Hudson Shakespeare Company

The Hudson Shakespeare Company (HSC) is a regional Shakespeare touring company that is based in Jersey City, NJ and produces a summer Shakespeare in the Parks season that often features lesser done Shakespeare titles such as The Two Noble Kinsmen and Henry VIII. The company also produces several modern day productions in non theatrical venues such as their courtroom shows of Inherit the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird in the Fort Lee Municipal Courtroom. They also produce a yearly educational program that ranges from full length Shakespeare productions to student workshops.

History

In 1992, Jersey City native L. Robert "Luther" Johnson decided to mount a staged reading of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Hamilton Park in Jersey City. Having worked as a technical consultant for such companies as Riverside Shakespeare and New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players in New York City, Johnson remarked "I noticed that when you were on one side of the Hudson you couldn't walk five feet without finding a company of actors doing Shakespeare, but on this side of the river (New Jersey) there was nothing." So he partnered with several theatrical friends who he had worked with previously in such community theaters as the Park Players of Union City, NJ and Civic Theater of Hudson County in Jersey City, NJ for this first production under the banner of Hudson Shakespeare Company, named after their home county - Hudson County, NJ. Johnson added while this first production featured "13 people on stage and 5 in the audience, he was undeterred and continued to produce Shakespeare titles under Hudson Shakespeare Company and modern titles such as Driving Miss Daisy and Waiting for Godot under Patchwork Theater Company.

In 1996, Johnson met fellow actor and director Jon Ciccarelli where the two reorganized all of the classical and modern productions under Hudson Shakespeare Company. For the next few years, the company produced Shakespeare and modern programs in Jersey City, NJ and Hoboken, NJ becoming the first theatrical company to produce a live theater showing at Hoboken's Frank Sinatra Park with another production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1998. In 2002, several other venues came calling for their services and the company began touring to Hackensack, NJ, South Orange, NJ, and as far away as Stratford, Connecticut. Main stay venues such as Kenilworth, NJ and Fort Lee, NJ followed in 2004 and 2007 respectively.

Lesser Done Works

Many regional and New York area theater companies often produce the more popular Shakespeare plays such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet as these are more familiar to the lay audience person. While Hudson Shakespeare Company has also produced these popular titles, they have become known for tackling lesser known works and questionable works of the Bard. According to Artistic Director, Jon Ciccarelli, "“Each season we try to produce at least one play that you’ve either never heard of or we put a different spin on known works of Shakespeare. ‘Cardenio’ is this season’s entry in that category.” Lesser known plays tackled by the company: Henry VIII (2013), Cardenio (based on Double Falsehood) (2012), ''Timon of Athens'' (2011), ''Troilus and Cressida'' (2009), ''Two Noble Kinsmen'' (2007), ''Coriolanus'' (2004), ''Cymbeline'' (2004 & 2014), ''Pericles'' (2006 & 2014), ''Titus Andronicus'' (2003 & 2013). In the coming seasons, the company has plans to produce several titles in the Shakespeare Apocrypha such as Sir Thomas More, Edward III, Arden of Faversham and ''Mucedorus''.

Performance Venues

The following is a list of active venues where the company performs during an average run for a summer production.

Jersey City, NJ

• Hamilton Park - Located at 9th Street and Jersey Avenue, this is the company's original performance space. HSC partners with the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association and usually performs in front of the park's gazebo. In case of inclement weather, performances are held under the gazebo.
• Van Vorst Park - Located in the downtown section of Jersey City at Montgomery Street and Jersey Avenue, next to the main branch of the Jersey City library. HSC partners with the Friends of Van Vorst Park Association.
• The Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery - Located at 435 Newark Avenue, the cemetery is the oldest in the city and contains remains dating back to before the revolutionary war. HSC partners with the all volunteer group to raise funds for the cemetery's upkeep.

