Chase Brock Experience
April 4 at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center
In Tannersville, choreographer Chase Brock premieres “Come Home,” a new work for his New York-based troupe that looks to the sea for both metaphor and momentum. Set to an original score by composer Eric Dietz and threaded with traditional sea shanties, the piece follows a crew of sailors navigating storms, stillness, and the uneasy pull between adventure and return. Brock—whose choreography spans Broadway, opera, and television—draws on modern dance, ballet, folk forms, and theatrical storytelling to shape the journey. 7pm. Tickets
“Hide”
April 4 at the Howland Cultural Center
Jeffrey Doornbos makes his playwriting debut with “Hide,” a one-person drama about faith, conscience, and the cost of speaking out. Set in a small Midwestern town, the play follows a devout parishioner who locks his congregation inside their church to protest its treatment of undocumented members. As the tense standoff unfolds, the man is forced to confront difficult questions about moral responsibility, personal conviction, and the hidden truths shaping his own life. Beacon. 8pm. Tickets
Mae Martin: “The Possum” Tour
April 10 at the Bardavon
Comedian, actor, and writer Mae Martin arrives in Poughkeepsie with their new stand-up show, which marks a return to Martin’s stand-up roots. Martin blends quick wit with confessional storytelling that often draws on personal history—relationships, addiction, identity, and the strange ways the brain chases pleasure and belonging. Expect a set that moves fluidly between absurd observations and disarmingly honest reflections, from a performer who has built a reputation for turning life’s messier subjects into comedy that’s both thoughtful and genuinely funny. 8pm. Tickets
Doug Varone and Dancers
April 18 at Hudson Hall
Doug Varone and Dancers mark their 40th anniversary with “Stripped (no costumes, no lights),” an intimate evening in Hudson that invites audiences inside the creative process of one of contemporary dance’s most respected companies. Performed in rehearsal clothes with minimal production, the program pairs excerpts from the troupe’s repertory with a preview of a new work by Varone set to Radiohead’s 2007 album In Rainbows. 7pm. Tickets
Jo Koy: “Just Being Koy” Tour
April 24 at the MJN Center
Stand-up comic Jo Koy hits Poughkeepsie, bringing the observational, family-driven comedy that has made him one of the most successful arena comics of the past decade. A frequent presence on “Chelsea Lately” and a performer with multiple Netflix and Comedy Central specials, Koy builds his sets from everyday material—family dynamics, cultural identity, and the small absurdities of modern life. His Filipino-American upbringing, especially stories about his mother and son, remains a wellspring of punchlines. 8pm. Tickets
PKX Festival
April 24-25 at The Art Effect
Produced by teens from the Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth, the PKX Festival transforms The Art Effect’s campus into a lively hub of art, film, music, and community celebration. The event features a student-curated exhibition of work by Hudson Valley teens, an international showcase of short films selected from hundreds of submissions, and a neighborhood festival packed with performances, hands-on art activities, and food vendors. This year’s theme, “Golden Age Hip Hop,” shapes the music, dance, and creative programming throughout the weekend.
Dutchess County Colonial Homes Tour
April 25, Dutchess County
Dutchess County’s Colonial past comes into focus on this guided architecture tour exploring some of the region’s earliest surviving homes. Organized by Histoury, the four-hour charter bus excursion features a mix of Colonial-era properties across the county, with rare interior access to several privately owned houses, including the John Storm House and Oak Brook Farmhouse. Departures run at 9am and 2pm. Tickets
Writers Resist Festival
April 26 at the Bearsville Theater
Reviving the spirit of the original Writers Resist gatherings, the event blends literature, community, and live performance while raising funds for the New York Abortion Access Fund, Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Headlining authors include feminist writer Jessica Valenti, novelist and PEN America president Dinaw Mengestu, and cultural critic Lucy Sante. Music comes from The Goddess Party along with Robert Burke Warren and David Gonzalez. 5pm. Tickets
“Bat Out of Hell: The Musical”
April 28 at the Ulster Performing Arts Center
Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s bombastic rock opera “Bat Out of Hell” storms the Kingston stage in a theatrical spectacle built around one of rock’s most beloved albums. Featuring songs like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” and the title track, the musical spins a high-octane story of young love and rebellion in a dystopian city. Directed and adapted for the stage by Steinman, the show turns arena-rock anthems into a full-throttle theatrical experience packed with oversized emotion, soaring vocals, and unapologetic melodrama. 7:30pm. Tickets
Cookbook Social
May 2 at the Fuller Building
Cookbooks take center stage at Cookbook Social, a gathering that brings authors and home cooks together to talk food, storytelling, and the enduring appeal of the printed recipe in Kingston. Hosted by cookbook author Rebecca Ffrench and Real Simple food director Jenna Helwig, the event features live conversations with writers including Maya Kaimal, Melina Hammer, Dan Pelosi, and Colu Henry, alongside tastings, book signings, and a lively meet-and-greet reception. Local chef Lee Kalpakis prepares dishes inspired by cookbook recipes, highlighting seasonal Hudson Valley ingredients. 2-5:30pm. Tickets
This article appears in April 2026.
