Inside one man’s crazy plan to create Broadway’s version of Woodstock in upstate New York — including a ‘Rent’ reunion

Nypost · Aug 08, 2026 · 1363 words · By James Panero

Regional Development Arts and Entertainment Entrepreneurship and Risk

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What to know about Regional Development

Inside one man’s crazy plan to create Broadway’s version of Woodstock in upstate New York — including a ‘Rent’ reunion See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left12%

Center76%

Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Inside one man’s crazy plan to create Broadway’s version of Woodstock in upstate New York — including a ‘Rent’ reunion See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google The Hutton Company Brick Works literally built New York brick by brick.

Common ground

For over a century, thousands of brickmakers mixed, molded, dried and baked the city’s most essential building blocks on a 100-acre site along the banks of the Hudson River, in the city of Kingston.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Regional Development story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The revitalized Hutton Brickyards — recast in recent years as a luxury venue?
How does this story connect Regional Development with Arts and Entertainment over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/08/lifestyle/one-mans-crazy-plan-to-create-broadways-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 6

check_circle Corroborated 5

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “The revitalized Hutton Brickyards — recast in recent years as a luxury venue”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the Hutton Brickyards has been restored/transformed into a luxury resort, hotel, and event space.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edgewood, aka Cordts Mansion is a historic home located at Kingston in Ulster County, New York. It is an impressive, three story Second Empire style residence built in 1873 for a prominent brick merch…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordts_Mansion

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gilles Chiasson (born November 1, 1966) is an American producer, director, composer, writer, actor, and arts administrator. While he first came to prominence as an actor, particularly in the original…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Chiasson

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Three Dog Night is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1967, founded by vocalists Chuck Negron, Cory Wells, and Danny Hutton. This lineup was soon augmented by Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards),…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Dog_Night

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 2: “Now 56 years old”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found regarding the age of Joshua Saltman.

schedule

Claim 3: “Saltman moved to Los Angeles to join Disney as in-house counsel.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “this small town that was, for a brief moment in 1777, the state’s first capital.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm that Kingston, New York, served as the first capital of New York State in 1777.

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web search NEUTRAL — ALBANY, NY – MARCH 16: The New York State Capitol building is seen March 16, 2008 in Albany, New York.After Kingston, New York’s legislature continued to convene annually in New York City and Albany.
https://www.localsyr.com/news/state-news/why-is-albany-the-c…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kingston, New York. Editorial credit: Brian Logan Photography via Shutterstock. Kingston was the first capital of New York State in 1777 and sits about 100 miles north of New York City in Ulster Count…
https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/6-nicest-small-towns-to-vi…

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web search NEUTRAL — Why not visit Kingston, New York in the shadows of the scenic Catskill Mountains?Kingston was the first capital of New York State (1777), and has restored the waterfront, museums, and shops, making it…
https://validtravel.com/index_option-com_content-view-articl…

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Claim 5: “Jerry Zaks’ Tony Award-winning revival of “Guys and Dolls,” which ran on Broadway from 1992 to 1995”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 6: “A native of southern California, Saltman attended Columbia College and Law School.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found regarding Joshua Saltman's place of birth or educational background.

schedule

Claim 7: “A 30th anniversary “Rent” reunion became the anchor for The Festival’s Saturday show.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 8: “The Festival’s main pavilion stage sits beneath the roof of one of the original factory buildings.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of unrelated search results (Arknights, general Broadway tickets, Freddie Mercury) and does not mention the Broadway Fest pavilion stage location.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gillian MacLaren Jacobs (; born October 19, 1982) is an American actress. She is known for playing Britta Perry in the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015) and Mickey Dobbs in the Netflix romantic comedy …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_Jacobs

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mischief Management, LLC is a company that organizes fan conventions, including BroadwayCon, LeakyCon, GeekyCon, Con of Thrones, EnchantiCon, Obsessed Fest, and PodX. In March 2026, they were heavily …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischief_Management

