Jorge Glem and Sam Reider
In Banning Hall
Jorge Glem and Sam Reider, Latin GRAMMY nominees, are a dynamic duo blending Venezuelan and American musical traditions. Glem, the GRAMMY-nominated Cuatro player of Venezuelan musical ensemble C4 Trio, and Reider, the acclaimed accordionist and composer, met in New York in 2016. With performances including Lincoln Center and NPR Tiny Desk, their collaboration celebrates cultural exchange. Their debut album, Brooklyn-Cumaná (2022), earned a 2023 Latin GRAMMY nomination.
Will Lawrence
In The Grace Note
Will Lawrence is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Millerton. His fifth studio album, Rooftops in the Centerfold (September, 2025), showcases his reflective, melodic style. Beyond his solo work, Lawrence is known as the drummer for The Felice Brothers and has performed with John Early and the Lemon Squares, among others. Stissing Center is proud to welcome him back—this time to The Grace Note.
Persephone
In Banning Hall
Part of Stissing Center’s Summer Children’s Series, The Myth of Persephone offers children a chance not just to watch the show—but to be in it! The morning begins with a workshop and rehearsal at 10:00am, where young participants will learn songs, movements, and the role of the Greek chorus. Then, at 11:00am, they’ll join Grumbling Gryphon’s lively presentation of this classic myth. Through masks, music, and storytelling, children help rescue Persephone while discovering the ancient story behind the changing seasons - a celebration of creativity, environmental awareness, and the joy of performance.
Opera Uncorked
In Banning Hall
Opera Uncorked is a lively evening of wine and music. Expect drama, romance, and a curated wine list from Italy, France, Germany, and the U.S. Sip and swirl your way through an unforgettable evening of opera and wine. Each musical selection is paired with wine chosen to enhance the mood, flavor, and drama of the music. It will be a night of bold voices and beautiful pours. Presented in partnership with Fulton and Forbes Wine and Spirits in Ancram, this event invites you to experience opera in a whole new way!
Spencer LaJoye
In The Grace Note
Spencer LaJoye brings their intimate, captivating songwriting to The Grace Note for an evening of music that is as heartfelt as it is quietly disarming. With crystalline vocals, acoustic guitar, and looped layers, they create a sound that feels both expansive and close at hand. Wry, thoughtful, and deeply human, LaJoye invites listeners into a shared space where humor, vulnerability, and connection unfold in real time.
Open Mic
In The Grace Note
Join us for Open Mic Night at The Grace Note, a welcoming evening for music, spoken word, comedy, and every kind of self-expression. Artists of all ages and experience levels are invited to share. Come perform, listen, and cheer on friends and neighbors!
Interested in performing? We will start taking sign-up requests on Friday, August 14. Email info@thestissingcenter.org. Limited slots available!
Monster Intelligence
In Banning Hall
Part of our Summer Children’s Series, Monster Intelligence follows Melvin, a young monster eager to earn his license to scream. With help from his friend Red the Rat, he sets off on a lively quest to learn and grow. Filled with colorful characters and original songs spanning rock, jazz, pop, and Broadway, this family-friendly musical celebrates different ways of learning and encourages kids to discover their own “monster intelligence.”
Windborne
In Banning Hall
An Evening with Windborne showcases the group’s striking vocal harmonies and globally inspired repertoire. Known for music rooted in social justice traditions, Windborne weaves together songs of struggle, resilience, and hope with selections from cultures around the world. Their close, powerful singing creates an immersive experience—at once intimate and far-reaching—inviting listeners to connect through voices that carry both history and a shared sense of purpose.
Christopher Hoffman
In The Grace Note
Christopher Hoffman brings a wide-ranging creative practice to The Grace Note, blending cello, composition, and improvisation into a singular live experience. Drawing from his solo work (REX) and collaborations across jazz, experimental music, and film—including with Henry Threadgill, Yoko Ono, and Martin Scorsese—Hoffman creates performances that feel both cinematic and immediate. His playing moves fluidly between structure and spontaneity, inviting listeners into a richly textured, deeply expressive sound world.
Frankenstein
In Banning Hall
Experience Frankenstein (starring Boris Karloff) like never before, with the world premiere of a chamber ensemble score by composer Michael Shapiro, performed live by the Argus String Quartet with pianist Steven Beck—called “vivacious” by The New Yorker. Shapiro’s haunting score reimagines the bond between creator and creature, blending dark, Herrmann-esque tension with moments of unexpected tenderness, revealing the monster not as horror, but as a soul in search of connection. The evening begins with a Q&A with our special guest, Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara.
