Shakespeare in the Fort Lee High School Auditorium

Theater fans and members of Fort Lee High School’s Academy of Performing Arts (APA) Drama Division were treated to a spectacular performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by the Hudson Shakespeare Company  Friday. The performance was courtesy of the Fort Lee Coalition of the Arts, which held the earlier in the year in an effort to fund the visit from the Jersey City-based performing company.

Tom Meyers, Fort Lee Cultural & Heritage Affairs Administrator, was happy that the students were so excited. The John Barrymore Fundraiser, which was held back in February, raised over $1,500 and covered the fee for the event.

Meyers said that there are fewer supporters of the arts than there are of high school sports programs, and that in these times of economic hardship, arts programs are usually the first to go.

”We made it very clear to the Fort Lee School Superintendent and High School officials and the Board of Ed, that the Fort Lee Coalition for the Arts will be a pro active group to support student arts programs in Fort Lee and we will lobby against any potential cuts, most specifically to the theatre arts program, if that should be ever placed on the table,” said Meyers.

Before the performance, Meyers gave a brief speech about the Fort Lee Coalition of the Arts, and explained why the group helped fund the production to the students.

“We are here for you," Meyers said. "We are here to insure there are no cuts to the arts."

The brilliant performance was held at 9:30 a.m. for the entire ninth and 11th grades at the high school's auditorium, which was filled with gasps, laughs and hoots  from all directions.

The cast was lively and extremely interactive; “Romeo” would often jump out from the audience, and grip onto students’ chairs while proclaiming his love for the fair Juliet. This, naturally, brought plenty of embarrassed giggling from whatever poor high school girl who was seated there.

Later on in the day, the Hudson Shakespeare Company held a workshop with 20 APA drama students under the tutelage of the program’s drama director, Jodi Etra. Students learned how to interpret text to action.

“The workshop was interactive and all of my students were excited about being part of such a wonderful workshop and working with professional actors,” said Etra.

Etra is grateful for all of Meyers and the Fort Lee Coalition of the Arts’ efforts.

“We are fortunate that The Fort Lee Film Commission donates the money to do this workshop every year," Etra said. "I have brought in other professionals from film and from Broadway to speak to the students this year---but none were as interactive as the Shakespeare workshop.”

This is the third year  the Hudson Shakespeare Company has visited Fort Lee High School.

“They are one of the best Shakespeare troupes in New Jersey, and we found them in Hoboken where they perform ‘Shakespeare in the Park.’  We brought them to Fort Lee about five years ago,” Meyers said.

The troupe will be performing Shakespeare in the Park free to the public and run at 7:30 p.m. at Monument Park on Palisade Ave. in Fort Lee this summer.

Meyers provided Fort Lee Patch the following schedule for The Hudson Shakespeare Company:

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tuesday, June 21, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 28, 7:30 p.m.

Henry V

Tuesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 2, 7:30 p.m.

Tymon of Athens

Tuesday, August 16, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 23, 7:30 p.m.

Seating is limited so it’s a good idea to bring folding beach chairs or blankets, Meyers said..  

For more information call the Fort Lee Office of Cultural Affairs at 201-693-2763 or visit www.fortleenj.org.