Gala 2024

Save The Date

Friday, June 14, 7:00pm

Join us for a night of celebration and support for the remarkable work happening at the Mac-Haydn Theatre.

Centered around a performance of the iconic West Side Story, the party that follows is an amazing opportunity to meet and mingle with the cast, crew, creatives and administrators that make this amazing engine run each summer. We also want to take the opportunity to thank you for your loyal support.

Guests will enjoy a catered evening with food and drink. There will also be special performances by some of our leading performers, previewing a few highlights from the season ahead.

All proceeds raised at the Annual Fundraising Gala support the Mac-Haydn’s theatrical programming.


No Better Way To Support

“It’s my favorite time of year! The annual gala is a special night for the Mac-Haydn, we not only raise funds vital for our operations, but it’s a night when our patrons can connect one-on-one with our cast and staff. If you were already thinking of supporting Mac-Haydn, I can think of no better way! I urge you to come and meet the remarkable artists coming to our stage this season.”

Paul Colarusso
Board President



The Importance of the Mission.

“The Mac-Haydn Theatre has been an important part of the cultural fabric of Columbia County and the greater Capital Region for over 50 years. Tens of thousands of patrons pass through our doors every summer, a testament to the impact and importance of our mission: to produce professional theater where aspiring performers, creatives and technicians can hone their craft alongside both established professionals and local talent.

As a board member and Chair of the Development Committee, I am tasked with raising funds to support that mission. Our Annual Gala is an important and fun way in which you can help. Even if you can’t attend, a tax-deductible contribution to the event would help us continue our mission of producing outstanding theater! In the meantime I want to thank each and every one of you for all of your past support. We couldn’t do it without you!”

Brian Wagner
Develoment Committee Chair

Some Moments From Previous Galas

Event Photos by J.D. Urban Photography
2022 Tickets Are On Sale
Our Biggest Season Ever

We are so exited to announce that tickets are now on sale for our 2022 season. Secure your single tickets or purchase a subscription online today.

Additionally, we are elated to share the lineup of the four shows in our 2022 Limited Performances Series. Our ever-popular Showstoppers revue returns, and the toUch Ensemble brings a new twist to last season’s Major Arcana with The Next Draw.

Mac-Haydn favorites Gabe Belyeu and Meredith Lustig take the stage for their solo concert debuts on our stage. Gabe’s A Call To Places will bring to life the stories of his many travels, while Meredith’s To Sondheim, With Love, reflects on the extensive letters the late composer wrote throughout his life.

Tickets are $45 each and can be purchased at www.machaydntheatre.org. Subscription packages are also on sale through the theatre’s website, and by calling 518-392-9292. In 2022 the Mac-Haydn will offer 4 Show, 7 Show and “Absolutely Everything” subscriptions. Group rates are also available for parties of 12 or more.

The Mac-Haydn returns to the full 7-show main stage schedule the theatre has traditionally operated under, after a condensed season in summer 2021 following the theatre’s closure due to the pandemic. After their successful introductions last season, the 2022 schedule will again adopt the “Summer in September” extension of performances, as well as the Limited Performances series featuring guest artists. The season will run through until October 2.

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A Message From John Saunders
A Message from John Saunders

Writing this annual greeting to you, I find myself so completely struck with gratitude for the home the Mac-Haydn Theatre has given so many artists for more than 50 years. And welcoming these thousands of artists has been YOU—loyal, supportive, and above all, determined to keep the magic alive year after year. I’m also incredibly grateful to be able to report that we made it through what seemed like an insurmountable crisis with the success of the 2021 season. So, first, a big thank you for making the impossible possible once again.

Together we have faced the many challenges of the last two years and have landed squarely on our feet to be able to plan for the 2022 season. From our Covid-19 protocols to our reconfigured stage, we had many new obstacles to overcome and we did just that. We had zero cases of Covid-19—our hard work and planning paid off. And here I will add yet another THANK YOU for your flexibility and cooperation as we navigated a summer we will never forget. We may not have had the usual crowds, but the theatre was alive and thriving and it was amazing to see everyone again. We also managed to successfully present even more exciting shows with our special events and Summer in September series which I am so happy to report will be coming back in 2022!

We have so many exciting things on the horizon and we cannot wait to share another season of exceptional music theatre together—especially from our new seats! That’s right, the floors are painted and the new chairs are being installed. We are working especially hard through the winter to make this happen and we just can’t wait to see you sitting in them next summer!

Now comes that time of year when we ask for your support once again for our Annual Fund. As many of you know, this end of the year push is what propels us through the spring and gets us to Opening Day. As things return to sort-of-normal, we now have to plan for the ever rising costs of almost everything, from lumber to printer ink. It is my mission to always keep Mac-Haydn financially accessible to everyone and without your help every year, this would not be possible.

A very happy patron stopped by the office last summer and said, “Wow! The Mac didn’t just come out of the pandemic, the Mac exploded out of the pandemic!” It meant the world to the entire staff to hear these remarks all summer long and it truly kept us going day in and day out. It has also inspired us to work even harder this winter to make 2022 the most spectacular season yet! Please have a safe and wonderful holiday season and we can’t wait to welcome you home for the summer again next year!

My Best Always,
John Saunders, Artistic Director

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GivingTuesday 2019

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement started in 2012 which is unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world in the hope of building a brighter future for all. This year we at the Mac-Haydn wanted to use this day of incredible global generosity as a springboard for the final weeks of our 2019 Annual Fund.

As a non-profit theatre, our work to transform our community through high level and accessible live theatrical experiences could not be more in line with the spirit of GivingTuesday. Your contributions to the Annual Fund at this time of year carry us through the winter months and allow us to prepare the award-winning productions you have come to expect.

We ask you to join the millions of people and organizations throughout the world this GivingTuesday by helping the Mac-Haydn Theatre continue our highly important contribution to the cultural landscape of Columbia County.

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