The Hudson Shakespeare Company of Jersey City kicks off its
24th Shakespeare in the Park series with a new twist on old favorite presenting a cross gendered “Love’s Labours Lost” where the men play the women and the women play the  men. The show is running coming to:   Saturday, June 20 at The Historic Jersey City and Harismus Cemetery at 435 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. A
suggested $10 donation will be charged at the door and
concessions are available.

Show Detail:
When many of us are introduced to Shakespeare in school, one of the details that often stand out is that only male actors played all the parts. While this practice seems strange to us, it was the accepted convention that on the  professional London stage only men were
considered suitable enough for a dubious profession of being “an actor”.

Despite the fact that it was illegal for women to be actors and women did appear on stage in England but in regional
religious festivals and on the professional stages of Spain, France and Italy. This curious English only practice was so
entrenched in their culture that even decades after
Shakespeare died and women finally came to the stage some of the
old guard actors decried the practice saying that actresses couldn’t truly depict women on the stage.

“Each season, Hudson Shakespeare likes putting new and fresh spins
on popular titles and exploring titles that  audiences may not be normally exposed to,” said director Jon Ciccarelli. “Love’s Labours Lost on its own is a fun romp of a romantic comedy and a feast of Shakespearean poetry but we wanted to see how else to delve into what is  essentially of men and women trying to outwit each other when it comes to seduction of the other gender. So we decided to take the commonly known Shakespeare practice of men playing all of the roles and expand it to having  women take on male characters,” Ciccarelli said.

Ciccarelli urged that the show isn’t some treatment on
gender studies or making some bold statement but having fun
with the Shakespeare convention of cross gendering. “Shakespeare’s male actors did it their day and many of his other
plays feature cross dressed women who dress up as man, so we’re going more for what behaviors or attitudes make up what it
means to man or woman as played by the opposite gender and we’ve found there are really no hard fast characteristics. They run the gamut and “Love’s Labours Lost” is a hysterical play to explore how the other half lives”,  he added.

Synopsis of the show:
The King of Navarre and his three companions –
Berowne, Dumaine and Longaville – commit to a life of study exiling
themselves from the pleasures of the world and women for whole three years. But they forget that a visiting part with the Princess of France and three of her ladies are coming on a diplomatic mission, throwing the plan into chaos. The men from Navarre trump each other in a scene in which they are overheard reading aloud
their bad love poems and seek to woo the ladies in strange disguises. However, the ladies are on to the guys and outwit them at their own
seduction. A comic sub-plot is weaved with Armado, a flamboyant Spaniard, his clever page, Moth, a country clown, Costard and a precocious dairymaid, Jaquenetta. Long winded love rhymes, switched up love notes, comic chase scenes, virtuostic verbal
exchanges and a bit some bearded Russians punctuate this delicious Shakespeare comedy through the lens of the opposite gender.

Hudson Shakespeare Company, now in its 24th season of traveling Shakespeare. The company will return in July with
the “Lost Shakespeare Play” The Murder of Thomas Arden of Faversham, a black comedy featuring a bunch of inept killers in their various pathetic attempts to dispose of a rich land owner with a twist ending. For more information visit
http://ellem-fair.wix.com/hudsonshakespeare or call 973 -449 7443.

The post Hudson Shakespeare Company at Historic Jersey City and Harismus Cemetery first appeared on River View Observer.

Just for you Free Shows, Movies and Other Happenings on the Jersey Side

By Sally Deering

Well, its summertime and that means blowing up beach balls and dashing to the sandy Jersey shore to slather on sunblock and frolic in the Atlantic’s waves. But for urban dwellers who can’t slip away for some beach blanket bingo, there are plenty of fun and free activities in Hudson to help you enjoy the sunny days and balmy nights ahead

 Hoboken’s Cultural Affairs Department offers movies, kids’ shows, even Shakespeare in the park

 Family Fun

Free Outdoor Performances 

Shipyard Park, 13th Street & McFeeley Drive

June 28 – Mother Goose, rhymes, songs and stories, www.after3theatre.org; July 12 - The Hey Ya Brothers, slapstick comedy, www.heyyabrothers.com; July 19 - Yosi, kids sing-along, www.yosimusic.com; July 26 – The Fuzzy Lemons, family-friendly rock band, www.thefuzzylemons.com; Aug 2 – Music Together, music and movement for babies and toddlers, www.musictogether.com; Aug 9 - Big Jeff & the Bouncy People, singer-songwriter, www.bigjeffmusic.com; Aug 16 - Starfish, kids/family band, www.myspace.com/rockwithstarfish; Aug 23 – Americana Family Jamboree, bluegrass and folksongs, www.facebook.com/americanafamilyjamobree

 

Movies under the Stars 2011

Pier “A” Park, First St. and Frank Sinatra Drive

Bring a blanket or comfortable low-back chair. Picnic yes; booze no.

