Vassar, Powerhouse Theater bask in glow of Tony Awards

Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College will enjoy momentum from the Tony Awards when it opens June 24.

That’s because “Hamilton,” the smash Broadway musical that won 11 Tonys Sunday night, began as a musical workshop at New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theater, which is held annually at Vassar College. The hip-hop stage biography of Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. treasury secretary, had received 16 nominations, making it the most-nominated musical of all time.

In addition to the Tonys won by “Hamilton,” “The Humans,” a play about a fractious family's get-together that began at Powerhouse, won the Tony for Best Play.

“It’s a thrill to have been part of the early stages of development for the Tony Award-winning shows ‘The Humans’ and ‘Hamilton,’ said Ed Cheetham, producing director of Powerhouse Theater. “When you see a production at Powerhouse — whether it’s a main stage show, workshop or a reading — you might be seeing Broadway’s next big thing.”

The 32nd Powerhouse Theater season runs June 24 to July 31 on the Vassar campus in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Powerhouse is a collaboration between Vassar and New York Stage and Film.

“Hamilton” and “Bright Star,” which also received multiple nominations, were both musical workshops at Powerhouse in 2013.

Powerhouse offers a forum to develop theater projects, serving as something of an incubator, and annually attracts some of the biggest names from Broadway, television and film.

Stars of 'Mad Men,' 'How I Met Your Mother' set for Vassar's Powerhouse Theater

Among those scheduled to participate in Powerhouse this year are John Slattery, who starred as Roger Sterling in the television program, “Mad Men;” and Josh Radnor, from television’s “How I Met Your Mother.”

Also at the Tonys on Sunday, Jayne Houdyshell won her first Tony Award for playing a gossipy, gently needling mom in "The Humans." Her stage husband, Reed Birney, won best featured actor in a play. Bringing additional Tony glory to Dutchess County was Millerton resident Frank Langella who won the Tony for best leading actor in a play for “The Father.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo