Past Calendar Events

Saturday, September 23, 2023 @ 8:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Advance Tickets: $20; At The Door: $30 / Click HERE to purchase Advance Tickets.

Sam Pluta, director of the CHIME (Chicago Integrated Media Experimental Studio) Studio at the University of Chicago and laptop artist, and Jeff Snyder, director Electronic Music and director of the Princeton Laptop Orchestra at Princeton University, create real-time electronic sound architectures which fluidly warp space-time, leaving far behind any conventional definition of “music.” Elysium Furnace Works

Saturday, September 16, 2023 @ 7:30 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Tickets: $20 / Information: TRANSART The Bluocracy Project

The Bluocracy is a masterwork, composed by Craig Harris exploring the great democratic process that is essential to the music called “jazz” and examines how it parallels the fiber of American relationships, especially those considering gender, race, class, and politics. People are often in a bubble all alone with information that feeds their ideas, without being exposed to contradictory information. 

The featured ensemble is Craig Harris and Harlem Nightsongs, a 9-member group of musicians. Harris assembled this ensemble to explore extended compositions for a large group while maintaining the spontaneity and flexibility of a small group. The band’s complex arrangements supply broad choices for the improvisers within the band thus conveying a small group feel with a large group sound. TRANSART The Bluocracy Project

Thursday, September 14, 2023 @ 8:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Advance Tickets: $15 ; At The Door: $25 / Click HERE to purchase Advance Tickets.

Eugene Chadbourne (left) and Jim McHugh (right)

Elysium Furnace Works is thrilled to present the dynamic duo of legendary multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, author and all-around creative force Eugene Chadbourne, joined by guitarist/vocalist Jim McHugh from the NYC-based band Sunwatchers. Following up on their 2021 recording Bad Scene, this talented pair will perform originals, covers and who can say what else?  Elysium Furnace Works

Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm & Sunday, September 10, 2023 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm / 9 and 12 Vassar Street

Poughkeepsie Open Studios presents a free self-guided, all-inclusive art tour of local artist studios and art spaces showcasing regional artists. Free family-friendly art-making activities, artist demonstrations, and interactive experiences are part of this fun-filled event!

Visual Artists featured at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center

Visit Poughkeepsie Open Studios for complete Tour Roster. 

Saturday, August 12, 2023 / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Performance Times and Tickets: From Stage To Screen Acting Studio

June 26, 2023 – August 4, 2023 / Weekly Workshops / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / NOTE: Scan the Bar Code to Register / Information: Phone (845) 943-2100 or Email info@transartinc.org / www.transartinc.org

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 8:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Tickets: $20 Advance Sales or $30 At The Door / Visit sarah.kid.eventbrite to purchase Online Advance Sales Tickets.

Elysium Furnace Works is proud to present the incendiary duo of electric violinist/vocalist Sarah Bernstein (Anthony Braxton, Kris Davis) and drummer Kid Millions (Oneida, Man Forever) as part of its 2023 Season performing in celebration of their new live recording. Bernstein and Millions build upon their long-running collaboration, unleashing ecstatic textures and unnervingly existential poetry, creating a passionately psychedelic intensity at once fearless and fearsome.

“Sarah Bernstein brings a certain Beat sensibility to her experimental tunes that blend jazz, classical, folk and spoken word.” – Time Out New York

“When Kid Millions plays the drums, it’s all about stamina. He has built a career on percussive longevity, bashing away at his instrument for hours on end with fury and expert precision. For many years he has been the anchor of the Brooklyn band Oneida, whose songs mix hypnotic Minimalism with skull-rattling metal.” – Ben Sisario, NY Times

Thursday, June 15, 2023 / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / 6:30 pm / For more information on the 2023 Poughkeepsie Mayoral Candidates visit Poughkeepsie Democrats

Saturday, June 10, 2023 and Sunday, June 11 2023 / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Performance Times and Tickets: From Stage To Screen Acting Studio

Saturday, June 3, 2023 and Sunday, June 4, 2023 / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Performance Times and Tickets: From Stage To Screen Acting Studio

Saturday, April 29, 2023 and Sunday, April 30, 2023 / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Performance Times and Tickets: From Stage To Screen Acting Studio

Saturday, April 22, 2023 / 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm / Free Admission / PoughETRY Fest

Celebrating its 6th year, PoughETRY Fest 2023, curated and created by the 2017 & 2018 Dutchess County Poet Laureate – Poet Gold, is a one-day, in-person, free festival highlighting the art of poetry both written and spoken, as well as poets of the Hudson Valley and beyond. PoughETRY Fest 2023 will be held at two locations: Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar Street, Poughkeepsie, NY and at Reason & Ruckus located in the heart of Poughkeepsie on 305 Main Street.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm @ Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar Street: Youth Open Mic and Workshop – Hosted by Daniel Villegas, Teaching Artist/Performer and Co-hosted by Miguel Sanchez aka “Lito Koqui”, Poughkeepsie local poet and hip-hop artist. Open to youth of all ages, giving students the opportunity to relate to poetry that is relevant to them allowing exploration of the craft through combining words and beatboxing and to discover contemporary poetry in a meaningful way.

