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Depot Theatre Announces Cast for INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

Professional comedy opens July 25, following preview performances July 23 & 24

The Depot Theatre continues its 2026 Main Stage season with Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Katie Forgette’s acclaimed comedy about family, faith, and the unforgettable stories that become part of family legend.

Set in 1973, the play follows the O’Shea family as one seemingly ordinary day spirals hilariously out of control. As secrets unravel, tempers flare, and carefully laid plans collapse, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help celebrates the beautiful chaos of family life with warmth, wit, and enormous heart.

Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and genuine emotional warmth, Forgette’s comedy has become a favorite at professional theatres across the country, delighting audiences with characters who are wonderfully imperfect, fiercely loyal, and instantly recognizable.

Directed by Ginna Hoben, the Depot Theatre production brings together accomplished artists from New York, regional theatres, and the Adirondack community.

The cast includes:

  • Cate Damon* as Josephine “Jo” O’Shea
  • Amy Fitts* as Theresa “Terri” Charmichael
  • Char Jones* as Linda O’Shea
  • Greg Kalafatas as Mike O’Shea / Father Lovett / Betty Heckenbach
  • Maple Judd as Becky O’Shea
  • Peter Corley* serves as Stage Manager.

About the Artists

Cate Damon* makes her Depot Theatre debut as Josephine “Jo” O’Shea. An accomplished stage and screen actor, her credits include Off Broadway’s Johnny Got His Gun at Cherry Lane Theatre and regional productions of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, What the Constitution Means to Me, Steel Magnolias, Harvey, Mamma Mia!, and multiple productions of Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Damon is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA and recently made the Adirondack region her home.

Amy Fitts* returns to the Depot Theatre as Terri Charmichael. A longtime Depot favorite, audiences have seen her in First Date, Working, The Addams Family, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and The Mikado. Her additional credits include performances at Peterborough Players, Weston Playhouse, Cohoes Music Hall, and theatres throughout New York City. Beyond the stage, Fitts has helped shape the next generation of Depot Theatre artists as Assistant Director of the Depot Theatre Academy and this season also serves as the Theatre’s Artistic General Manager.

Char Jones* returns to the Depot Theatre, where she made her professional debut in Off the Map in 2008 under the direction of her father, John Christopher Jones. Having first performed as a young artist with the Boquet River Theatre Festival, she has since built an accomplished career with credits including La MaMa, the Prague Shakespeare Company, Theatre for the New City, and on television in Saturday Night Live, FBI, and upcoming projects for A24 and Hulu.

Greg Kalafatas makes his Depot Theatre debut portraying Mike O’Shea, Father Lovett, and Betty Heckenbach. His extensive performance career includes the national tours of Hairspray, Something Rotten!, Buddy, and The Drowsy Chaperone, along with productions for Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, and regional theatres across the country.

Maple Judd appears as Becky O’Shea. A rising seventh grader at Keene Central School, Judd has appeared with multiple regional youth theatre programs, including the Boquet River Theatre Festival and the Depot Theatre Academy. Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help marks her Main Stage professional debut. She enjoys acting, basketball, and spending time with family and friends.

Director Ginna Hoben is an acclaimed director, playwright, actor, and former television writer and producer. Her directing credits include Every Brilliant Thing, Silent Sky, On the Exhale, and The Wolves, while her solo play The Twelve Dates of Christmas has been produced more than 100 times internationally. She has also written and produced for Food Network and National Geographic and currently writes and performs for several popular children’s podcasts.

Returning for his third season at the Depot Theatre, Peter Corley* serves as Stage Manager. Depot audiences will recognize him from Radiant Vermin and Analog & Vinyl. In addition to stage managing Incident, Corley also serves this season as Company Manager, Dark Nights producer, and production technician.

Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help begins with $25 preview performances on Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24, before officially opening Saturday, July 25. The production continues through August 9 at the Depot Theatre in historic Westport, New York.

Tickets are available at depottheatre.org or by calling the Depot Theatre Box Office 519.962.4449.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

You can also read this in Broadway World.

Depot Theatre Academy Announces Cast for Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition) Concert Performances

The Depot Theatre Academy is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its upcoming concert presentation of Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition), presented as part of the Depot Theatre’s Dark Nights series.