PG-13 by David Simpatico
In The Grace Note
Seven comic pieces ranging in length from one minute to 20 minutes. A Young Man comes out to his Father—12 different ways. A beleaguered daughter brushes up her euthanasia skills, just in case. A mismatched dance team prepares for a nationally televised talent competition. Two high school girls discover the perfect diet—vampirism! And against all odds, a man and a woman find their perfect mate in the jungle of contemporary dating.
House of Hamill
In The Grace Note
House of Hamill delivers a high-energy blend of original folk, Celtic influences, and tight three-part harmonies. Known for captivating festival audiences across the U.S., the Pennsylvania-based trio pairs inventive songwriting with virtuosic playing and an engaging stage presence. Their latest album, Wildfire, showcases lyrical depth and irresistible hooks, while their viral violin-driven arrangements have reached millions. From driving jigs to rich ballads, House of Hamill creates a performance that is both lively and memorable.
Harvest Sunset Celebration
At Globe Hill
Please join us for another extraordinary evening on Globe Hill watching the sun set over the Catskills as we celebrate and support the arts. Stissing Center’s signature fundraising event features a performance by John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful) invites guests to enjoy music, food, wine, and the beauty of our region while supporting exceptional performances, free youth and family programs, and year-round arts experiences for the community.
The Limeliters
In The Grace Note
The Limeliters bring their signature vocal sound and spirited performance style to The Grace Note. Formed in 1959 at the height of the folk revival, the group remains a lively presence with a current lineup featuring Andy Corwin, Steve Brooks, and C. Daniel Boling. Blending rich harmonies, humor, and timeless songs, The Limeliters continue to connect with audiences in an intimate setting perfectly suited to their enduring appeal.
Pumpkin Patch Dance Party
In Banning Hall
The first-ever Pumpkin Patch Dance Party at Stissing Center! Join friends and neighbors in beautiful Banning Hall for a lively night with beloved dance band Jungle Love, back by popular demand. Promising great music and great vibes, come spend an autumn evening boogie-ooogie-oogieing on the dance floor.
Writers & Readers Series: Single Girls
In The Grace Note
Stissing Center launches its new literary series, Writers & Readers, with a special eventfeaturing novelist Jane L. Rosen in conversation with author John Searles about his newly released book Single Girls. Presented in partnership with Oblong Books and the Pine Plains Free Library, the series brings writers and readers together for lively discussion, storytelling, and insight into the creative process in an intimate, welcoming setting.
An Evening with Murray Hill
In The Grace Note
Join us for an evening celebrating Murray Hill’s new memoir, Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man, presented in partnership with Oblong Books. A beloved fixture of New York’s downtown comedy scene, Murray brings his signature mix of sharp humor, campy showmanship, storytelling, and heartfelt honesty to the stage. Expect laughs, surprises, and behind-the-scenes tales from the self-proclaimed “hardest working middle-aged man in show business” in a night that’s equal parts comedy, conversation, and celebration.
Ballake Sissiko and Piers Faccini
In The Grace Note
Two decades after their first collaboration, British-Italian songwriter Piers Faccini and Malian kora virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko reunite to create a luminous musical dialogue. Faccini’s poetic songwriting meets Sissoko’s intricate kora playing in songs inspired by the migration of nightingales and the pull of one’s path. Bridging continents and traditions, their performance unfolds with elegance, intimacy, and a sense of quiet discovery.
Skye Consort and Emma Bjorling
In Banning Hall
Skye Consort and Emma Björling bring together traditions from Scandinavia, Ireland, Britain, and French Canada in a vibrant, finely crafted performance. With voices, fiddle, nyckelharpa, cello, bouzouki, and percussion, they move effortlessly from swirling dance tunes to lyrical songs. Blending folk roots with chamber music influences, their richly textured arrangements and four-part harmonies create a sound that is both precise and full of life.
Selected Shorts: A Touch of Magic
In Banning Hall
Join us for an evening of stories where the ordinary brushes up against the extraordinary. Acclaimed actors bring to life funny, poignant, and surprising fiction in which a touch of magic transforms the everyday, revealing wonder in the most unexpected places. Recorded live for public radio.
Selected Shorts is produced by Symphony Space in New York City. Our greatest actors transport us through the magic of fiction, one short story at a time.
Actors subject to change.
Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light
In Banning Hall
Fresh off their 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Band Contest win, Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light are a Boston-based string band making music that blends folk tradition with feminist storytelling, poetic detail, and a little grit. At the center is Sumner’s songwriting—rooted in history, myth, and personal reckoning—carried by close harmonies, upright bass, acoustic guitar, and fiddle. The trio features Kat Wallace on fiddle and vocals and Mike Siegel on upright bass and vocals, whose playing brings both tension and tenderness to the sound.