2:30 pm – 3:45 pm @ Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar Street: Film Premiere and Director Q & A – Blueprint For My People directed by Carol Bash award-winning documentary film maker. Blueprint For My People is a short film that illuminates the African-American experience by lyrically weaving spoken-word narration of Margaret Walker’s epic poem, “For My People” with contemporary images and rare 19^th century cyanotypes (blue photographic prints known as ‘blueprints’). It features the voices of award-winning spoken word artists, Poet Gold, and Richard “Braf” Braithwaite. An opening film, Say Their Names, directed by Paul Thompson and co-directed by Poet Gold will also be shown. It was produced by Suprina Troche and Poet Gold and features “Sounds of Heritage”.

4:00 pm – 5:45 pm @ Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar Street: LGBTQ Open Mic featuring Pamela Sneed – Hosted by Jay “Jay Bird” Herman. Jay Bird brings their dedication for love and justice together through poetry and the spoken word. They have hosted the PoughETRY Fest LGBTQ Open Mic since its inception. Pamela Sneed is the author of Sweet Dreams and Funeral Diva which was featured in The New York Times and won the 2021 Lambda Lesbian Poetry Award. She is the recipient of a 2023 Creative Capital grant in literature.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Reason & Ruckus, 305 Main Street: Calling All Poets (CAPS) Open Mic (a 501c3 poetry organization) is designed to give emerging poets the opportunity to share their work in a public forum.

NOTE: PoughETRY Fest will offer online highlights of the past five years with posts throughout the month of April celebrating participants poetic contributions and poetry month.

Saturday, April 15, 2023 @ 9 Vassar Street / 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Tickets: $75 per person (limited capacity). Online Ticket Sales @ 2023 Annual Magnolia Party EVENTBRITE Tickets Call the CHAC Office for payment by check. RSVP by April 12, 2023. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door.

Live Music performed by Christopher Dean Sullivan, Bass and Lonnie Liebowitz, Piano made possible with support by Jazz in the Valley and TRANSART

Wine Donated By

Dessert Donated by

Raffle Sponsors

• 

Onaje Benjamin Photographic Studio

Event Sponsors

Jackie and Glenn Peterson

Thomas Schmeelk

Saturday, April 1, 2023 @ 8:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Tickets at Door Only: $20 per person

Two dudes, two guitars, two amps, no effects (OK, maybe a little amp reverb), no tunes. 100% improvised, garden-fresh music composed in real time right before your very ears.

Saturday, March 25, 2023 @ 8:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Advance Ticket Sales: $25 per person / At the Door: $30 per person / Visit https://sharpdon.bpt.me/ to purchase Advance Sales Tickets (PLEASE NOTE: Advance ticket sales end at midnight the night before the concert).

Elysium Furnace Works kicks off its 2023 season in the Hudson Valley with the incendiary duo of multi-instrumentalist Elliott Sharp and drummer/percussionist Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II.

Elliott Sharp, one of the pioneers of the NYC-based Downtown music scene, is a virtuoso guitarist, bassist, reed player, composer, improvisor, instrument builder and musical theorist.

Donald Sturge Anthony McKenzie II is a world- class drummer and highly skilled beat-smith and has been called a “powerhouse” and a “master of deep-pocket hip hop, funk, jazz and rock” whose ferociously powerful contributions to multiple musical genres has virtually no parallel.

Saturday, February 25, 2023 and Sunday, February 26, 2023 / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Performance Times and Tickets: Standing Room Only Theater Company

January 14, 2023 @ 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm and January 15, 2023 @ 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Tickets: From Stage To Screen

Saturday, January 7, 2023 @ 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm and Sunday, January 8, 2023 @ 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm / VBI Theatre – 12 Vassar Street / Tickets: From Stage To Screen

Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm / 12 Vassar Street – The VBI Theatre / Tickets: Children $6.00 Advance Sales or $7.00 at the door – Adults $11.00 Advance Sales or $12.00 at the door / Call (845) 337-5467 to Reserve Tickets / Visit JG Dance for more information