Following the success of the Depot Theatre Academy’s acclaimed production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, the Academy’s summer season continues with two Main Stage concert performances of Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition), showcasing seven remarkable young performers alongside a live band of professional musicians.

The cast includes:

The Amazing Karnak – Cooper Halloran
Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg – Ella Lobdell
Mischa Bachinski – Parker Scanio
Noel Gruber – Lee Fay
Ricky Potts – Nathaniel DeBoos
Constance Blackwood – Olive Borrette
Jane Doe – Lindsay Haner

The production is directed by Gigi Mason, with music direction by Aaron Jodoin and associate music direction by Calvin Marshall.

The creative team also includes Bonnie B. Brewer (Lighting Design), Natalie Cohn (Projections), Jim Carroll (Sound), Marley Ihne (Assistant Audio), and costumes by Gigi Mason.

Performances feature a live band led by Aaron Jodoin, with Grace Sayward (Keyboard 2), Calvin Marshall (Guitar), Anastasia Pratt (Bass), and Stu Pray (Drums).

Presented in concert, Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition) brings Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell’s unforgettable musical to life through an extraordinary score, unforgettable characters, and the talent of some of the region’s rising young performers.

Performances take place Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, at the Depot Theatre in Westport.

Tickets are available at DepotTheatre.org.

Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition)
 Book, Music & Lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell 

Read this in Broadway World.

Artists from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Across the Country Join Depot Theatre’s Production of Tick, Tick… Boom!

The Depot Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick… Boom!, running on the Main Stage in twelve performances from June 25 to July 12th.

Before Rent transformed American musical theatre, Larson was an aspiring composer in New York City, waiting tables, approaching thirty, and wrestling with a question familiar to artists in every generation: How long do you keep betting on yourself?

Part autobiographical monologue, part rock musical, Tick, Tick… Boom! follows Jonathan, a young composer navigating ambition, friendship, love, and the relentless passage of time as he struggles to finish the musical he believes will change everything.

The production will be directed by Shawn Churchman, whose history with the Depot Theatre stretches back three decades. Churchman first appeared on the Depot Theatre stage in The Music Man in 1995 and has since returned as both performer and director. Following a distinguished career as an actor, director, librettist, and professor of musical theatre, he returns to Westport to helm one of Larson’s most personal works.

Music direction is by Aaron Jodoin, the Depot Theatre’s own Artistic Director, who is also a Broadway musician, vocal coach, and founder of Save My Audition. Jodoin was part of the original music team for First Date on Broadway and has worked on productions ranging from Moulin Rouge! and Kinky Boots to School of Rock and Annie.

The cast features Sean McGee as Jonathan, Mia Munn as Susan, and Deon Oliverio as Michael.

McGee, a New York-based actor, writer, and lyricist, has appeared nationally and regionally in productions including Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Waitress, Cry-Baby, and Xanadu. His original musical, The Dust Bowl Radio Hour, is currently available as a concept album.

Mia Munn appears as Susan, Jonathan’s longtime partner whose practical view of the future challenges his artistic ambitions. Munn’s recent work includes the Off-Broadway production of Islander, Songs for a New World at Berkshire Theatre Group, and performances with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

As Michael, Jonathan’s childhood friend and one-time artistic collaborator, Deon Oliverio brings experience spanning musical theatre, television, and film. His credits include Rent, Rock of Ages, A Chorus Line, Cats, La Cage aux Folles, FX’s Pose, and the independent feature Chrissy Judy.

The production’s onstage band reflects the Depot Theatre’s longstanding tradition of pairing professional theatre artists with exceptional regional musicians. The ensemble includes guitarist Calvin Marshall, bassist Anastasia Pratt, and drummer Stu Pray.

Marshall is currently studying musical theatre at Fort Lewis College in Colorado and has worked extensively as both performer and music director. Pratt, a professor of history at SUNY Empire State and Clinton County Historian, has performed with orchestras, bands, and theatre productions throughout the region. Pray, a veteran performer and educator with more than three decades of professional experience, returns to the Depot after years of performing across New York and Colorado.

Stage management is led by Jordan Tanneberger, who returns for her fifth season with the Depot Theatre. Her previous credits include What the Constitution Means to Me, Chesapeake, and The Fantasticks.

