What happened at Storm King Theatre on July 31, 1935, was extraordinary.

Just four weeks after opening its doors, Storm King Theatre welcomed Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers, one of the most celebrated dance companies in the world. Fresh off a triumphant engagement at His Majesty’s Theatre in London during King George V’s Silver Jubilee, the company came to tiny Cornwall for a single purpose: a benefit performance for Cornwall Hospital.

The theater donated the venue, and after the dancers’ fee was paid, every remaining dollar went directly to support the hospital. Local newspapers reported overwhelming demand for tickets and expected the theater to be filled to capacity.

Who was Ted Shawn?

He is considered the father of American modern dance and the man who transformed dance into a respected profession for men. At a time when concert dance was viewed almost exclusively as a woman’s art, Shawn founded an all-male company in 1933 that challenged those assumptions through athleticism, artistry, and powerful storytelling.

His influence continues today through Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts, the dance center he founded that has become America’s oldest continuously operating dance festival and one of the world’s most respected institutions dedicated to preserving and advancing dance.

The program performed at Storm King Theatre included Native American-inspired works, international folk traditions, American themes, and choreography set to Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, and Satie. It was unlike anything most audiences in the Hudson Valley had ever experienced.The local newspaper described the engagement as likely “the most important event in the history of art in Cornwall,” noting that, for the first time, the village had a theater capable of presenting a performance of this caliber.

I’ve always admired the people who push boundaries, refuse to let society define what they can or cannot be, and have the courage to create something entirely their own. Ted Shawn did exactly that. He ignored convention, believed men belonged on the concert stage, and in doing so changed the course of dance history.

Here’s a story about fate.This morning I woke up to a DM from Alger Theater in Detroit.They had been looking through mid...
07/12/2026

Here’s a story about fate.

This morning I woke up to a DM from Alger Theater in Detroit.

They had been looking through mid-1930s architectural books, researching design elements used in theaters of that era, when they came across Storm King Theatre. The name caught their attention, so they saved the article.

A few hours later, they opened Instagram, saw that Sleepy Hollow Cinema had visited and tagged us, and reached out to ask if I already had the images they had uncovered.

Those of you who have been following this journey know how hard I’ve searched for original 1930s interior photos of the theater.

For years I lived in the Cornwall and local news archives, spent countless hours at the Newburgh Free Library scrolling through microfilm. I found articles, ads, and descriptions, but never the photographs I hoped existed.

The Alger Theater had them.

This morning they sent me photos of Storm King Theater that I’ve been searching for for years. Photos I always believed would surface someday.

Today was that day.

The odds of a theater in Detroit saving an article because of our name, then seeing us on Instagram just hours later and reaching out the same day, feel impossible…

Moments like this remind me that fate has played a role in this theater’s journey from the very beginning.

One of the things I hope to do after Storm King Theater opens is invite other independent theaters to take over our space for a day. They would have complete creative and branding control to host a cinema fundraiser benefiting their own efforts. Imagine bringing a little piece of Detroit, Sleepy Hollow, or another iconic theater into Cornwall while helping preserve these incredible places.

Historic theaters shouldn’t compete. We’re all trying to save something much bigger than a building. We’re preserving homes to experience art in an increasingly rare form.

To my new friends at the Alger Theater, thank you. You had no idea what these photographs would mean to me, but you made my day in a way I’ll never forget.

I have a feeling fate made this connection happen for a reason, and I know we’ll meet in person one day but before then I am making plans for your marquee! ❤️

Nearly 5,000 movie theaters have closed in the past six years.In the area surrounding Storm King Theater alone, we have ...
07/11/2026

Nearly 5,000 movie theaters have closed in the past six years.

In the area surrounding Storm King Theater alone, we have seen the Downing Film Center close in 2023, Destinta Theatres close in 2020, and Showtime Cinemas close in 2024. The Beacon Movie Theater, which reopened in 2019, is the closest operating movie theater to Storm King Theater today.

This trend is not unique to our region. Across the country, there are now complete dead zones for cinema. Movie theaters are becoming increasingly rare, and the reasons behind that go far beyond the character limits of social media.

Today, I was excited to meet with Marc Solomon, one of the visionaries working to bring film back to Sleepy Hollow. We had so many interesting conversations about the challenges of restoring and operating independent cinemas. He is facing plenty of obstacles, but he is determined.

If you know me and my sometimes ridiculous level of optimism, you know I truly believe that where there is a will, there is always a way.

I am not an expert in any of this. Most of us doing this work are learning as we go. But one thing is certain: we need to stick together, share what we have learned and support one another in whatever ways we can.
I cannot wait to drive two bridges south and visit Sleepy Hollow soon!

Hi! 👋 Lots of new people here… welcome!I thought I’d answer some of the questions I’ve been getting most often.Is Storm ...
07/09/2026

Hi! 👋 Lots of new people here… welcome!

I thought I’d answer some of the questions I’ve been getting most often.

Is Storm King Theater open?

Not yet. We’re still very much a construction zone. Our soft opening is planned for this fall, with the grand opening coming early in the new year. I’ll announce the official opening date later this summer.

What is open now?

Hudson Hall, the theater lobby, is open and available to host private events. If you’re interested in the space, feel free to reach out. My DMs are open!

Will the theater only show movies?

No. While we’ll absolutely be showing movies, we also have a fully equipped stage designed to host live performances of all kinds, including concerts, theater, comedy, lectures, community events, immersive art and so much more.

Is the theater a nonprofit?

Right now the theater operates under the community foundation. A dedicated 501(c)(3) will be formed when the time is right.

Revenue from private and ticketed events pays the theater’s operating expenses such as heat, air conditioning, insurance, maintenance, and other day-to-day costs. Anything left over, along with membership and donor support, is invested back into the theater through our Community Foundation fund to support improving the theater and low-cost to free community events.

How many people does the theater hold?

Capacity depends on the event and seating layout. Every production is different, but we’ll accommodate a little over 100 people. Final capacities are still being determined. Hudson hall has additional capacity.

Can I visit?

The theater was open for tours during the Fourth of July festivities, but we’re now back to being an active construction zone.

You’re always welcome to stop by. I’m usually at the theater Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Weekends vary.

Reach out if you’d like to stop by or if you see my white Bronco parked outside, you’re also welcome to come in. I do my best to accommodate drop-in visitors, but every now and then I’m in the middle of a project I can’t step away from, so I appreciate your understanding.

Can I host an event or perform at the theater?

Absolutely. If you’re planning a private event, producing a live performance, or looking for a venue for your organization, let’s talk.

The theater is open for everyone to book. Our model is a little different because each producer is responsible for producing their own experience, allowing us to accommodate everything from community productions to professional performances. We do offer additional event support services if needed.

I’m an independent filmmaker. Can I screen my film?

Yes. In fact, we have a unique model. If you’re willing to show your film to the public for free, we’re willing to host your screening for free.

If you have other questions, leave them in the comments or send me a message. I’m always happy to answer them.

Thanks for following along. I’m excited to share this journey with all of you, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors this fall!!

❤️Elizabeth Bruschi Yannone

07/04/2026

Welcome to Storm King Theater!

For the first time since 1972, the screen is down and ready for an audience.

Come on in we are ready for you! Relax, cool off, use the restrooms if needed, take a look around, and experience a glimpse of what’s to come on the big screen. Or turn your volume up and experience it here in this video 🎙️🎶

Happy birthday America! 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸

Address

2 Idlewild Avenue
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
12520

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