Each summer it hosts student productions as well as professional workshops and readings as part of the Vassar–New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater program.

Vassar College, the first degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, was founded in 1861 in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York.

At the Powerhouse's opening, theater critic Brooks Atkinson spoke and several scenes from Flanagan's works from 1926 were performed.

The NYSAF Powerhouse Theater program was founded in 1984 by Max Mayer, Leslie Urdang, and Mark Linn-Baker.

Tickets for works presented at the Powerhouse Theater program are open to anyone but reviews, except by local papers, are banned.