New York Civil Liberties Union - Capital Region office

10/03/2026

Can't make it to our October 6th Banned Books Readout at Albany Public Library? Well, you are in luck! We have Gary Hoffmann reading from The Bluest Eye at our October 8th Banned Books Readout at 518 Craft.

An actor since the age of 7, as well as a playwright and director since high school, Gary has been in or directed scores of plays and musicals downstate and in the capital region. A retired attorney for the State of New York, he served in the U.S. Army for 26 years as a legal officer, instructor, and sexual assault investigator. Among his most memorable roles are John Adams in 1776, Councilmember Oldfield in The Minutes, and Igor in Young Frankenstein, but his favorite roles remain husband to Melissa Putterman and dad to Nate & Jill.

10/03/2026

Can't make it to our October 6th Banned Books Readout at Albany Public Library? Well you are in luck!! We have the inspiring Patrick White reading from A Doll's House for our October 8th event 518 Craft!

Patrick White is a Capital Region theater maker and advocate, co-founder of Harbinger whose latest production is The Best We Could (a family tragedy) by Emily Feldman at Sand Lake Center for the Arts running 11/13-11/22.

10/02/2026

Can't make it to our October 6th Banned Books Readout? Well, you are in luck - because we have Laura Graver reading from Last Night at the Telegraph Club at our October 8th event at 518 Craft!

Laura is a longtime supporter and participant of capital region theatre. She is a radio host, producer, and the summer time host for the Capital Park After Dark classic movie series. She is a board member at Schenectady Civic Players and has appeared in many productions here as well as Assistant Directing. She has appeared in many productions in the capital region, including Harbinger’s Capital Region premiere production of DIG at SLCA. She has appeared at Curtain Call Theatre in Steel Magnolias, Faragut North, and Fit To Kill. At Schenectady Civic Players in This Random World, Measure for Measure, As Bees In Honey Drown, Looking at Christmas, Boston Marriage, and Ladies of the Camellias. She has also appeared at Albany Civic Theater for their playwright’s showcase. Credits include at Home Made Theatre include Charlie Brown's Christmas, and Miracle on 34th Street. And most recently with Creative License in Breathing Time at Cohoes Music Hall.

10/02/2026

Can't make it to our October 6th Banned Books Readout? Well you are in luck! We have Kirsten Ferguson reading from The Handmaid's Tale at our October 8th event at 518 Craft!

Kirsten Ferguson is a writer, editor and journalist based in Troy, New York. She writes the weekly “Upstate Beat” arts and music column for The Daily Gazette and has contributed to publications including Saving Land, Saratoga Living, Metroland and Nippertown. She was named Music Journalist of the Year at the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Kirsten holds an M.A. in English Language and Literature from the University at Albany, where she received the Eugene Garber Award for Short Fiction, and a B.A. in English from Vassar College. She is also Director of Publications at American Farmland Trust.

10/02/2026

Can't make it to our October 6th Banned Books Readout? No worries - because we have Carol Charniga reading from Identical at our second Banned Books Week - Readout at 518 Craft on October 8th!

Carol has been involved in NY Capital District theater for almost 40 years. A retired lab manager for the Neural Stem Cell Institute, Carol lives in Troy, NY. Carol is the mother of 3 adult children (but regrettably has only 6 grandchildren). And is a twin!

10/02/2026

We’re thrilled that Bob Resnick will be reading from Looking for Alaska at our Banned Books Readout at Albany NY Library on Tuesday 10/6.

Bob Resnick had worked with children and family programs in the capital region for 40 years and has been playing drums and/or percussion here during that entire time and well beyond. He currently plays in a variety of bands in the region; bringing dance groove energy for award winning 60’s rock n roll cocktail band Off The Record, as well as for the honky-tonk swing of Miss Paula & The Twangbusters as well as the Americana-based Hammer & Nail.

10/01/2026

Five days away! 📕📗📘📙📖📚❤️

Reminder that Tuesday is our Banned Books Week Readout!!

Join us as local performers will read powerful passages from books that have been banned or challenged, illustrating themes of free speech, intellectual freedom, privacy, and the importance of resisting censorship. The program will also include a brief update on the current state of book challenges nationally, in New York, and in our local community. Hope you can join us!

This free community event is presented by New York Civil Liberties Union - Capital Region office (NYCLU) and APL, in partnership with a coalition of community organizations committed to protecting intellectual freedom, including: Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Albany NY Alumnae Chapter of DST, League of Women Voters of Albany County.

No registration required. Recommended for ages 16+

10/01/2026

We're so excited that Kathleen Carey will be joining us on October 6th for our Banned Books Readout at Albany NY Library! Kathleen will be reading from The Day the Books Disappeared.

Kathleen is a proud state worker, union member, teacher, bookseller, actress, 9 x Auntie and official Great-Aunt, future Jeopardy contestant, and avid reader who thinks anyone should be able to read whatever the frickety-frack they want. Come catch her next play, Harbinger Theater’s THE BEST WE COULD (A FAMILY TRAGEDY) at the Sand Lakes Center for the Arts the weekends of November 13-15 and 20-22, free preview on
November 12 th!