More than thirty years after its premiere, Tick, Tick… Boom! remains a remarkably resonant portrait of the creative life: a story about uncertainty, perseverance, and the leap of faith required to make something new. Larson would not live to see the success of Rent, but the questions at the heart of Tick, Tick… Boom! continue to speak to artists and audiences alike.

Tick, Tick… Boom! runs June 25 through July 12 at the Depot Theatre in Westport, NY.  Preview performances are available on June 25th and June 26th for $25, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the production before opening weekend.

Tickets, schedules, and additional information are available through the Depot Theatre box office and online at Depottheatre.org/tickets

Read it here too: Broadway World.

The Depot Theatre Awarded $83,000 NYSCA Capital Grant for Historic Preservation and Facility Improvements

The Depot Theatre has been awarded $83,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support critical capital improvements to its historic home in the 1876 Westport train station.

The grant is part of a statewide capital funding announcement supporting arts and culture facilities across New York State. Funding will help The Depot Theatre undertake improvements that strengthen the long-term sustainability, accessibility, and functionality of the historic building while preserving its unique character and significance.

Planned improvements include upgrades to heating and cooling systems, roof insulation in portions of the facility, and improvements to windows and building infrastructure designed to increase energy efficiency, improve visitor comfort, and support year-round stewardship of the historic property.

“The Depot Theatre occupies one of the most distinctive performing arts venues in New York State,” said Scott Gibree, Chair of the Depot Theatre Board of Trustees. “This investment helps us preserve an important piece of Adirondack history while ensuring that artists, audiences, students, and community members can continue to gather here for years to come. We are deeply grateful to NYSCA, Governor Hochul, and our elected leaders for recognizing the importance of rural cultural infrastructure.”

The project builds on the Theatre’s ongoing commitment to historic preservation and public service. In addition to serving as a professional theatre and educational center, The Depot Theatre operates within an active Amtrak station and serves thousands of residents and visitors each year through Main Stage productions, youth programming, concerts, readings, and community events.

By improving energy efficiency and building performance, the project will help reduce operating costs, enhance environmental sustainability, protect valuable theatrical equipment, and support expanded use of the facility during the spring and fall shoulder seasons.

“New York’s powerful arts and culture sector is a formidable asset,” Governor Hochul said. “Our continued investments in museums, theaters, and art centers generate incredible returns — sparking innovation, boosting local economies, driving visitors, and making us the global epicenter of arts and culture.”

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “We know that when the arts flourish, communities follow — bringing energy, creating jobs, expanding accessibility, and increasing tourism. This grant program is a critical investment in our creative sector, empowering our creative community and inspiring innovation. Congratulations to all the grantees, we look forward to seeing these diverse projects develop all throughout the state.”

About The Depot Theatre

Founded in 1979, The Depot Theatre is a professional nonprofit theatre located in the historic Westport train station on the shore of Lake Champlain. Guided by its mission to enrich the lives of residents and visitors through live performance, arts education, and community engagement, the Theatre presents a Main Stage season, the Depot Theatre Academy, and year-round special events that connect artists and audiences in the Adirondack region.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million in FY 2027, serving hundreds of arts organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch.

ADK Talks Interview with the Depot Theatre

Professional theatre and the Adirondacks aren’t necessarily two things most people put together. Yet in a restored railroad station overlooking Lake Champlain, audiences gather every summer to experience exactly that.

The Depot Theatre in Westport has spent decades proving that world-class theatre doesn’t require a Broadway address. It requires talent, creativity, community support, and a place willing to bring artists and audiences together.

On this episode of ADK Talks, hosts Jane and Steve sit down with Artistic Director Aaron Jodoin and Academy Director Gigi Mason to explore how the Depot Theatre continues to thrive as one of the Adirondacks’ most distinctive cultural destinations.

Read more and listen to the interview here.

Local Teens Take the Stage as Depot Theatre Academy Launches Summer with Hadestown: Teen Edition

This June, young performers from across the North Country will step into myth, music, and storytelling as the Depot Theatre Academy opens the Depot Theatre summer Main Stage season with Hadestown: Teen Edition.