Diana Hickman
In The Grace Note
Diana Hickman is a singer, pianist, and songwriter known for her expressive voice, dynamic musicianship, and engaging performances. Blending soul, pop, and jazz with a strong sense of storytelling, she creates emotionally rich, deeply human music. A California native, she studied at the Boston Conservatory and is now based in New York City, performing regularly at venues including Blue Note Jazz Club, Webster Hall, and throughout the Hudson Valley.
Pine Plains Festival of Shorts
In Banning Hall
Join us for the 2nd annual Pine Plains Festival of Short Films—celebrating short films by local and regional filmmakers. Each screening includes a Q&A with the creator. Come enjoy great storytelling and help us bring more films to Pine Plains!
Writers & Readers Series: Rose Knox
In The Grace Note
The next installment of Stissing Center’s Writers & Readers series welcomes author Rachel Greenfield in conversation with Pulitzer Prize–nominated writer Amy Reading about Greenfield’s new biography Rose Knox. The book explores how Knox transformed a small gelatine company into a national brand by blending business savvy, marketing innovation, and the realities of working motherhood in early 20th-century America. Presented in partnership with Oblong Books and the Pine Plains Free Library.
Kazemde George Jazz Trio
In The Grace Note
Kazemde George returns to Stissing Center, this time in the intimate setting of The Grace Note. A Brooklyn-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator, he plays the full spectrum of musical styles blossoming from the African Diaspora, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, and African-American traditions. His performances combine rich improvisation, rhythmic vitality, and soulful expression, creating an unforgettable experience for jazz lovers and new audiences alike.
Tangent Theatre - “Lobby Hero” play reading
In The Grace Note
Join Tangent Theatre Company for an intimate reading of Kenneth Lonergan’s critically acclaimed modern classic LOBBY HERO. The play examines the intersection of morality, authority and conflicting loyalty as two security guards and two police officers test their principles over the course of a few late-night shifts in a Manhattan apartment building lobby.
Rally Caps
In Banning Hall
Filmed on the ballfields of Pine Plains and directed by local native Lee Cipolla, Rally Caps stars Judd Hirsch, Amy Smart, and Carson Minnear. The film follows a young boy named Jordy as he overcomes a serious injury sustained during a youth baseball tryout and helps bring his camp team together for a championship. It’s an inspiring, family-friendly story about resilience, teamwork, and finding your way back. A Q&A with the filmmakers follows!
Theater Organ Fun! featuring Zach Frame
In Banning Hall
Join us for The Magical Music Machine, a fun, interactive musical adventure for the whole family with acclaimed keyboard artist Zach Frame! Discover how live music brought silent films to life, enjoy the classic Laurel and Hardy short Liberty, request your favorite songs, and even try the organ yourself. Co-presented with the New York Theater Organ Society. Free ice cream, generously donated by Stewart's Shops, will be served after the performance!
Tangent Theatre - “Lobby Hero” play reading
In The Grace Note
Join Tangent Theatre Company for an intimate reading of Kenneth Lonergan’s critically acclaimed modern classic LOBBY HERO. The play examines the intersection of morality, authority and conflicting loyalty as two security guards and two police officers test their principles over the course of a few late-night shifts in a Manhattan apartment building lobby.
Beethoven's Piano in Concert
In Banning Hall
Experience Beethoven’s music as it was meant to be heard, performed by Daniel Adam Maltz on a replica of the composer’s own Viennese fortepiano. This early instrument offers a strikingly different sound from the modern piano. Hailed as “the foremost performer in the world of the fortepiano,” Maltz brings clarity, nuance, and insight to this rare and intimate concert.
Garrison Starr
In The Grace Note
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Garrison Starr brings her powerful voice and finely crafted songs to The Grace Note. Known for blending pop sensibility with Americana edge, her music has appeared in shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Nashville. With a career spanning decades and a deeply engaging live presence, this is a chance to hear an accomplished artist up close in an intimate setting. “A Lucinda Williams for Gen X’ers.” -NPR
Bada Swing!
In Banning Hall
Bada Swing! is a lounge-jazz musical comedy that reunites two deeply questionable 1960s crooners, Bobby Bingus and Tommy Linguini, for one last comeback concert. A hit at Joe’s Pub and the New York Comedy Festival, the show mixes live music, oddball storytelling, and sharp humor into a strange, slightly unhinged celebration of ego, nostalgia, and showbiz past its prime.