Hoboken, NJ

• Frank Sinatra Park - Located at 400 Frank Sinatra Drive, the venue is Hoboken's main venue for live music and theater acts. All HSC theater programs are produced with the Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs which schedules, concerts, films and a semi-annual arts and music festival taking place in May and September.

Hackensack, NJ

• Staib Park - Located between Coles and Davis Avenue in Hackensack, NJ. HSC programs are produced in association with the Hackensack Recreation Department
• Hackensack Cultural Arts Center - Located at 39 Broadway in Hackensack, this converted church serves as the rain location for HSC shows and also as a year round theater for other Hackensack companies.

Stratford, CT

• Stratford Library - Located at 2203 Main Street, Stratford, CT, the library not only hosts HSC but offers speakers on Shakespeare subjects and staged readings by resident theater company -Square One Theatre

Kenilworth, NJ

• Kenilworth Library - Located at 548 Boulevard in Kenilworth, NJ. HSC produces the "Bard on the Boulevard" program in association with the Friends of Kenilworth Library.

Fort Lee, NJ

• Monument Park - Located at 1588 Palisade Avenue in Fort Lee, NJ next to the Fort Lee Museum. HSC produces programs in association with the Fort Lee Film Commission.

West Milford, NJ

• Long Pond Iron Works State Park - Located at 1334 Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Hewitt, NJ, HSC produces programs in association with the Friends of Long Pond Iron Works in their historic village.

Past Productions

2014

• ''Twelfth Night'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by James Masciovecchio - June 12-28
• ''Cymbeline'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Rachel Alt - July 10-28
• ''Pericles'' - By William Shakespeare and George Wilkins - August 7-23
• ''On the Waterfront'' by Budd Schulberg, Directed by Gene Simakowicz - October 10-18

2013

• Inherit the Wind - By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - April 12-20
• Cyrano de Bergerac - By Edmond Rostand, Adapted by Jon Ciccarelli, Directed by Gene Simakowicz - June 14-29
• Henry VIII - By William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - July 11-27
• ''Macbeth'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Noelle Fair - August 8-24
• ''Titus Andronicus'' - By William Shakespeare and George Peele, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - October 18-November 3
• ''As You Like It'' (All female Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Noelle Fair - October 29- November 1

2012

• ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' - by Harper Lee, Adapted by Jon Ciccarelli, Directed by Tony White - April 14 & 15
• ''Othello'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Gene Simakowicz - June 15-30
• ''Comedy of Errors'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - July 13-28
• Cardenio - (based on Double Falsehood) by William Shakespeare, John Fletcher, Lewis Theobald and others, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 3-25
• ''Hamlet'' (Schools Show)- by William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - October 25- November 11

2011

• All's Well On a Midsummer's Twelfth Night in Winter with Much Ado and the Shrew - Romantic comedy based on several Shakespeare plays. Adapted by Noelle Fair, Directed by Michael Hagins - March 27-29
• ''Romeo and Juliet'' (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Tony White - April 29-May 4
• ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Noelle Fair - June 16-July 1
• Henry V - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - July 16- August 7
• ''Timon of Athens'' - By William Shakespeare and Thomas Middleton, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 11-24

2010

• ''Taming of the Shrew'' (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Noelle Fair - April 18-30
• ''King Lear'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - June 17- July 2
• ''Much Ado About Nothing'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Tony White - July 9-21
• ''The Tempest'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - August 2-21
• Eleemosynary - By Lee Blessing, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - October 21-24
• ''No Exit'' - By John-Paul Sartre, Directed by Gene Simakowicz - October 21-24

2009

• Proof - By David Auburn, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - March 4-13
• ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jennifer Wills - March 23-April 5
• Julius Caesar (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - April 24-May 1
• ''The Winter's Tale'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - June 15-July 1
• ''Troilus and Cressida'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - July 7-25
• The Sword Politik - By Jon Crefeld, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli (nominated show in Midtown International Theatre Festival)- July 15-30
• ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 3-22