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Paul Alexander Nolan is a Canadian actor and singer, who has appeared in several musical theatre productions across Canada and the United States. In Canada, Nolan appeared in 9 Stratford Festival pro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alexander_Nolan

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Adam Pascal, a star from the original cast of “Rent””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “Scheduled singers include Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson and Brian Stokes Mitchell.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the participation of Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, and Brian Stokes Mitchell in the festival.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Festival, a first-of-its-kind three-day outdoor celebration of Broadway’s greatest hits and brightest stars, will come to the Hudson River waterfront, featuring Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara and mo…
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Audra-McDonald-Kelli-O…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Festival, the inaugural 'Coachella for Broadway' gathering, featured 165 performers, 30 programs, and nearly 3,000 attendees from 48 states. Highlights included a 30th anniversary Rent cast reunio…
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/the-festival-will-return-in-2027-a…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Joshua Saltman has a crazy plan: Launching Broadway's version of Woodstock — or Coachella — in upstate New York. The three-day theater festival next week, called Broadway Fest, will feature a 'Rent' r…
https://nypost.com/2026/08/08/lifestyle/one-mans-crazy-plan-…

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Claim 11: “The kilns went cold in 1980”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources (HV-Rob and The New York Times) explicitly state that the Hutton brickyard stopped operations/kilns went cold in 1980.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jacob Friedrich Schoellkopf Jr. (February 27, 1858 – September 9, 1942) was an American business executive, founder of Schoellkopf Aniline and Chemical Works, and member of the Schoellkopf family who …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_F._Schoellkopf_Jr.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John M Headrick & Co Building is a heritage-listed former warehouse at 187 East Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Alfred Mowbray Hutton and built from …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M_Headrick_&_Co_Building

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Summerhill (Irish: Cnoc an tSamhraidh) is a mainly residential area of Dublin, Ireland, on the Northside of the city. Its approximate borders are Gardiner Street in the west, Mountjoy Square, Ballybou…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerhill,_Dublin

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 12: “more than 40 Broadway personalities will perform some three dozen shows across three separate stages”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries on Broadway theatre and ticket sites, none of which mention the specific number of performers or shows for 'Broadway Fest'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — From right to left: the John Golden Theatre, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, and Booth Theatre on West 45th Street in Manhattan 's Theater District Broadway theatre[nb 1] is a th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_theatre

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The best of Broadway right here in New Mexico featuring Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, &Juliet, The Outsiders, Mamma Mia!, The Bodyguard and the return of Hamilton.
https://albuquerque.broadway.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Broadway Tickets Made Easy Find the best Broadway tickets. Compare prices, read reviews, and explore expert show guides.
https://www.broadway.com/

info

Claim 13: “Look inside the walls of the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, the Cloisters and many other New York landmarks, and you will find a brick bearing the Hutton stamp.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While evidence confirms Hutton bricks were used in NYC and notable structures like Yankee Stadium, the specific list (Empire State Building, Grand Central, Cloisters) is not explicitly corroborated by the provided search results.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Chandragupta Maurya (reigned c. 320 BCE – c. 298 BCE) was the founder and the first emperor of the Maurya Empire, based in Magadha (present-day Bihar) in the Indian subcontinent. His rise to power beg…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandragupta_Maurya

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut, is a public hospital operated by the state of Connecticut to treat people with mental illness. It was historically known as Connecticut General…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Valley_Hospital

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 14: “The Hutton Company Brick Works... for over a century, thousands of brickmakers mixed, molded, dried and baked the city’s most essential building blocks on a 100-acre site along the banks of the Hudson River, in the city of Kingston.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources confirm the Hutton Company Brick Works operated in Kingston, NY, along the Hudson River. One source specifically mentions it operated from 1865 until 1980 (over a century).

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 15: “he struck out this year on his own to build a production team of festival and Broadway veterans with producer David Schwartz and directors Jerry Mitchell and DB Bonds.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “weekend passes have already been purchased... ranging from $400 for general admission to $1,500 for VIP access.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.