Estuary Tales: The Life & Times of the Hudson River
In Banning Hall
Arm of the Sea Theater presents Estuary Tales: The Life & Times of the Hudson River dives into the checkered history of “America’s River”. Giant sturgeon, eels and river otters play the stage, alongside steamboats, fishermen, immigrants, and citizen scientists. With whimsy and ingenuity, the show reveals the Hudson’s complex inner life and chronicles the long struggle to clean up the river.
Stand-Up Comedy
In The Grace Note
Join us for a night of stand-up comedy, where the intimacy of the room creates a uniquely close connection for laughter, giggles and guffaws. Headliner Carolyn Castiglia, who has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and more, is a regular on New York stages from Joe’s Pub to The Bell House. Her quick wit and lively, unpredictable style make for a dynamic set that feels right at home in a small space. She’s joined by MothSlam winner Bridget O’Neill, and local favorite Shawn Hollenbach. Hosted by Jenny Rubin. A hilarious night of comedy in Pine Plains!
Maryland State Boychoir
In Banning Hall
The Maryland State Boychoir, Maryland’s “Official Goodwill Ambassadors,” brings its rich choral tradition to Stissing Center for a special free performance. Founded in 1987, the ensemble now includes 130 singers ages 7–20 from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to music, discipline, and growth. Join us for an inspiring evening of choral music, open to all.
Bar None: Cannabis Redemption
In Banning Hall
CANCELED. The documentary Bar None: Cannabis Redemption explores how outdated marijuana laws impact formerly incarcerated individuals. Though cannabis is now legal in much of the U.S., hundreds of thousands still carry past convictions—tens of thousands remain imprisoned. This documentary follows 13 people who've transformed their lives by entering the legal cannabis industry as advocates, business owners, and community leaders. It's about second chances, equity, and what justice truly means.
The Dances of Chihuahua
In Banning Hall
The Dances of Chihuahua invites children into an interactive workshop exploring the vibrant cultural dances of this dynamic Mexican region. Led by Karina Powers of Red Hook's Dance and Theater Arts Center, young participants will experience authentic movement while learning about Mexican culture and geography. Part of Stissing Center's Summer Children's Series, this engaging program combines physical activity with cultural education through dance.
Susan Werner
In The Grace Note
Over her 25-year career, Susan Werner has earned acclaim as “one of the most innovative songwriters working today” (Chicago Tribune). A virtuoso of guitar, piano, and voice, her performances are one-woman master classes. Spanning folk, jazz, gospel, Latin, and musical theater, her wide-ranging songwriting showcases fearless creativity and dazzling musicianship.
Sophia Zhou & Friends play Gershwin
In Banning Hall
An evening of Gershwin comes to Stissing Center with celebrated pianist Sophia Zhou, celebrating music that feels both classic and fresh. From sweeping melodies to jazzy rhythms, Gershwin’s songs capture the spirit of America, brought to life here with warmth, elegance, and a deep love for storytelling at the piano by our former Director of Chamber Music, Sophia Zhou.
Gail Ann Dorsey
In The Grace Note
Singer-songwriter Gail Ann Dorsey brings her powerful voice and soul-deep songs to The Grace Note on Juneteenth. Best known for her long collaboration with David Bowie, Dorsey offers a rare chance to experience a legendary artist up close, sharing music shaped by decades of brilliance, heart, and history.
Stissing Center 2nd Annual Art Auction
In Banning Hall
Stissing Center's 2nd Annual Art Auction features exceptional pieces donated by collectors and celebrated artists from around the world and around the corner. This is your opportunity to acquire extraordinary art while directly supporting the arts in Pine Plains. All proceeds benefit Stissing Center's vital arts and cultural programming, ensuring creativity continues to thrive in our community. Bid on remarkable works and invest in Pine Plains' artistic future.
Children's Stop-motion Animation Workshop
In The Grace Note
Stissing Center's Summer Children's Series launches with a free Children's Animation Workshop led by teachers from The Art Effect in Poughkeepsie. This pay-what-you-can event coincides with Pine Plains' Community Day celebration, offering young artists hands-on creative exploration. Explore the wild and wacky world of humanimation, which is stop-motion animation using only our bodies to create the illusion of movement! Capturing live-action footage in stop-motion animation format is a fun and freeing way to get creative without making a mess. Make yourself float in mid-air, experiment with silly movements, and create a fun and funky video to share and enjoy. All participants receive their animations by the workshop's end.
Helpful Neighbors by Robert Lyons
In The Grace Note
Stissing Center is pleased to continue its tradition of introducing audiences to new plays with a staged reading of Helpful Neighbors, a sharp, funny, and thought-provoking new work byplaywright Robert Lyons.
