Objective:

Impact PR & Communications was tapped by Hudson Valley Shakespeare (HVS) in 2021 to assist the professional non-profit theater company with its move from its longtime site at Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, NY to a 98-acre property in Philipstown, NY. Over the course of a multi-year public relations engagement, Impact PR worked to positively position the nonprofit’s stewardship of its new home, with a focus on ecological restoration, climate-smart investment in green design and promotion of the first purpose-built LEED platinum theater in the United States.

Strategy:

• Develop an action-oriented PR timeline to guide the engagement.
• Create and maintain a customized, comprehensive media list of local and regional print, digital and broadcast outlets, with a specific focus on top outlets followed by the Philipstown community.
• Disseminate press materials (inclusive of press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds and contributed articles) and coordinate interviews with HVS spokespeople to inform community members and stakeholders of key updates regarding the site development, maintaining a consistent, transparent dialogue throughout the process.
• Develop talking points, both general and event-specific, to guide HVS leadership in communicating clearly with the community and alleviating misinformation.
• Maintain the FAQ page on the HVS website with regular updates to keep the public informed about progress and next steps.
• Promote HVS’s commitment to arts education, the environment and the local community by publicizing HVS-hosted events such as Highland Lights, Earth Day activations, family nights, community arts workshops and the organization’s annual gala.
• Position HVS as a thought leader and national model for environmental sustainability in the performing arts.
• Pitch traditional, local media as well as social media influencers to generate buzz around upcoming performances, on-site experiences, and the property’s restaurant.

Results:

This multi-year, community relations-focused engagement garnered the following results:

• 181 secured media placements across traditional and digital media channels, newsletters and social media, resulting in 382 million media impressions.
• Feature interviews with local media including In Touch and the Putnam County News & Recorder.
• The Philipstown Planning Board’s acceptance of HVS’s Environmental Impact Statement and site development plans.
• Increased attendance at HVS-hosted events, including Highland Lights and the annual gala.
• The Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, the first public purpose-built LEED Platinum theater in the United States, opened to audiences in Summer 2026.