Valatie Community Theatre - Bringing Back The Magic

 The Valatie Community Theatre Celebrates Local Voices with One-Night-Only One-Act Play Festival 

The Valatie Community Theatre is proud to present a unique evening mix of staged readings and performances of locally written one-act plays on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Featuring eight short plays written by a diverse group of regional playwrights—ranging from students to seasoned veterans—this special, one-night-only festival offers a showcase of homegrown talent and storytelling.The festival is structured to offer two distinct shows per hour, allowing audiences to drop in for a single block or stay for the entire evening of entertainment. Tickets are $5 per hour(covering two shows) or $20 for the entire night and are available at the door only. Patrons are advised that the final show features mature content; no one under the age of 16 will be admitted to the final show.The Festival Lineup & Schedule:

5:00 PM Block

• Prologued by Evangeline Braden: Living in a country of chaos, siblings and a nameless dog must defy the story they appear to be stuck with.
• Child Therapy by Alexander Nicholson: Stop being so defensive and you can learn a lot from a child.

6:00 PM Block

• The Strand That Beads You by Allison Fradkin: Turquoise is a pony bead who won't get off her high horse. Magenta is a steed of a bead who doesn't hesitate to read her the riot act. Can Rainbow Heart hang in there long enough to string these beads together?
• A Slice for Detective Jerry by Tim Balon: A new short comedic work portraying an unlikely, off the cuff detective.

7:00 PM Block

• The Things We Can Not Change by Scott Finnegan: A man unexpectedly finds himself trapped in a place that isn't quite what it seems to be.
• Knock Knock: The Claudia Taylor Story by David O'Donnell: Spanning centuries from 1598 London to modern America, this gripping one-act play follows a young woman's transformation from a protective mortal sister into an immortal creature of the night. Witness her epic journey through love, devastating loss, and a dangerous alliance with a young Fae to save the human race.

8:00 PM Block (Mature Audiences Only – Ages 16+ for the final show)_

• Ultra Maximum by Todd Bellanca: A dark and absurd comedic future in one act.
• Take Your Chair With You by Mark Decker: Alone or not alone, that is the question!

Come out for an hour or stay for the whole night to support local theater, celebrate regional talent.

Brief Synopsis of Documentary

As the first and currently only documentary on the (Rensselaer County) Dewey Loeffel Landfill Superfund site in Nassau, NY, this meaningful and educational 45-minute documentary, 

Love Canal X 2 —A Landfill Dilemma in Nassau, NY 

provides visual documentation on the tragic history of the site, from the 1950s to today; a toxic legacy that is still being passed on to future generations of Hudson Valley residents.

ABOUT THE FILM

With twice the amount of toxic contamination as the infamous Love Canal waste site, more than 46,000 tons of industrial hazardous wastes, PCBs and carcinogens, the Dewey Loeffel Landfill Superfund site in Nassau, NY has a tragic past and an uncertain future. Seven years in the making, the finished full-length 45-minute documentary features a broad scope of interviews, history and research regarding the site. Chemical, environmental and human health issues are explored through interviews with EPA officials and UAlbany Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, David Carpenter. Interviews with locals who have carried the weight of this issue for decades include 

Nassau Town Supervisor David Fleming, some Nassau Lake residents and others who feel their health may have been affected by exposure to chemicals at the site.

WORLD PREMIERE

November 6 & 7, 2026

🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Valatie Community Theatre's fundraising event. This is one of the most anticipated Valatie events, and we want you to be there! 🎉

Experience a brand-new comedy packed with retro flair, unexpected twists, and delightful theatrical chaos. If you caught a glimpse of this during the 2025 One Act Play Fest (previously titled Down-sizing), you know you won't want to miss the full story being presented now! Plus, for those interested in theatre volunteer opportunities, it's a great chance to get involved and support our vibrant community theatre!