This year, Ellenville's Shadowland Theatre—the only Actors' Equity theater in Ulster County—celebrates its 30th mainstage season. In 2013, the theater completed a one million-dollar restoration project, including renovation to its façade, lobby, and theater proper. Marking the anniversary and its second successful season postrenovation, Shadowland now presents an expanded, seven-show mainstage season. "Unnecessary Farce," an outrageous comedy written by Paul Slade Smith, will make its regional premiere under the direction of Brendan Burke this month. Set in a dingy motel, the play concerns an embezzling mayor and his beautiful secretary, the two rookie cops trying to videotape them from the adjacent room, and ensuing confusion as to who's taping who and who ends up in handcuffs. Performances run July 11 to August 3, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. (845) 647-5511; Shadowlandtheatre.org.
