The 4th Wall is the transparent barrier separating the actors from the audience. 4th Wall Productions was born in 1994 with children's theater, The Princess Who Would Not Smile and Rumpelstiltskin. The company then produced cabarets benefiting local charities including the Coldenham PTA, Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh, Greenway Committee, Downing Park and Newburgh Free Library. Next to follow was Lovers and Liars and Who Shot Cupid? which were performed to benefit The Dutchess County Community Action Agency and the Medication Center. An originally written and produced World War II Stage Door Canteen, Home for the Holidays was next on the playbill. At the Masonic Hall in Newburgh, Funny Valentines opened at the Ballroom Theatre, with The Odd Couple (Female Version), Tony and Tina's Wedding, Spring Cleaning and Murder at the Hard Corpse Café playing there soon after.  Founding members went their separate ways to work all over the country including Broadway shows such as Chicago and Cabaret; regional theaters such as Shadowland, Maine State Music Theatre and New York Stage and Film to Directing and Stage Managing shows at Madison Square Garden, MTV, VH-1 and Nickelodeon. Reuniting, they found themselves wanting to breathe life back into 4th Wall Productions to share the love of the creative process in the community. Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center in Poughkeepsie provided that for them. Summer 2002 the company developed and implemented the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center's very first Theatre Summer Camp. Children and teens expanded their knowledge of acting and stagecraft in this very successful partnership. 4th Wall looks forward to the continued success of their production company and hopes you will play a part in that success.

Continuing with Mr. Fulghum's themes of life lessons, this piece journeys through the traditions and tribulations that the holidays bring us.  Whether that be presents under the tree or cynicism of the season.  The cast of "Kindergarten" continues in this production with a few additional area favorites for just the right mix to tap into the gamut of emotions that run the holiday season.  This production "tugged at my heart, while simultaneously making me laugh". 

Life lessons shown in touching vignettes from author renowned author Robert Fulghum.  Told with an ensemble cast of veteran actors sharing the stage with an impressive group of up and coming teens.  Essentially passing the torch to the next generation of story tellers.  This piece struggles to answer the much asked "what is the meaning of life?" with satire, wit and warmth.  Directed by Christine Vittorini, the cast boasts veteran favorites Holly Kay, Joe Jervais, Jim Brady and George Berghorn.

The circus comes to Poughkeepsie as Cunneen-Hackett is transformed into the Big Top for this high flying musical. The Ringmaster, played by the multi-talented, Brian Apfel, leads the cast of clowns, acrobats and jugglers through the life and times of P.T. Barnum and the birth of The Greatest Show on Earth! J. D. Goldsmith of the Pulse writes "Jim Brady has insatiable energy in the title role...Christine Vittorini is to be commended for her innovative staging and choreography...and kudos to the actors who perform these uncommon feats". 

The first regional production of the beautiful story of Horton the Elephant and his fight to help The Whos traveling dust speck from being lost forever.  Told through the story telling of the Cat in the Hat who teaches Jojo that all the thinks you can think, can be found in the magic of his own imagination from the pages of a book  A gifted cast, starring local veteran favorites such as Rich Hotaling as the Cat and Joe Gayton as Horton, this premier production directed by Christine Vittorini garnered a word-of- mouth audience from all over the tri-state area.  

"one flew over the cuckoo's nest"
Oct. 24, 25, 26, 31, Nov. 1 & 2, 2003

Season opens with a "Death..."
Oct. 25 - 27, Nov. 1 - 3, 2002

2002/2003 season opener "Death Takes a Holiday" was an artsitic and critical success thanks to director Christine Vittorini. 

Schoolhouse Rock Live! rocks Poughkeepsie
April 26 - 28, May 3 - 5, 2002