For decades, Lyons has been a leading force in New York's downtown theater scene as the artistic leader of the acclaimed New Ohio Theatre in Manhattan. Now a resident of Pine Plains and a valued member of Stissing Center’s Advisory Board, he brings his latest play to our community for a special evening of theater.
Helpful Neighbors centers on Gloria, who is getting on in years and could use a little assistance. Her longtime neighbor helps manage her finances, while a new neighbor lends a hand in the tomato garden. Before long, Gloria finds herself caught in a surprisingly cosmic struggle between good and evil—but determining who is who may not be so simple.
This special reading features a cast of local performers and community members: Grace Dietrich, Vaughn Fritts, Mary Jenkins, and Jamie Gerber.
Photo: Patrick Grego / The New Pine Plains Herald
RoundTop Burlesque Revue
In Banning Hall
Behold a bevy of beauties, bananas, back hair, burlesque, & more! The RoundTop Burlesque Revue returns to Stissing Center for its second year, celebrating the timeless tradition of burlesque with humor, glamour, and surprise. Enjoy a playfully entertaining evening of comedy, striptease, and theatrical flair from a bold cast of performers. Adults only.
Willy Porter
In The Grace Note
For more than 30 years, singer, songwriter and master guitarist Willy Porter's songs have traced the fragile, funny, luminous edges of being human. Drawing from 13 albums, Porter invites listeners into a living, breathing ritual where stories shimmer, grooves settle deep, and songs feel like home. A solo show with Porter is part concert, part conversation, part gentle reckoning — music as ritual, humor as grace, and connection as the point.
The Bang Group
In Banning Hall
We are delighted to welcome The Bang Group back to Stissing Center for an evening of innovative, surprising, humor-ridden, rhythm driven, dramatically anarchic choreography.
High Horse
In The Grace Note
Join us for a raucous night of music, weaving together Celtic and Bluegrass threads with the energy of alternative rock! High Horse, the Boston/Colorado based quartet with guitar, bass, cello, and fiddle, will take us all on a wild ride that will have you hooting just as loud as you holler!
Taylor Ashton
In Banning Hall
Taylor Ashton makes his Stissing Center debut with a live show that’s thoughtful, funny, and quietly moving. A shape-shifting songwriter with a warm baritone and playful wit, Ashton blends folk-rock intimacy with surprising twists, drawing listeners into songs that feel like short stories—honest, generous, and easy to love.
Amanda Forsyth
In The Grace Note
Experience world-renowned cellist Amanda Forsyth as you’ve never heard her before. Step beyond classical tradition into a one woman extravaganza of hilarious stories, lush melodies, and irresistible musical surprises, directed by Doug Fitch and joined by pianist Danny Zelibor. With this new program, Amanda brings passion and playfulness to every note for a performance that will thrill, charm, and captivate.
Tablao Flamenco
In Banning Hall
Tablao Flamenco brings the spirit of southern Spain to Stissing Center in an intimate, up-close performance. Master singers, dancers, guitarists, and percussionists share flamenco in its raw, emotional form—full of rhythm, storytelling, and feeling. Expect an evening that’s fiery, human, and deeply moving.
Rachael Kilgour
In The Grace Note
Rachael Kilgour brings heartfelt indie folk to The Grace Note stage, pairing warm melodies with lyrics that are honest, brave, and deeply human. Praised for her “unapologetic lyrics” and “master crafted indie folk,” Kilgour invites listeners into songs that feel personal, generous, and quietly powerful.
Peter Wiley & Anna Polonsky
In Banning Hall
Stissing Center opens its 2026 Classical Music season with cellist Peter Wiley and pianist Anna Polonsky, two towering chamber musicians. Wiley, former cellist of the Beaux Arts and Guarneri Quartets, joins Polonsky, a sought-after soloist and Lincoln Center favorite, for an evening of intimate, masterful music-making that brings depth, warmth, and experience to the stage.
The Artist
In Banning Hall
In the 1920s, actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a bona fide matinee idol with many adoring fans. While working on his latest film, George finds himself falling in love with an ingenue named Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) and, what's more, it seems Peppy feels the same way. But George is reluctant to cheat on his wife with the beautiful young actress. The growing popularity of sound in movies further separates the potential lovers, as George's career begins to fade while Peppy's star rises.
Jody Redhage Ferber Trio
In The Grace Note
The Jody Redhage Ferber Trio performs music from their new album EcoTones: Beings of the Air, inspired by the flying beings of the Hudson River Valley. Developed during her ongoing performance project EcoTones Concerts, Jody’s compositions and arrangements live in a transition zone between chamber music and jazz improvisation, and are inspired by the tremendous biodiversity found in natural ecotones.