school of playback theatre

GETTING TO VASSAR COLLEGE

Vassar College is located at:
124 Raymond Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
1-845-437-7000

Travel time: 2 hours (90 miles) North of New York; 2.5 hours North east of Newark, NJ; 1 hour (45 miles) South of Albany, NY.; 15 Minutes (20 miles) North of Newburgh, NY.

TRAVELLING TO VASSAR COLLEGE

(At the end of this page is more information that may also be helpful with your travel plans.)

By air FROM Kennedy, LaGuardia or Newark Airports:

››From Kennedy or LaGuardia Airports in Queens, NY, take the airport shuttle bus or taxi to Grand Central Station.  There are shuttle buses on the half hour from NY La Guardia and NY JFK directly to Grand Central. Follow the Airport signs for "Ground Transportation/Shuttle Bus" inside the airport. (Cost is between $12.00 and $15.00 one way.)  Please go to this website for more information: http://www.nyairportservice.com/jfk_manhattan.html or call: 1-212-875-8200

››From Newark Liberty Airport in Newark, NJ., take the bus service from the airport to New York City’s Grand Central Station. The Ground Transportation Counters are located on the Arrivals level of Terminal A, B, and C and also located at the exit from the Customs Hall in Terminal B. You will take a Coach USA bus—Olympia Trails Bus Company. Grand Central Station is located on E. 42st and Park Avenue. The Bus departs and drops off at 120 E. 41st Street, between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue, so you will have a very short walk to/from Grand Central Station. (Cost is between $13.00-$17.00 one way.) Coach website: www.coachusa.com, and here’s the link to schedules and prices: http://www.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/94/nlaeschedule.pdf or call: 1-877-863-9275

How to get from Grand Central Station in NYC to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY?
Please see “By Train from New York City” below.

from other SMALLER airports:

If you are coming from elsewhere in the USA or Canada, it may be more convenient to fly into Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY, which is a 30-minute taxi ride to Vassar.  For more info on Stewart Airport and on ground transportation services from the airport visit www.stewartintlairport.com    

Domestic & International arrivals may also consider Albany Airport in Albany, NY, where from you can also travel to Poughkeepsie via taxi, Amtrak train or Greyhound bus. For more info on Albany Airport with links to ground transportation from the airport visit www.albanyairport.com  

            By train from New York City:

››From Grand Central Station, take MetroNorth “Hudson Line” train to Poughkeepsie (about 2
hours).  Metro North Railroad provides service from New York City Grand Central Station to Poughkeepsie, NY. Trains run about every hour. (Cost is about $17.00 one way, depending on the time of day.)

MetroNorth Train information: Tel: 1-800-METRO-INFO in NYC ; 1-212-532-4900 or visit their web site: http://www.mta.info/ (Click on the Yellow Schedule Tab, and on the drop down menu click on “MetroNorth Railroad” which will bring you to a page where you then click on “Lines EAST of the Hudson” for schedules and prices.)

From Poughkeepsie train station, take a taxi to Vassar College, a ride of about 10 minutes.

            TAXI SERVICE PHONE NUMBERS: Please call 1-845-473-7600 or 1-845-6400 or 1-845-471-1100 ahead of time to make sure a taxi will be waiting for you. (Cost is approximately $6.00 one way plus tip.)

››From Penn Station, you can also take Amtrak to Poughkeepsie (about 2.5 hours). For more information visit www.amtrak.com (The cost ranges from $22.00 to $33.00 one way.) From Poughkeepsie station, take a taxi to Vassar College, a ride of about 10 minutes.  Please call 1-845-473-7600 ahead of time to make sure a taxi will be waiting for you. (Cost is approximately $6.00 one way plus tip.)
 

By car:

››From the Taconic State Parkway:
Exit at either route 44 or 55. Go westward to Van Wagner Rd. in the town of Poughkeepsie (9 mi. on Rte 44, 6 mi on Rte 55). Turn left onto Van Wagner Rd. (which becomes Raymond Ave) and proceed about 1 mi to Vassar. The Vassar “Main Gate” entrance, a stone archway, is on the left. There will be security people there 24 hours a day to direct you to the South Commons Residences.
 

››From Route 87/The NY State Thruway:
Use Exit 18 (New Paltz) and go eastward on Rte 299, then south (make a right) on Route 9W.  Follow Route 44/55 eastward and across the Mid-Hudson Bridge.  After crossing the bridge, continue on this road for approximately 2 miles.   Turn right onto Raymond Avenue and proceed about 1 mile. The Vassar Main Gate entrance is on the left.  There will be security people there 24 hours a day to direct you to the South Commons Residences.

By limousine:

We can arrange for a reliable car service to pick you up at the airport (or other location) and bring you to Vassar.  Cost varies depending on pick up location. (Approximate cost from JFK NY Airport to Vassar, $150 one way, plus tip, parking, and tolls). Please contact us to make arrangements and for exact pricing.
 

Important Information

Workshop Start and END times:

On the first day of your workshop, registration will be from 12:00 pm until 1:30 pm. Your workshop will begin promptly at 2:00 pm on the first day, and will end at 3:00 pm on the last day (except for PT Experience which ends at 4:00).

Please make sure you’ve eaten lunch or brought snacks before your workshop begins at 2:00 pm on your first day. It’s recommended that you bring water too!

Accommodations and Meals:

You will be staying at SOUTH COMMONS is on-campus housing near Vassar College’s building & grounds offices. You will have a private bedroom. Each unit has 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, full kitchen and front porch. You can keep your room at Vassar between consecutive workshops at no charge (no dinner on non-workshop days). The housing units have full kitchens and students often prepare their own meals. Students often go grocery shopping in the area. There are also local restaurants.

Where to go to once you arrive at Vassar College:

Registration is at SOUTH COMMONS Cottage #5. Our Residence Coordinator's phone number on campus is: 1-845-451-3605. To get to South Commons: If you are driving south on Raymond Avenue, Vassar College campus will be on your left. Keep driving south to the end of Raymond Avenue and make a left onto Hooker Avenue. Go slowly on Hooker Avenue, and make a quick left back on to Vassar’s campus and into a parking lot. On one side of the parking lot are Vassar’s security buildings, on the other side are South Commons units. If you have any problems you can ask the security people at the “Main” front gate of Vassar College, at 124 Raymond Avenue, to direct you to South Commons. (Security people are there 24 hours.)

IF YOU NEED TO ARRIVE BEFORE OR STAY AFTER YOUR WORKSHOP:

We can only accommodate students for one day before your workshop, and one day after your workshop—except for the last workshop day of the Summer Session which ends on 7/20. It is an extra $40 per night for this. Please notify the Centre at 1-845-255-8163 or email us at playbackcentre@hvi.net if you need to stay extra nights.