Harry Lipstein is pumped about opening the Denizen Theatre later this year at New Paltz's Water Street Market.

The style of theater focuses on humanity more than flair, an experience New Paltz residents are craving, according to the village mayor as well as other shop owners at Water Street.

Lipstein, the theatre's producing artistic director, called it "a live art form."

Black box theater usually includes audiences of 50 to 70 people, a cast of five or fewer professional actors and scripts that address the issues of our time.

Co-Artistic Directors Brittany Proia and Ben Williamson recently moved to New Paltz to launch the theatre and harness the positive, artistic energy they believe is plentiful in this college town of about 15,000 just off the thruway.

They declined to be specific about the subject matter, except to say theatregoers can expect "contemporary voices, diverse themes and powerful ideas in a small space."

"We're looking for things that are being written about the state of our world right now," Proia said. 

The theatre's construction is well underway. The area's first "green roof" has already been installed atop the theatre. It is made of grass and soil, designed to be home to insects and other wildlife, and it can provide some insulation.

"It's something that adds to the environment, rather than detracts," Lipstein said.

Lipstein had originally decided not to take on this project, because he did not want to go through a long vetting process with the planning board.

"I got cold feet," he said.

But he said the mayor, Tim Rogers, got him to change his mind.

"We're doing something that is a recipe for disaster," Lipstein said. "Some in this field would call it suicide."

Lipstein plans to offer a year-round discount on tickets for the town's nearly 10,000 college students.

"Any show, any time, will be $5 student tickets," Lipstein said.

This is tricky territory for a professional theater organization that costs money to operate.

Lipstein ran through a list of expenses: "Staffing, plays, play selection, insurance..." 

Lipstein said standard tickets are going to cost $24.

With so many nearby students who will be able to attend these productions for almost nothing, it may hurt profits.

Lipstein and his team, though, are on a mission other than to make money.

Their mission, Lipstein said, is to challenge and inspire the community, and lock down supporters for life.

"This is a living organism that is supported by the community," he said. "We are a 501(c)(3) and we rely on the community's support."

The mayor believes the Denizen is going to get that support.

"So many folks have learned to really enjoy the arts," Rogers said. "It's just part of their weekly schedule."