Wednesdays, June & July at 9 pm; Aug, at 8:15 pm

June 29: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; July 13: The King’s Speech; July 20: The Social Network; July 27: Waiting for Superman; Aug 3: The Wizard of Oz (8:30); Aug10: Despicable Me (8:15); Aug 17: Tangled (8:00); Aug 24: Toy Story 3 (8:00)

 Concerts in Sinatra Park

Sinatra Drive between 4th & 5th Sts

Performances: Thursdays, 7-9pm

June 30: The 63rd Army Band, patriotic & popular tunes; July 7: Hoboken Summer Bash hosted by Frank Raia; July 14 – Ernie Contri sings the Best of Sinatra; July 21: Gene D’ Plumber, Tex Mex-abilly; July 28: Guitar Bar All-Stars; Aug. 4: Son Nueve; Aug. 11: The Gordys; Aug 18: The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; Aug. 25: Swingadelic

 Shakespeare in the Park

Sinatra Park, 7 pm

The Hudson Shakespeare Company, www.hudsonshakespeare.homestead.com

July 25, Aug. 1: “Henry V”; Aug 15, 22: “Tymon of Athens”

 Theatre in the Park

Sinatra Park, 7 pm

The Theatre Company of Hoboken

www.thetheatercompany.org

July 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31

Music of “Grease” 

 Kayaking

Maxwell Place Park, 11th & Sinatra Drive

July 9, 1-7pm; July 23, 12-6pm; Aug. 7, 12:30-6:30pm; Aug. 21, 1-5pm

  The City of Bayonne presents summer concerts by the bay

and a family film series

 Summer Sounds by the Bay Concert Series

DiDomenico 16^th Street Park

www.bayonnerec.com

Thurs, June 30; Wed, July 6-Aug 17, 7 pm

Bring your own chairs

June 30: John Christian and Soiree; July 6: Cashmere; July 13: Mickey Perry Band, Black 47; July 20: Soul Generation, Jazzique; July 27: Bayonne Senior Orchestra, North Jersey All-Star Big Band; Aug 3: Running Dog; Aug 10: Alan Quinn and Quinntessence; Aug 17: Fantasy

Summer Film Series

Bayonne Public Library

697 Avenue C
Bayonne, NJ 07002-5899
201-858-6970
O’Connor Gallery, 1 pm

June 29: The Philadelphia Story; July 13: The King’s Speech; July 20: The Social Network; July 27: Red; Aug 3: Megaminds; Aug 10: Despicable Me; Aug 17: Tangled; Aug 24: Toy Story 3

 Jersey City has lots to offer including films, festivals, fishing and dance parties

 Films under the Stars in Van Vorst Park

Montgomery St & Jersey Ave

Wednesdays, June-July at 8:30 pm; Aug at 8 pm

Bring a blanket/lawn chair

www.filmsinvanvorst.com

July 6: To Kill a Mockingbird; July 20: Inception; Aug 3: The Art of the Steal; Aug 17: Toy Story 3; Aug 31: Secretariat

 Egyptian Festival

Journal Square PATH Plaza

Kennedy Blvd & Pavonia Ave

Sat, July 2, 10 am-6 pm

www.egyptianfestivaljc.com

Traditional Egyptian music and dance, children’s entertainment, and posters, drawings, and photographs of ancient and modern Egypt will be exhibited courtesy of the Tourist Department of the Egyptian Consulate

 Fishing at the Jersey City Reservoir

Jefferson Ave Gate at Summit Ave

Saturdays through Sept. 24, 10 am-2 pm

www.jcreservoir.org

Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance offers free fishing – catch and release only please! – at the 13-acre reservoir located in the Heights District, a family park of wildflower meadows and a nature preserve and beautiful lake. Fishing gear is available to use for free

 Saturdays Swing in Jersey City

Grassroots Community Space

54 Coles St
Class & Dance Party: $20; Dance Party Only: $5

No Partner Required

www.theartistslab.com

How about a night of swing dancing. Each week the class will include a basic “crash course” followed by a class including variations in pattern, footwork and lead/follow technique. The dance party will include swing music for all styles of swing. If you like lindy hop, east coast swing, west coast swing, jive, balboa, foxtrot, shag…you’ll love Saturdays Swing with The Artists’ Lab! 

