Incorporated in 1976, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc. (the Bardavon) is a New York State nonprofit corporation that owns and operates a 944-seat historic theater in Poughkeepsie; the 1,500-seat historic theater Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston; and the region’s premiere orchestra, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic (the HVP). Our namesake theater is the oldest continuously operating theater in the state, one of the oldest in the country, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bardavon acquired the HVP in 1999. The Bardavon offers affordable, world-class arts education programs, music, dance, theater, Live in HD broadcasts, and classic films for the diverse audiences of the Hudson Valley. We present renowned and emerging performers in productions that inspire, entertain, and educate people of all ages, ethnicities and incomes. We also stage free outdoor arts events in local communities. These and all of our activities boost community pride, urban revitalization and cultural tourism, strengthening the quality of life for all. Our diverse events attract audiences from the state’s nine-county Hudson Valley Region that lies between Albany and New York City. And many of our patrons travel regularly from NYC, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and beyond. Our performances, programs, and off-site events reach nearly 80,000 residents and visitors every year. In addition to Bardavon programming, audiences also enjoy many events hosted by outside community groups in our venues. Residencies provide 3,300 regional students with workshops and assemblies in their own schools. Through our education program, we partner with regional schools to offer unique arts-based learning experiences for students and innovative teaching tools for educators.