The Hudson Valley will soon have a new world-class venue as Upstate Films has announced the grand opening of The Mark – a brand new screening room above the Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties.
The Mark is an intimate 99-seat space featuring outstanding sightlines, comfortable seats, and top-of-the-line cinema audio and live sound systems. The theater was designed by the acclaimed acoustic consulting and architectural design firm WSDG, based in Highland, NY. WSDG is one of the world’s leaders in the creation of audio facilities.
The Mark’s most notable elements are its acoustics with its Dolby Atmos sound system, engineered with WSDG and cinema specialist Dave Berti, which provides precision sound that envelops the audience, immersing them in the heart of the film. The acoustics in the geometric room are crafted with artisanal care and the latest sound engineering technologies. The live sound system has been designed by WSDG in partnership with Blaze Audio, for outstanding performances.
The theater is named in honor of the late Mark Braunstein, the visionary founder of Markertek, a beloved member of the mid-Hudson Valley arts community, and a generous philanthropist. WSDG, led by John Storyk, has previously designed venues and studios for Bruce Springsteen, UCLA, Lincoln Center, Spotify, Jay-Z, MTV, Alicia Keys, NYU, and, at the beginning of Storyk’s career, Jimi Hendrix.
We are immensely proud to be part of this project. Communities need theaters more than ever, and this theater will rival professional executive screening rooms anywhere in the nation. This is a project my dear friend Mark Braunstein would have loved to have supported—he understood the importance of gathering together to celebrate the arts and culture. It is an honor to dedicate our work to Mark.
John Storyk
Upstate Films was founded in 1972 in Rhinebeck, New York. In the past 51 years, it has provided millions of filmgoers with life-altering, inspiring, and connective experiences, remaining one of the nation’s most prominent rural art-house cinemas. In addition to the Orpheum Theatre, Upstate Films operates the Starr Cinema in Rhinebeck Village, and its touring program has visited Catskill, Kingston, Hudson, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, Kinderhook, and Woodstock.
“Every community deserves a great gathering place,” said Jason Silverman, co-executive Director of Upstate Films. “The Orpheum has inspired generations of people from our region. The Mark will make a great space even better—we think it’ll be one of the best and most exciting venues to fully experience a movie anywhere. Working with WSDG and John and honoring Mark Braunstein—an extraordinarily generous man— has given this project a lot of soul.”
The Orpheum, a central feature of the Main-Partition Streets National Historic District, was built in 1908 as a roller rink, vaudeville house, and community center. It was converted into a movie theater in 1918 and served for a century as the center of communal life for Saugerties. Upstate Films purchased The Orpheum in 2021 and completed its first phase of renovations, including technical, safety, and environmental updates, a new lobby, and a spectacular new audio system in its large theater.
The Mark’s Grand Opening celebration runs Friday, March 15 through Wednesday, March 20, with a special program exploring the room’s acoustics on Wednesday, April 10. The festivities include three open house events featuring Atmos short films and free refreshments, a silent film with live accompaniment, comedy, the launch of “All Singing, All Dancing,” (a new series of classic musicals), and new and classic Atmos films.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 15 at the Orpheum, 200 Main Street, Saugerties. For more information, visit here.
Grand Opening Program
Monday, March 11-Friday, March 15
Friday, March 15
5 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony (details to come)
5:15-6:30 p.m. Open House at The Mark: free short films, popcorn and soda
7 p.m. Silent film: THE GENERAL (Buster Keaton, 1926) with live music by Anvil Orchestra / $10/$14
Saturday, March 16
Noon-2 p.m. Open House at The Mark: free short films, popcorn and soda
2:30 p.m. DUNE: PART 2, in Atmos / $7-$11
6:30 p.m. $5 community screening: LA LA LAND in Atmos (2023)
8:30 p.m. Upstate Comedy Club (local comedy showcase)
Sunday, March 17
Noon to 2 p.m. 30-minute clip show on repeat (free admission and popcorn)
2:30 p.m. DUNE PART 2 (2024, in Atmos) $7-$11
6 p.m. $5 community screening: RRR (dir. S.S. Rajamouli, 2022, 187 min)
Monday, March 18
6 p.m. RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCE (2023, 168 min.) / $7-$11
Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday March 20
7 p.m. Musical series “All Singing, All Dancing: HIGH SOCIETY, introduced by Katie Cokinos
Wednesday, April 10
7 p.m. The Magic of the Mark: An Evening with John Storyk and Elliot Scheiner FREE / reservations strongly recommended
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