 City of Water Day 2011

Sat, July 16, 10 am-5 pm

Liberty State Park

Audrey Zapp Drive

www.cityofwaterday.org

3rd annual City of Water Day festival features free boat tours on historic and educational vessels; free public kayaking and rowing; fishing demonstrations; a special children’s fair with waterfront activities & events; the Waterfront Action Fair and advocacy workshops; food from Vendy-award winning vendors; and live music

 Secaucus hosts music throughout the summer

 2011 Summer Music Series

Buchmuller Park

7 pm

July 7:  The Infernos; July 14: The Happenings; July 21: 45-RPM; Jul 22-24, (5-7 pm at the PAC) National High School Teen Idol; July 28: British Invasion: Aug 4: Show Stoppers (at PAC); Aug 11: Cameos; Aug 18: Jersey Sound; Aug 25: David Aaron Orchestra; Sept 8: Bobby and the Jets (at the Plaza at Harmon Cove)

 Weehawken serenades locals with headliner concerts, summer sports clinics for kids and swims for adults

 Summer Concerts on the Hudson

Lincoln Harbor Park on the Weehawken Waterfront

www.hrpac.org

Wednesdays at 7 pm

Bring a lawn chair and get there early for a spot!

July 6: Gary U.S. Bonds and the Roadhouse Rockers with special guest Finish This; July 20: Paquito and Friends (Weehawken’s own Paquito d’Rivera); Aug 10: Fusion Tango; Aug 29: Broadway on the Hudson

 Fundamentals for the Beginning Golfer

Waterfront Complex

Port Imperial Boulevard

www.weehawken-nj.us

Tues & Thurs: July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26

Ages 8 – 12: 10 – 11 am; Ages 13 – 17: 11am – 12 Noon

Fundamentals for the beginning golfer; chipping, putting and full swing techniques

 Two-Week Soccer Clinic

Waterfront Complex

Port Imperial Boulevard

Tues, July 5-Friday, July 15

Ages 5 – 7; 11 – 13

9 am-12 Noon; and 1- 3 pm

Mon, July 18-Fri, July 29

Ages 8 – 10, 9am – 12 Noon

 Adult Swimming at Steven’s Institute of Technology

Pool and Fitness Center at Schaefer Athletic Center, Hoboken

Register at the Weehawken Recreation Office, 372 Park Ave

Proof of Weehawken residency and photo ID required.

18 years and older

For more info, 201-319-6061

 Recreational Field Trips

www.weehawken-nj.us

Wed, July 13: Swimming and Picnicking at Bear Mountain State Park; Tues, July 19: Swimming and picnicking at Island Beach; Thurs, Aug 4: Swimming and picnicking at Highpoint State Park;

 Bingo under the Stars for Senior Citizens

www.weehawken-nj.us

Wed, July 13: At the Nutrition Center; Wed, Aug 17 at 525 Gregory Avenue

Seniors play for prizes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Summer Fun Jersey Style first appeared on River View Observer.

“To Park or not to Park”

Hudson Transportation Management Association’s Joins Salute to World Parks in Newport Waterfront Area in Jersey City, NJ

What’s the saying… “All the worlds a stage.” On Friday September 17th in the Newport  waterfront section in downtown Jersey City, the Hudson Transportation Management Association used two parking spaces to prove that point.

 Joing a world salute to parks, the HTMA , placed the Actors Shakespeare Company of New Jersey City University pictured above between two parking spaces on Town Square Place  and Pavonia area to show that land used for parking is actually valuable real estate that could be used for public theater, parks, community uses and other events.



 

Dressed in their Elizabethan costumes members of the troupe entertained workers, and residents passing by from 11am to 4pm.

Our River View photographer Newsboi sat a while and watched saying ” “Very interesting to watch Shakespeare being performed in a small  outside open space, it’s how they watched his plays performed hundreds of years ago.” I enjoyed the performance.

Jersey City was among 140 other cities and 21 countries  who took part in the event:”Sixth  Annual International Park(ing) Day by converting into parks everyday metered spaces.

Other Hudson County cities to participate were Hoboken and  another location in Jersey City.

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