The New Deal Creative Arts Center proudly presents the second annual Hudson Valley Theatre Festival! A total of 12 new works by playwrights from across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom will be presented in the form of readings at various locations and venues throughout Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange counties.
This ticket is for the performance of:
Vigorish By Allan Staples
The Las Vegas-set VIGORISH is split between the back office of a casino’s sportsbook, a rooftop and a Rabbi’s office and the bima of a synagogue. The action takes place on Yom Kippur and the NFL opening Sunday as well as a series of three flashbacks. The first moment of the play - a flash forward - is Casey, alone, on a rooftop watching a neighboring casino be imploded. He watches and then steps off the building and plummets to his death. Caught between these two wildly differing worlds is Ben, an intelligent, thirty-something Jewish bookmaker; great at his job but spiritually unfulfilled. Spurred by a recent tragic occurrence at the sportsbook, Ben begins studying with Rabbi Sim and, eventually, makes the shocking decision to move to Israel to become a Rabbi. However, leaving would mean ending his sort-of relationship with his sort-of girlfriend, the acerbic cocktail waitress Zoe. Leaving would also mean abandoning his mentor and father-figure, Casey, whose dedicated his life to his career at the casino with diminishing results. Staying in Vegas would crush Ben’s tenuous dreams of becoming a Rabbi and would likely seal his future. Ben decides to stay. Our final scene is a repeat of the first scene save one key difference. As Casey is about to jump, Ben arrives, unknowingly, saving his life. The two watch the other casino fall as Rabbi Sim begins the concluding service of Yom Kippur.
This performance will be held at:
BOARDMAN ROAD LIBRARY
41 Boardman Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025 AT 3:00PM
Tickets are $15 in advance online or $20 at the door (cash and Venmo ONLY!)
The New Deal Creative Arts Center is a non profit organization located in Hyde Park, NY. We are a creative outlet exploring and celebrating all forms of art (fine, performing, visual, literary, etc) through workshops, classes, special events, and performances. Our main focus is accessibility and opportunity for artists and audiences of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
As the New Deal was a new outlook and opportunity for the American people, the New Deal Creative Arts Center will provide a new and exciting outlook and opportunity for artists and audiences.
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