Fisher Dachs Associates, Theatre Planning and Design

07/17/2026

Congratulations to Hudson Valley Shakespeare for an impeccable start to the first season in the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center and an incredible review of King Lear in the Times!

"Not only has the Hudson Valley Shakespeare company dedicated itself to creating its own kind of Forest of Arden — you sense utopian dreaming in every seedling on this new campus — but experiencing its approach to theater will be a restorative pilgrimage for anyone who can get there."
- Helen Shaw | New York Times

A beautifully observed version of a man’s final act, along with a lively staging of “As You Like It,” engage the surrounding mountains in conversation.

06/30/2026

For nearly 20 years, the magic of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare (HVS) experience was defined by its iconic, six-masted seasonal tent at Boscobel—complete with an elemental sand stage, folding chairs, and the rustic charm of nearby trailer restrooms. It was a beloved tradition, but it left everyone wondering: Could we hold onto that raw, natural magic in a permanent structure? The answer is a resounding yes. Thanks to an extraordinary 98-acre land gift from Christopher Davis, HVS is official graduating to its spectacular new home in Garrison, NY!

For nearly 20 years, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare company had been performing in a striking white, six-masted tent erected each year on the property of the historic house and garden Boscobel, near Cold Spring NY, overlooking the Hudson just a few miles north of the new Garrison site, and just 50 mi...

05/19/2026

Fisher Dachs Associates is absolutely thrilled to celebrate the official announcement that our visionary founder, Jules Fisher, is receiving the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre! This monumental honor marks a crowning moment in a legendary Broadway career that has been as impactful as it has been prolific—serving as both a master lighting designer and an innovative producer.

Few artists in history can claim to have worked on theatrical productions with both Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim; Busby Berkeley, Jerome Robbins, and Bob Fosse; Arthur Laurents, Mike Nichols, Ulu Grossbard, Arthur Penn, and James Lapine; and even Richard Rodgers and his grandson, Adam Guettel.

For more than six decades, Jules has been a visionary force in the entertainment industry. With a record-breaking nine Tony Awards for Best Lighting Design—earned through three solo honors and an additional six in collaboration with his long-time lighting design partner, Peggy Eisenhauer—his artistry has truly defined the visual language of some of the most iconic productions in Broadway history from Spoon River Anthology and Hair, to his famous collaborations with Bob Fosse and George C. Wolfe. 

Equally transformative is Jules's impact on the physical architecture of the theatre itself. When he originally founded Jules Fisher Associates (now Fisher Dachs Associates), he helped pioneer the entire modern field of specialized theatre planning and consulting. "We are all immensely proud to celebrate Jules's extraordinary career and this well-deserved recognition," said his colleagues at FDA. "He didn't just teach us how to plan a stage; he taught us how to see a theatre as an integrated whole.” His mentorship has shaped generations of designers, and his legacy is felt every time a curtain rises in any of the venues he helped create. 

This award also marks a historic milestone for another beautiful reason: Jules joins his wife, the legendary director and choreographer Graciela Daniele—who received the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2021—as one of the rare couples to both be bestowed with this prestigious honor. 

Please join all of us in congratulating Jules!

05/19/2026

Fisher Dachs Associates is absolutely thrilled to celebrate the announcement that our founder, Jules Fisher, is receiving the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This honor marks a crowning moment in a Broadway career that has been as impactful as it has been prolific; as both a lighting designer and producer.

Few artists can claim to have worked on shows with both Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim; Busby Berkeley, Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse; Arthur Laurents, Mike Nichols, Ulu Grossbard, Arthur Penn, and James Lapine; even Richard Rodgers and his grandson, Adam Guettel.

For more than six decades Jules has been a visionary force in the entertainment industry. With a record-breaking nine Tony Awards for Best Lighting Design—earned through three solo honors and an additional six in collaboration with his long-time lighting design partner, Peggy Eisenhauer—his artistry has defined the visual language of some of the most iconic productions in Broadway history.

From lighting Spoon River Anthology in 1963 to the decade-defining musical Hair, to his five collaborations with Bob Fosse (including Pippin, Chicago, Big Deal, Liza with a ‘Z’, and Dancin’), to the 13 plays and musicals directed by George C. Wolfe (including Angels in America and Caroline or Change), and all the many productions in between, Jules's work has set the standard for excellence on the stage. In addition, he produced the shows Lenny, Dancin’, The Rink, Big Deal, and Dangerous Games.

Beyond Broadway, his innovations have illuminated rock-and-roll tours for legends like the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Parliament Funkadelic, and Whitney Houston—and brought over half a dozen movie musicals to life.

Equally transformative is Jules's impact on the physical architecture of the theatre itself. When he founded Jules Fisher Associates (now Fisher Dachs Associates), he helped pioneer the entire field of specialized theatre planning and consulting. "We are all immensely proud to celebrate Jules's extraordinary career and this well-deserved recognition," said his colleagues at FDA. "He didn't just teach us how to plan a stage; he taught us how to see a theatre as an integrated whole.” His mentorship has shaped generations of designers and planners, and his legacy is felt every time a curtain rises in any of the venues he helped create.

This award also marks a historic milestone for another reason: Jules joins his wife, the legendary director and choreographer Graciela Daniele—who received the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2021—as one of the rare couples to both be bestowed with this prestigious honor.

Please join the entire team at Fisher Dachs Associates in congratulating Jules on this monumental achievement.

05/15/2026

Architecture meets nature at the new Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center! 🌿🎭

We are thrilled to share the completion of this 451-seat open-air venue for Hudson Valley Shakespeare. FDA is honored to have served as the theater consultant on this landmark project, helping to elevate the theatrical experience while maintaining the company’s deep connection to the elements.

Check out 's inaugural season in their new home starting this summer! ☀️

OutdoorTheater ArchitectureLovers

05/01/2026

The team headed to Garrison, NY, for a site visit of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s new permanent home. It was inspiring to walk the grounds and see the progress of this beautiful new venue as they prepare for their grand opening this summer.

We visited the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) to get a firsthand look at Kotobuki’s fully automated telescopic seating unit. Seeing this kind of precision engineering in action is invaluable as we continue to explore flexible and efficient seating solutions for our clients.

Continuing our commitment to technical excellence, we met with James Fayette of Robbins Dance & Performing Arts Floors at the Joyce Theater's New York Center for Creativity and Dance. Testing these performance surfaces ensures we remain at the forefront of specialized flooring requirements for the dance and performing arts community.

To cap off a great week of field research and technical meetings, the FDA team gathered at the historic Old Town Bar in NYC for a dinner happy hour. It was the perfect way to recharge and celebrate our collective progress.

04/17/2026

April 10, 2026 — RIT Performing Arts Center celebrated its grand opening—the first major theater to open in the Rochester region in decades.

Born from the vision of President Emeritus David Munson, this state-of-the-art facility provides a world-class stage for our students—most of whom are balancing rigorous STEM majors like mechanical engineering and game design with a passion for music, dance, and theater.

What’s inside:
- 747-seat Main Hall: An intimate, two-balcony space.
- Educational Spaces: On-site set shops, costume shops, and rehearsal rooms.
- Leading Accessibility: Advanced technology specifically designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing performers and audience members.

Visit RIT on April 25 during Imagine RIT for a special behind-the-scenes look!

The RIT Performing Arts Center opens with a ribbon cutting. The venue has 747 seats, two balconies, and will be an asset to students and community groups.