By admin 
HangupsMusic.com – Kingston, NY – The vibrant world of Broadway is set to extend its reach far beyond the bright lights of Times Square this August, as "The Festival," an ambitious new immersive event, prepares to welcome thousands of devoted musical theater enthusiasts to the picturesque Hudson Valley. From August 14th to 16th, 2026, the historic Hutton Brickyards in Kingston will transform into a dynamic hub of performances, intimate gatherings, and communal celebrations, aiming to deliver a unique "Coachella for Broadway" experience. This pioneering venture, spearheaded by co-founders Joshua Saltman and David Schwartz, promises an unprecedented convergence of Tony-winning luminaries, beloved stage veterans, and burgeoning talents, all curated to foster an unparalleled sense of community among fans.
The genesis of The Festival traces back approximately six years to a seminal moment for Joshua Saltman, a former Disney executive and self-professed "music festival guy." Attending Coachella, Saltman found himself musing with theater-loving friends about the absence of a similar large-scale, destination event for the Broadway community. Initially dismissing it as a whimsical notion requiring colossal corporate sponsorship, his perspective shifted dramatically after experiencing The Broadway Cruise. This five-day Caribbean sailing, featuring Broadway stars and bespoke programming for 1,500 fans, provided Saltman with a crucial epiphany: a smaller, highly dedicated audience could sustain such an endeavor. "That was for a community of about 1500 people," Saltman recalls, "and I thought, ‘Hey, what if we did [a festival] not for 20,000 people, but for 3,000 really committed fans?’ That’s something I feel we could do."
Upon his return to solid ground, Saltman reconnected with David Schwartz, a former Disney colleague who shared his passion for theater. What followed was an intense "13-month sprint" of meticulous planning and execution. Their first order of business was assembling a top-tier creative team, including a casting agent, production designer, choreographer, and the acclaimed Tony-winning director Jerry Mitchell, alongside his longtime collaborator DB Bonds. This foundational team was tasked with the dual challenge of securing both a suitable venue and an irresistible roster of talent.
The search for the perfect location was guided by specific criteria. It needed to be within a two-hour radius of New York City, ensuring accessibility for both performers and the core audience. Crucially, it required adequate sheltered spaces to accommodate 3,000 attendees, safeguarding against unpredictable weather. Most importantly, the venue itself had to contribute to the immersive, "urban escape" atmosphere Saltman envisioned. "At a really good music festival, the place becomes part of the experience," he explains. Hutton Brickyards in Kingston proved to be the ideal candidate. This industrial-chic waterfront property, overlooking the majestic Hudson River in Ulster County, perfectly blended historical character with modern amenities, embodying the "where history meets hip" ethos promoted on The Festival’s website. Its appeal was so profound that, in an amusing twist of fate, it was a location Mitchell had once considered for his own wedding, underscoring its inherent charm and suitability for a celebratory gathering.
With the venue secured, the focus shifted to programming, a process Saltman jokingly describes as "backwards — we gathered the talent, and now what do they do?" The Festival’s headliners represent a formidable constellation of Broadway’s brightest stars, each capable of leading their own major productions. The impressive lineup includes multi-Tony winner Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Alex Newell, Christopher Jackson, and Eva Noblezada. Adding a significant layer of nostalgia and excitement, original Rent cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp are also slated to appear, with Pascal personally orchestrating a special 30th-anniversary reunion featuring 13 of the seminal musical’s initial cast members. This reunion is poised to be "a really intimate experience for our fans," Pascal notes, emphasizing its "proper" nature. "The collective festival music experience is something that mainstream music has had for decades. I wanted to be involved in bringing that same experience to the musical theater audience," he told Billboard.
The collaborative spirit extended to the performers themselves. Saltman and Schwartz’s teams conducted individual Zoom calls with each headlining artist, engaging them in a "20 Questions of Festival Wishes" exercise. This personalized approach sought to uncover their dream duets (Pascal, they chuckled, was a frequent mention among younger female participants), songs they’d love to sing around a campfire, and even the musical numbers that first ignited their passion for Broadway. These insights directly shaped the diverse and imaginative programming, which will unfold across three stages during the day, expanding to a fourth in the evenings.
While some self-contained showcases are planned, such as composer-led performances by Tom Kitt and Jason Robert Brown featuring their own musical collaborators, the majority of the programming is built around captivating themes. Attendees can look forward to sessions like ‘80s Jukebox, TikTok Ya Don’t Stop, Broadway Inspirations, Duet to Me One More Time, and The Disney Songbook, ensuring a broad appeal that spans generations and musical tastes. Two evening Campfire Singalongs are scheduled, with one notably hosted by cult-favorite pop singer-songwriter Betty Who, who made her Broadway debut in Hadestown in 2023. The centerpiece of each day, however, will be "The Big Show," a mainstage performance directed by Mitchell and his creative team. These are not mere concert sets, but "fully-realized shows, from the opening number to the closing," Saltman clarifies, each delivering a headliner experience. Mitchell himself highlighted the unique atmosphere: "You’re bringing all these great actors together, who the only time they [usually] perform together is at an awards show, and it’s like ‘Hi! Bye!’ Here, there’s no awards at stake, so everyone’s spirit will I hope be in that communal place — which is what makes something like this so special."
The founders readily acknowledge that the festival format might be a novel experience for many traditional Broadway attendees. Schwartz jokingly admits they "realize we are going to have to teach some Broadway people how to ‘festival.’ For a lot of people, it’s going to be a new experience." Unlike the assigned seating of a typical theater, The Festival will encourage a more fluid, exploratory approach. Saltman emphasizes the sheer volume of content: "You could get 12 hours a day of amazing programming and still not see everything. There’s so much talent that you have to make some tough choices — and that’s part of the fun of a Coachella or any music festival, figuring out what your day is like, so that at the end of the day you feel like you got to see everything you wanted."
Tickets for the three-day event are offered across four tiers, with an average price point of $800. General admission starts around $450, while VIP premium passes, catering to those seeking a more curated experience, are priced at approximately $1550. Saltman observes, "A lot of people are leaning into the VIP, because they just really want to know they’re going to have that kind of experience." In an effort to engage the local community and broaden the inaugural audience, a limited number of single-day tickets are also available, starting at $191. "People don’t know what this is, so we understand in the first year they’ll want to sample it," Saltman explains, demonstrating a thoughtful awareness of consumer hesitancy for a brand-new concept.
Early ticket sales have already validated Saltman and Schwartz’s vision. As of early July, buyers from 41 of the 50 U.S. states, along with attendees from "multiple countries and continents," have secured their spots. This broad geographical reach underscores Schwartz’s assertion that there is "a diaspora of [the theater community] around the country and around the world — and this is an opportunity for all the folks who love this music and this art form to come together and celebrate it for three days in a way that hasn’t happened before." Tony-winner Lena Hall, one of the featured headliners, eloquently summarizes the sentiment: "So many Broadway performers do concerts around the world, so why not bring them all together to celebrate the community? I think The Festival will expand the scope of musical theater."
For Saltman, Schwartz, and Mitchell, the ultimate measure of success for this inaugural Festival will be a shared conviction on Monday morning, August 17th, that "This has to happen again." It’s a testament to their belief that The Festival is not just a one-off event, but the dawn of a new tradition, fostering deeper connections within the global Broadway family and firmly establishing the Hudson Valley as a premier destination for musical theater celebration.
