Broadway in the Adirondacks: Inside Westport's Depot Theatre
Professional theatre and the Adirondacks aren't necessarily two things most people put together. Yet in a restored railroad station overlooking Lake Champlain, audiences gather every summer to experience exactly that.
The Depot Theatre in Westport has spent decades proving that world-class theatre doesn't require a Broadway address. It requires talent, creativity, community support, and a place willing to bring artists and audiences together.
On this episode of ADK Talks, hosts Jane and Steve sit down with Artistic Director Aaron Jodoin and Academy Director GiGi Mason to explore how the Depot Theatre continues to thrive as one of the Adirondacks' most distinctive cultural destinations.
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What makes the Depot Theatre so memorable starts with the building itself. Housed inside a restored 19th-century train station in Westport, the theatre offers an intimate experience unlike almost anything else in the region.
During some performances, trains still occasionally roll past the building, creating moments that remind audiences they are watching theatre in a truly one-of-a-kind setting. Aaron describes it as a "singular theatre" that immediately captured his heart when he first discovered it during the pandemic.
Westport’s historic Depot Theatre
What you'll hear.
Why professional theatre continues to matter in a digital world
How the Depot Theatre Academy is helping develop the next generation of performers and theatre professionals
Behind-the-scenes stories about building a summer theatre season in the Adirondacks
What makes the Depot's intimate venue so different from a Broadway experience
Aaron and GiGi's Adirondack hidden gems, from skating the Olympic Oval to climbing Mount Goodnow
A theatre unlike any other.
One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation centers on what makes the Depot different.
Unlike a Broadway theatre with more than 1,000 seats, the Depot welcomes roughly 120 audience members at a time. That intimacy creates a shared experience between performers and audiences.
As GiGi explains, actors can hear every laugh and feel every audience reaction. The result is an experience that feels personal, immediate, and unforgettable.
An intimate theatrical experience.
The conversation also explores the unique challenge of producing professional theatre in a rural region. From housing actors to sourcing props and set materials, every production requires creativity and planning.
As Aaron jokes, finding a fire escape ladder for an upcoming production is considerably easier in New York City than it is in Essex County.
Building the next generation.
While many listeners may be familiar with the Depot's mainstage productions, the episode shines a spotlight on something equally important: the Depot Theatre Academy.
Under GiGi Mason's leadership, the Academy provides opportunities for students ranging in age from 5 to college. Programs introduce young people to acting, stagecraft, lighting, sound design, stage management, and more. The goal isn't simply to create future actors. It's to help young people develop confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and creative problem-solving skills.
Students now travel from communities across the Adirondacks and Champlain Valley to participate. Some are interested in professional careers. Others want to explore theatre for the first time. Either way, the Academy's reach continues to grow.
Aaron goes even further, calling the Academy "everything" to the future of a community-based theatre. It develops future performers, volunteers, audience members, and advocates for the arts.
The 2026 season.
The episode also offers a preview of the Depot's summer lineup.
This year's season includes Tick, Tick... Boom!, Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical; Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a heartfelt and humorous family comedy; and Ring of Fire, featuring the music of Johnny Cash. Aaron explains how he approached season planning with a simple philosophy: choose shows he and his team would want to experience themselves—productions filled with heart, humanity, humor, and connection.
For theatre newcomers, Aaron says Ring of Fire may be the perfect entry point. The music is familiar, the storytelling is engaging, and it offers an accessible way to experience live theatre for the first time.
They weren’t kidding; the Depot Theatre is literally next to railroad tracks.
Why theatre belongs in the Adirondacks.
One of the most compelling moments arrives when the discussion turns to why professional theatre matters here.
GiGi compares attending a performance to hiking a mountain or paddling a lake. Both provide an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and experience something meaningful. Aaron adds that theatre remains one of the few places where people gather collectively to share an experience rather than consume it individually through a screen.
It's a reminder that the Adirondacks offer more than outdoor recreation. They also offer rich cultural experiences that help define the region's character.
Listen now.
Whether you're a longtime theatre lover, a family looking for new opportunities for your kids, or a traveler searching for something unexpected along the Adirondack Coast, this episode offers an engaging look behind the curtain at one of the region's most unique organizations.
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