November Newsletter 2022
Tidewater Center News
Marlena Marallo and Patrick Wadden’s first puppet pageant was part of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s 1982 Pumpkin Festival. This tour enlisted the entire crew to perform at each of the sloop's 15 stops from Albany to Manhattan. One of those stops was at Lynch’s Marina on the Esopus Creek in Saugerties.
Flash forward 40 years, and Arm-of-the-Sea is in the midst of developing the Tidewater Center - a unique outdoor performance venue and Hudson River education center on the banks of the tidal Esopus Creek. Our major Tidewater accomplishment was purchasing and installing a 40’ X 60’ Tent within the walls of the former coalbin. It features a raised performance area and enables us to present performances and other programs rain or shine. Thank you to our funders and supporters who helped us purchase the tent.
Although performances at Tidewater Center were abbreviated this season, we have expansive plans for next year. New amenities at Tidewater Center in 2023 will include audience seating, construction of an office, and facilities for aquatic education. Alongside regular performances by Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and other local groups, we’ll resume the popular Waterfront Wednesday series initiated last summer.
Also, we are excited to announce that we received a 3-year grant from the NYS DEC ! This will fund Hudson River educational activities at Tidewater Center including tours with local biologists, presentations and hands-on exploration of the Hudson River estuary! There will be opportunities learn about local fish, measure water quality, and delve into the Hudson River watershed’s rich ecosystem.
To prepare for the upcoming event season, Arm-of-the-Sea has some additional improvements planned for the Tidewater Center! First, we are building a small Program Support Center (PSC) “cottage” to safely store onsite equipment, offer a meeting space, and provide hospitality space for artists getting ready to perform. Meanwhile, the performance tent will be enhanced with audience seating, a box office, and an awning over the backstage area to protect people and puppets from the rain. These important additions give us the infrastructure to host a wide variety of events and pave the way for a thriving eco-cultural center in the heart of the Hudson Valley. A Rural Arts Grant from the Laura Jane Musser Fund will help jumpstart community arts programming.
If you would like to support the Tidewater Center, please click the link below!
We also assembled a Solar-Powered Generator which provides electricity to the site and illuminates our performances! We christened the Tent in August with performances of our annual Esopus Creek Puppet Suite.
This fall a hearty crew of volunteers took down the fabric roof panels and carefully rolled them up into storage bags. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Nick Goldfrank, Pietro Poccia, Gail Porter, Susan Murphy, Cedar Novak, and Jason Novak for helping to see this through
Tidewater Center Wish List:
• Pro bono architectural and legal services• Skilled carpenters and gardeners who wish to donate their time• Storage shed• Construction materials• Gas grill or pizza oven
Read More Articles From Our 2022 Newsletter!
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People, Puppets and Performances
Arm-of-the-Sea traveled far and wide during this touring season, premiering new work and performing classic shows from our repertoire. Next season will feature a production drawn from the troupe's primary source, the Hudson River Estuary. And watch for our tour bus hitting the road!
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Hudson River Education
We are thrilled to announce a new 3-year grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation that will fund Hudson River Education! Starting in 2023, we will offer hands-on learning about aquatic life and river stewardship at Tidewater Center.