From the time it was built in 1883, the Weehawken Water Tower, located on Park Avenue on the Union City border, has served two important functions: it housed the home offices of the Hackensack Water Company, and it held 165,000 gallons of water for drinking and extinguishing fires in all North Hudson towns as well as Hoboken and Hackensack.
When the tower complex was purchased by Entin Associates in 1981, the gatehouse and reservoir were razed and replaced with a Pathmark supermarket and parking space. However, due to its landmark status in the National Register of Historic Places, a distinction it received in 1980, the tower was spared demolition and structurally maintained. While the interior served no function at that time, the 175 ft. red brick exterior served as a beacon for ships entering New York Harbor.
The town of Weehawken took over the property in 2000 and initiated a massive restoration of the water tower, first restoring the exterior, followed by the creation of a plaza park in the surrounding area, and finally, cleaning the brick wall of the interior, which made the tower appear new while maintaining its historical charm.
The refurbished tower needed only a heartbeat to give it new life, and beginning this year Hudson Theater Works has become that heartbeat.
A Hudson County cultural institution
Co-founded by Weehawken resident Frank Licato, who also serves as the group’s artistic director, the company gave the restored tower its first use in over 100 years, a distinction to which Licato credits Mayor Richard Turner.
“Thanks to Mayor Turner and the city of Weehawken, we are the first people to use the renovated water tower.” Licato describes the tower as, “beautiful inside,” while urging patrons to buy tickets to performances early as the intimacy of the tower allows for a maximum audience of 40 patrons. Licato also expressed appreciation toward the mayor and township for allowing the company to use Weehawken High School as a secondary venue.
Hudson Theater Works is a group comprised mainly of Hudson County residents, but Licato is quick to remind, “We are a professional equity theater. We are not a community theater, as we pay professional actors who work at their craft for a living.”
Working at his craft for a living is a passion about which Licato has first-hand knowledge. In 30 years of experience in the performing arts, Licato has acted, directed, and taught fellow actors. He has also produced, and has garnered accolades and distinctions along the way.
Throughout his career, Licato has performed off-Broadway in works by Sam Shepard and Rod Serling, and was nominated for an Obie award for his performance in “Deathwatch” by Jean Genet.
Licato takes special pride in Hudson Theater Works and its goal of contributing to the burgeoning artistic community of Hudson County. Although the company puts on productions of plays, Licato places emphasis on the group’s PlayWorks series.
Productions coming up
“PlayWorks is our festival of new play readings, taking place on three consecutive Mondays at the water tower.” Among the purposes of the readings is to give theater patrons in-depth insight into the creative process and the evolution of what may eventually become a staged production, as is the case with the company’s current production of “3 Men,” written and performed by Hoboken resident and Rutgers University graduate, Mike Folie, and directed by Mr. Licato. “ ‘3 Men’ actually came out of the PlayWorks series last year, and is the first new play Hudson Theater Works has produced,” Licato said.
In “3 Men,” Folie serves as a narrator who explores his relationships with a lawyer, magazine editor, and producer, all of whom have greatly influenced the course of his life. The interactions explore the complex concepts of art, life, death, and resurrection.
Folie’s credentials are typical of Hudson Theater Works status as a professional company. The author’s plays, such as “The Adjustment and Jewish Rep” have been produced Off and Off-Off Broadway, and Dramatist Guild Magazine placed Folie on its list of “Fifty Playwrights to Watch.”
Among this year’s PlayWorks playwrights are Weehawken residents Eric Conger and Joanne Hoersch. Also in the group are Jersey City actors such as Summer Dawn Hortillosa, who performed in the inaugural production in the water tower, and first of the 2014 season, “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” an example of how Hudson County provides the theater group with a steady influx of talent.
Part of the company’s commitment to expanding the artistic community is its willingness to accept submissions of works from outside authors. While there is no assurance of a submitted work leading to production, all are read as time allows.
Two productions in October
For now the primary focus of Hudson Theater Works is the production of “3 Men” as well as the PlayWorks series, and while Mr. Licato hopes the group continues producing works in the restored Weehawken institution, he emphasizes that members of Hudson Theater Works consider themselves “a Hudson County institution, and not just a Weehawken one.”
Performances of “3 Men” will take place at the Weehawken Water Tower, 4078 Park Ave., Weehawken, on Oct. 17 through 26, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Parking is free in the Pathmark parking lot. Tickets are $30, general admission, with senior and student discounts available.
All performances are 90 minutes, including intermission.
PlayWorks performances will take place in the water tower on Oct. 13 and 20 (one show already passed on Oct. 6). All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, and all performances have limited seating.
For reservations call 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.hudsontheatreworks.org.
Visit Frank Licato at www.franklicato.com or follow him on Twitter.