2008

• ''Comedy of Errors'' (Schools Show)- By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - April 9-25
• Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged - May
• ''Twelfth Night'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - June 16-July 1
• King John - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Tony White - July 7-22
• All Female Julius Caesar - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 4-23

2007

• ''Six Degrees of Separation'' - By John Guare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - March 15-24
• Julius Caesar (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - April
• Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged - June 6-10
• ''Merchant of Venice'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by J. B. Lawrence - June 13-July 7
• ''The Two Noble Kinsmen'' - By William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, Directed by David Sewell - July 11-28
• ''Romeo and Juliet'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - July 30-August 18
• ''Medea'' - By Euripedes, Directed by Kristin Hoffman - August 20-25

2006

• A Few Good Men - By Aaron Sorkin, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - March 24-April 6
• ''Othello'' (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - April
• ''As You Like It'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by David Sewell - May 31-June 21
• ''Pericles'' - By William Shakespeare and George Wilkins, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - June 20-July 9
• ''Two Gentlemen of Verona'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - July 10-30
• ''Alls Well That Ends Well'' - By William Shakespeare and Thomas Middleton, Directed by Laurie Jeffers - July 31-Aug 19

2005

• ''Love Letters'' - By A.R. Gurney, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - Feb 11-18
• ''Waiting for Godot'' - By Samuel Beckett, Directed by Gene Simakowicz - April 1-16
• ''Romeo and Juliet'' (Schools Show)- By William Shakespeare, Directed by Katherine Harte - April 11-25
• ''Hamlet'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - May 20-June 16
• ''Antony and Cleopatra'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by John Trigonis - June 19-July 8
• Sweet Love, Adieu - By Ryan J-W Smith, Directed by Sandy Harper - July 10-30
• ''Richard III'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Michael Hagins - July 18-Aug 6
• ''Love's Labours Lost'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by King Rich Warren - August 7-27
• The Sword Politik - By Jon Crefeld, Directed by Cheryl Rossillo - August 29-September 10
• Gershwin in Love (Musical Review) - Adapted and Directed by Michelle Wilson - September 23-October 7
• ''Macbeth'' (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Laurie Jeffers - October 19-29

2004

• Shakespeare's Valentines - Adapted by Jon Ciccarelli (Shakespeare Scene Showcase) - February 13
• Run for Your Wife - By Ray Cooney, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - April
• Shakespeare School showcases - Adapted by Jon Ciccarelli - April
• ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by John Short - May 22-June 30
• ''Coriolanus'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by King Rich Warren - June 15-July 16
• ''Lysistrata'' - By Aristophanes, Directed by Jean Arlea - July 12-30
• ''Cymbeline'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 2-23
• Gruesome, Gory, & Grotesque Stories of Edgar Allen Poe - October 14 & 15
• ''Othello'' (Schools Show) - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - December

2003

• Edgar Allen Poe Showcase, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli February
• ''Taming of the Shrew'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by L. Robert Johnson - May 14-22
• ''Henry IV, Part 1'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Alain Aguilar - June 16-28
• Henry V - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - July 14-26
• ''Titus Andronicus'' - By William Shakespeare and George Peele, Directed by John Trigonis - August 4-16
• Dracula - By Bram Stoker, Directed by Dany Vilchez - October 24-November 2

2002

• ''Antigone'' - By Sophocles, Adapted by William Blake Tyrell & Larry J. Bennett, Directed by L. Robert Johnson, May 10-18
• Stratford Day Festival arranged by Jon Ciccarelli (Shakespeare Scene Showcase) - June 1
• ''The Merchant of Venice'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Cheryl Rossillo - June 10-26
• ''King Lear'' - By William Shakespeare, July
• ''Measure for Measure'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli and Denise Cintron - August 7-23
• ''Macbeth'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - October 25-November 10

2001

• ''Flowers for Algernon'' by Daniel Keys, Directed by Kristen Wenderborn - April 20-May 6
• Hoboken Arts & Music Festival arranged by Jon Ciccarelli (Shakespeare Scene Showcase) - May
• ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' by William Shakespeare, Directed by Roxanne Arroyo - June 11-29
• ''Hamlet'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Paula Galloway - July 9-27
• ''Richard III'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Gene Simakowicz - August 6-24

