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Hudson Shakespeare Company

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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."[1] 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,[2] 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.”[3] 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''.[4]

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

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

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

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

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

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

1994

1993

1992

Notable Mentions

References

  1. ^ Duger, Rose (October 3, 2005). [nj.com "Bringing the Classics to the People"]. Jersey Journal. The Jersey Journal. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  2. ^ Duger, Rose (October 3, 2005). [nj.com "Bringing the Classics to the People"]. Jersey Journal. The Jersey Journal. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ Wright, E. Assata (August 2, 2012). "Land of the lost? Hudson Shakespeare Company closes 2012 season with 'Cardenio' Read more: Hudson Reporter - Land of the lost Hudson Shakespeare Company closes 2012 season with 'Cardenio'". Hudson Reporter.
  4. ^ Beckerman, Jim (August 7, 2012). "Shakespeare troup staging play in Fort Lee, Hackensack with dubious DNA http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/hudson-shakespeare-company-performs-cardenio-in-fort-lee-and-hackensack-1.428682#sthash.h2t0p0NL.dpuf". The Record of Bergen County. northjersey.com. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  5. ^ Hortillosa, Summer Dawn. "'Twelfth Night'--with a twist--coming to Jersey City, Hoboken". Jersey Journal. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Myers, Joe. "Actor directing 'Twelfth Night' at Stratford Library". Connecticut Post. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  7. ^ "Hudson Shakespeare Company to perform three plays". Stratford Star. June 26, 2014.
  8. ^ "Shakespeare Troupe Returns to Stratford Library". Town of Stratford. June 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Hipster '12th Night' in Stratford Saturday". New Haven Register. Retrieved June 26, 2014. {{cite news}}: |first1= missing |last1= (help)
  10. ^ "Outdoor production of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'". Stratford Star. Retrieved July 8, 2014. {{cite news}}: |first1= missing |last1= (help)
  11. ^ "Bard on the Boulevard program presents Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' June 19 in Kenilworth". Cranford Chronicle. Retrieved June 9, 2014. {{cite news}}: |first1= missing |last1= (help)
  12. ^ "THE BARD COMES TO HOBOKEN – Hoboken Briefs". Hudson Reporter. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
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