Presented in the Depot Theatre’s historic 1876 train station in Westport, the production brings together a cast of student performers from throughout the region, many of whom auditioned from communities across the Adirondacks and Champlain Valley to take part in the Academy’s summer program.

Part folk opera, part retelling of the ancient Orpheus and Eurydice myth, Hadestown: Teen Edition, written by Anaïs Mitchell, explores themes of hope, resilience, love, and community through a score that blends American folk music, jazz, blues, and New Orleans-inspired rhythms.

For the Depot Theatre Academy, the production also reflects a growing investment in youth arts opportunities in rural communities. Earlier this year, the Academy launched an expanded partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County’s 4-H program, focused on communication, creativity, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences for local students.

“This project has become much bigger than simply putting on a musical,” said Gigi Mason, Director of the Depot Theatre Academy. “It’s about creating space for young people to take artistic risks, work together, and experience what it feels like to build something ambitious as a community.”

Rehearsals are already underway, filling the Depot Theatre with music, choreography, scenic construction, and the energy of a summer season coming to life. 

The production has also received encouragement from members of the broader Hadestown artistic community, adding an extra layer of excitement for the young cast as they prepare to bring their own interpretation to the stage.

Performances of Hadestown: Teen Edition run June 4–14 at the Depot Theatre in Westport.

For tickets and information, visit depottheatre.org. 

Read more about this in the Press Republican. Or see an article in the Lake Placid News below.

Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H Expand Youth Programming with Live Talkback and Behind-the-Scenes Workshop

DepotTheatre_Youth Hadestown bannerThis June, the Depot Theatre Academy and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County’s 4-H program continue their growing partnership with two new opportunities designed to bring young people closer to the creative process, both onstage and behind the scenes.

On Friday, June 12, following the evening performance of Hadestown: Teen Edition, the Depot Theatre will host a youth-focused Depot Dialogue, a post-show conversation created with area students in mind. The talkback will offer a chance to reflect on the performance, ask questions, and explore the themes and storytelling choices of the production in a setting that is welcoming, informal, and youth-centered.

To support access, 4-H will sponsor a block of reduced-price tickets for Essex County youth, helping make the experience available to more students while creating a natural connection to 4-H programming throughout the year.

“This partnership is about creating meaningful entry points for young people,” said Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County. “Experiences like this don’t just introduce students to the arts, they open the door to continued engagement, connection, and growth through 4-H.”

The following weekend, on Saturday, June 20, the Academy will host its next Theatre Pop-Up Workshop: Inside the Build: Set, Production, and Process at the Depot Theatre.

Timed between productions of Hadestown: Teen Edition and Tick, Tick…Boom!, the two-hour workshop invites students into the working environment of a live theatre in transition. Participants will have the opportunity to observe scenic and production elements up close, engage with aspects of the build process where appropriate, and gain insight into how a professional production comes together.

The workshop is designed to be hands-on, flexible, and grounded in real-time learning, offering students a chance to explore not only artistic roles but also the planning, coordination, and problem-solving that underpin every production.

“Theatre is one of the few places where art, logistics, and people all collide at once,” said Aaron Jodoin, the Depot Theatre’s Artistic Director. “This partnership is about opening that world up and giving young people a way to step inside it, ask questions, and see where they might fit.”

These June programs build on the partnership launched earlier this year between the Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H, which focuses on communication, mentorship, and creative skill-building for Essex County youth through theatre-based experiences.

Additional workshops and youth programs are planned throughout the summer. For more information or to register for upcoming workshops, email essex4h@cornell.edu or visit https://bit.ly/Depot4H.

You can also see this article in the Sun Community News, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, or Press Republican. 

Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H Bring Youth Workshops and Career Programming to New County Facility

April workshops launch the first public event in Essex County’s new Youth and Agriculture Building, with expanded career-focused programming to follow.

The Depot Theatre Academy and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County (CCE) will continue their county-wide 4-H youth partnership this spring with a new series of workshops in Essex County schools and community spaces.

The program will host an afterschool session on Friday, April 17 at the Mountain View Campus through OASIS, with a companion regional workshop scheduled for Saturday morning, April 18 at the newly constructed Essex County Youth and Agriculture Building at the Fairgrounds in Westport.