2000

• ''The Fantasticks'' - By Harvey Schmidt, Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - March 3-19
• ''Laughter on the 23rd Floor'' - By Neil Simon, Directed by Paula Galloway - May 5-21
• The Tempest - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Karen Hallock, - June 12-30
• ''Othello'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Matt Hanley, - July 10-28
• ''Much Ado About Nothing'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 7-25
• ''The Odd Couple'' - By Neil Simon, Directed by Charles Roby - October 27-November 11

1999

• Prelude to a Kiss - By Craig Lucas, Directed by Janine Flood - February 12-21
• ''The Glass Menagerie'' - By Tennessee Williams, Directed by Bonnie Masters - May 7-23
• Julius Caesar - By Williams Shakespeare, Directed by Jeffrey Flood - June 14-29
• The Couples of Shakespeare - By Jon Ciccarelli (Shakespeare Scene Showcase) - July 7-25
• ''The Beggar's Opera'' - By John Gay, Directed by Sandy Harper - July 12-30
• ''Taming of the Shrew'' - By William Shakespear, Directed by Andy Foley - August 9-27
• ''The Crucible'' - By Arthur Miller, Directed by Jessa Kelly - October 28-November 14
• ''A Christmas Carol'' - By Charles Dickesn, Adapted by Charles Renot Directed by John Short - December 10-19

1998

• Witness for the Prosecution - By Agatha Christie, Directed by Andy Foley - April 24-May 16
• ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by L. Robert Johnson - June 12-27
• ''Twelfth Night'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jordan Mann - July 17-Aug 2
• ''Comedy of Errors'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Duane Langley - Aug 12-28
• Inherit the Wind - By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee - October 23- November 12

1997

• ''Romeo and Juliet'' By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - July 9-23
• ''Macbeth'' By William Shakespeare, Directed by Jon Ciccarelli - August 7-20

1996

• ''Nuts'' By Tom Topor, - Directed by Joesph Fedor - May 3-18
• ''Hamlet'' By William Shakespeare, - Directed by Joesph Penczak - July 7-20

1995

• ''Agnes of God'' - By John Pielmier, Directed by Kristen Garver - June 2-11
• ''As You Like It'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Dominick Buccafusco - July
• ''Much Ado About Nothing'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by Denise Cintron - August

1994

• ''Mass Appeal'' - By Bill C. Davis, Directed by Denise Cintron - June
• ''Taming of the Shrew'' - By William Shakespeare, Directed by L. Robert Johnson - July

1993

• ''12 Angry Men'' (Jurors) - By Gerard L. Pepper, Directed by Denise Cintron - February
• ''Driving Miss Daisy'' - By Alfred Uhry, Directed by Demitra Papadinas - June
• ''Waiting for Godot'' - By Samuel Beckett, Directed By Joesph Fedor - July

1992

• ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' - by William Shakespeare, Directed by L. Robert Johnson (Staged Reading) - July

Notable Mentions

In 2005, company founder L. Robert Johnson was honored with the "Everyday Hero Award" by the Jersey Journal of Jersey City,NJ. These awards and related feature article chronicle everyday citizens of Jersey City, NJ and greater Hudson County with outstanding contributions to their communities. In Mr. Johnson's case it was for his founding of Hudson Shakespeare Company and promotion of Shakespeare in Hudson County along with spear heading several educational programs mentoring novice acting students.

In 2014, New Jersey City University professor, James Broderick, profiled several Hudson Shakespeare Company actors in his book Greatness Thrust Upon Them: Non-Professional Actors and Directors Discuss Their Encounters with Shakespeare. The book chronicled the actors' first experiences with the Bard, the intimidation and overcoming these hurdles to fully embrace the work and how it shaped their semi-professional and professional careers.