Welcome!
Hudson River Playback Theatre, based in New Paltz, NY, creates dynamic, memorable theatre and music on the spot based on true stories told by audience members.
Please join us for our 2025 public shows, Sundays at 7pm:
February 2, April 6, June 1, October 5, December 7
Performances take place at The Muse, a hive for the arts. 1 Madeline Lane, Rosendale, NY.
“I’m hooked on playback … not to mention completely awed by the talent, touched to the core by the compassion, and really curious as to HOW you all do THAT?” (audience comment)
HRPT, a nonprofit ensemble founded in 1990, has performed by invitation in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Montreal, London, and Frankfurt. HRPT’s local projects have included an 8-year series of over 100 bilingual performances for immigrants; hundreds of shows addressing school bullying; and regular performances on the climate crisis in partnership with local climate action organizations.
Our vision: A society where every voice is heard, every story honored.
Our mission: To create improvisational theatre and music from stories told by the audience in order to illuminate lives and bear witness to both difference and commonality among people.
Our values: Social Justice; Artistry; Community.
Hudson River Playback Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the State of New York USA
Our beloved Jody Satriani, a member of HRPT for 17 years, died in July 2023 after an illness. We miss her terribly.
Here is a beautiful video compilation created by Dorothy Luongo,
Playback Theatre itself was first developed by Jonathan Fox, Jo Salas, and the other members of the original company in 1975. In performances, audience members are invited to tell stories from their lives and watch as they are played back with action and music. The Playback Theatre method is now practiced in 70 countries worldwide to build dialogue, connection, and change. Jo Salas founded Hudson River Playback Theatre in 1990 as the original company was coming to a close. Hudson River Playback Theatre’s company members have backgrounds in professional theatre and music, social work, education, and community action. Learn more about what we can offer your school, community, or organization.
STORIES RISING video
A month after the first worldwide One Billion Rising event in 2013, Hudson River Playback Theatre presented a community performance called Stories Rising. This story was told by one of the local organizers of One Billion Rising, and enacted on the spot by Hudson River Playback Theatre’s performers. The videographer, Marjorie Berman, added family photos from the teller during the editing process. STORIES RISING 2013