The April 18 workshop will mark the first public program held in the new facility, located at 6 Fairground Way, representing a significant moment for youth programming in the county.

In addition to the April workshops, the partnership will continue this spring and summer with a series of career-oriented theatre workshops open to 4-H and area youth, exploring careers in set building and carpentry, lighting and design, sound and acoustics, casting direction, and production management.

A Depot Dialogue post-show Q&A event will also be held in conjunction with Hadestown: Teen Edition on Friday, June 12, offering 4-H and area youth the opportunity to engage directly with artists and production staff in conversation about theatre-making and creative careers.

The partnership between the Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H is designed to support youth development through theatre-based communication, mentorship, and experiential learning aligned with the 4-H Thrive Model.

“Programs like this are about creating space for young people to find their voice,” said Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County. “Through the 4-H Thrive framework, we focus on positive youth development, helping young people build confidence, connection, and competence. This partnership expands those opportunities in a creative and engaging way.”

The April sessions will be led by theatre artists Tyler Nye and Mason Barber, local professionals who are both part of the Depot Theatre community and whose work spans performance, directing, and youth arts programming.

“This is exactly the kind of work we hope to see happening through the Academy,” said Scott Gibree, President of the Depot Theatre Board of Trustees. “Creating opportunities for young people to build confidence and communication skills, whether at the theatre, in schools, or in new community spaces, is central to how we think about our role in the region.”

Together, these initiatives represent a multi-layered approach to youth development, combining communication skills, mentorship, and creative exploration within a supportive community setting.

For more information or to register for upcoming workshops, email essex4h@cornell.edu or visit https://bit.ly/CCE_DT.

About The Depot Theatre / Depot Theatre Academy

The Depot Theatre, located in Westport, New York, is a professional producing theatre dedicated to artistic excellence, youth education, and community engagement. The Depot Theatre Academy provides training, mentorship, and performance opportunities for young artists throughout the region.

About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County provides research-based programming in youth development, agriculture, and community well-being. Through 4-H, CCE supports experiential learning, skill exploration, and leadership pathways for young people across the county.

See this article in the Sun Community News.

Depot Theatre Opens Season Pass Sales for 2026 Main Stage Season

Summer lineup features Tick, Tick… Boom!, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Ring of Fire 

WESTPORT, NY — The Depot Theatre opened sales for its 2026 Main Stage Season Pass Package on March 16, offering audiences an opportunity to secure seats for a summer of professional theatre in one of the Adirondacks’ most distinctive performance venues.

The 2026 season features three compelling productions presented in the Depot’s historic 1876 train station on the shores of Lake Champlain. 

Season Pass holders receive one ticket to each Main Stage production, along with early seat selection, flexible ticket exchanges, and the opportunity to purchase additional single tickets before general sales open.

“Season passes invite audiences to enjoy the full rhythm of summer at the Depot Theatre,” said Aaron Jodoin, Artistic Director of the Depot Theatre. “Set against the beauty of the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, our season is designed to be entertaining, uplifting, and full of heart. We want coming to the theatre to feel like one of the pleasures of summer — something you look forward to, share with others, and leave smiling.”

The Depot Theatre is the oldest professional Equity theatre in the Adirondacks, operating under agreement with Actors’ Equity Association and presenting professional productions each summer in its uniquely intimate setting.

Season Pass Packages go on sale March 16, with individual ticket sales for the summer 2026 Main Stage season as well as the Depot Theatre Academy’s production of Hadestown: Teen Edition beginning on April 16.

Passes can be purchased online at or by calling the Depot Theatre Box Office at 518-962-4449.

In addition to its Main Stage productions, the Depot Theatre’s summer season includes the Depot Theatre Academy and the Dark Nights Series. The Academy opens the summer with Hadestown: Teen Edition on the Main Stage, features a special two-night Academy concert production of Ride the Cyclone, and culminates with youth programs including Seussical Jr.  Meanwhile, the Dark Nights Series brings staged readings, cabarets, and special theatrical events to the Depot stage throughout the summer.

About the Depot Theatre

The Depot Theatre is a nonprofit professional theatre located in a historic, still-functioning 1876 train station in Westport, New York, on the shores of Lake Champlain. As the first and oldest theatre in the Adirondack Park operating under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the company brings professional actors, directors, and designers to one of the region’s most distinctive performance spaces. Each summer, the theatre’s Main Stage productions, Academy, and special programming transform the station into a vibrant gathering place where artists and audiences come together to experience live storytelling in the heart of the Adirondacks.

See this in the news: Broadway World.

Depot Theatre and 4-H Launch County-Wide Theatre-Based Communication & Mentorship Program

The Depot Theatre / Depot Theatre Academy and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County (CCE) have formalized a new county-wide partnership to bring theatre-based communication skills, career exploration, and mentorship opportunities to 4-H and regional youth across Essex County.

The partnership will launch this spring with a series of Pop-Up Theatre Workshops designed to help students build presentation skills, confidence, and leadership capacity through structured, experiential learning.

Beginning March 30, professional teaching artists from The Depot Theatre will facilitate 60–90-minute after-school sessions for the middle & high school students of Boquet Valley Central School, with the objective of expanding to other county schools this year.  

School-based sessions will be supported by regional half-day Saturday morning workshops in Westport, open to middle & high school aged youth from multiple districts. Registration information for the first Saturday workshop on April 18  can be found here. 

Beyond in-school programming, the partnership includes a series of career-oriented workshops introducing youth to the many professional pathways within theatre production, including set building and carpentry, lighting and projections, sound and acoustics, casting direction, and production management. 

A special Depot Dialogue post-show Q&A event in conjunction with Hadestown: Teen Edition in early June will invite area youth into conversation with artists and production professionals.

In addition, the agreement establishes a framework for optional one-to-one mentorship collaboration, aligning with successful mentoring models already active in Essex County. 

“This partnership reflects our shared belief that communication is a life skill,” said Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County. “The 4-H Thrive Model emphasizes experiential learning and youth leadership development. By integrating theatre-based methods into that framework, we are expanding how young people practice clarity, confidence, and collaborative problem-solving in ways that are both rigorous and engaging.”

“Theatre offers young people something increasingly rare — focused presence,” said Gigi Mason, Director of The Depot Theatre Academy. “When students practice speaking with intention in a supportive environment, they aren’t just performing; they are learning how to advocate for themselves, lead projects, and communicate clearly in school and beyond. These are transferable skills that last.”

“This initiative sits squarely within several of our core strategic pillars,” said Scott Gibree, Chair of The Depot Theatre Board of Trustees. “The Academy has long been a training ground for young artists on our stage in Westport. This partnership expands that reach, bringing our educational programming directly into schools and into communities across the county. It reflects our commitment to making the arts accessible as a tool for growth and opportunity.”

The collaboration will run through December 2026, with potential for annual renewal, and is supported through funding administered by CCE.

Additional information & registration for upcoming workshops can be found here. 

About The Depot Theatre / Depot Theatre Academy

The Depot Theatre, located in Westport, New York, is a professional producing theatre dedicated to artistic excellence, youth education, and community engagement. The Depot Theatre Academy provides structured training programs, performance opportunities, and mentorship for young artists throughout the region.

About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County provides research-based education and programming in youth development, agriculture, and community development. Through 4-H programming, CCE supports youth leadership, experiential learning, and lifelong skill-building. 

See this in the news from Sun Community News and Press Republican. 

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: The Depot Theatre is to entertain, enrich, and educate through professional theatrical arts and related programs based in a historic train station.

Vision: The Depot Theatre will have a robust, regional, and year-round presence by creating the highest of quality programs, building strong partnerships, and enhancing community engagement while promoting diversity in all that we do.

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Recent News

  • Depot Theatre Announces Cast for INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELPJuly 16, 2026 - 3:06 pm

    Professional comedy opens July 25, following preview performances July 23 & 24 The Depot Theatre continues its 2026 Main Stage season with Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Katie Forgette’s acclaimed comedy about family, faith, and the unforgettable stories that become part of family legend. Set in 1973, the play follows the O’Shea family […]

Read all News

The Depot Theatre receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

With special thanks to the following for their support of the Depot’s ongoing strategic objectives: Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, Cloudsplitter Foundation, J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc., Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, Charles R. Wood Foundation, Adirondack Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Rogers Carroll Family Foundation, Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation.

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