A picture of the entrance to the 5 corners library.

Since its inception, one of Hudson Shakespeare's main indoor venues has been the various branches of the Jersey City Free Public Library.  Opening its operations on July 6, 1891, the first Jersey City library was housed in a few rooms in two bank buildings on Washington St.  In 1890s the library trustees acquired land at Jersey Avenue and Montgomery Street, hired a supervising architect, Professor A.D.F. Hamlin of Columbia University, and the architectural firm of Brite and Bacon of New York was selected.  On August 16, 1899, the cornerstone was set in place.  As Jersey City grew, so grew the library system. The Hudson City branch opened in 1911, the Bergen branch (now the Miller Branch) opened on Jackson Avenue in 1915 and the Greenville branch on Danforth Avenue the following year, with the Zabriskie Street library (now the Heights branch) in 1917, the 5 Corners branch with its large theater in 1962 and finally the Bibliotheca Criolla, a Spanish language library, opened in 1972.  Storefront branches were also added throughout the city.

Beginning in 1993 with a production of 12 Angry Jurors at the Miller Branch, HSC has continually brought its traveling productions to the it's theaters and community rooms.  Most productions take place in the auditorium of the 5 Corners Library located at 678 Newark Ave.  Some of the productions that have been staged by HSC over the years are Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, Driving Miss Daisy, The Glass Menagerie, & Prelude to a Kiss.  Above a picture of the 5 Corners Library Branch.

To view accompanying articles about our Jersey City events click the links below:

The Gory and the Glory, All the Park's a Stage, Theater Helping Community, HSC Delivers Bard and a Whole Lot More, Play's the Thing in City Series

Getting to the 5 Corners Library Theater

Using NYC PATH service: Go to the 33rd Street Path, located at 33rd St.& 6th Ave, with entrances at 32nd St.& 6th Ave. and 34th St. & Broadway.  At the turnstiles, take the left most track marked JSQ (Journal Square, Jersey City) to the JOURNAL SQUARE stop.  Head up to street level, come out on to Journal Square and you will see the Stanley Theater and a White Castle at the far right corner of the square.  Proceed towards the Stanley Theater and turn RIGHT on to NEWARK AVE.  The library is up on the left side.  

From NYC Driving:  NOTE: Street Parking around the library can be difficult.  Please allow for extra time to find a spot.  Summit Ave may be your best place to find parking.  Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto BOYLE PLZ/14TH ST. Continue to follow 14TH ST.  14TH ST becomes US-1 & 9 S/US-9 S.  Take the ramp toward KENNEDY BLVD/JERSEY CITY.  Stay straight to go onto HOBOKEN AVE/NJ-139 W/STATE HWY.  Turn LEFT onto OAKLAND AVE.  Turn RIGHT onto HOBOKEN AVE.  HOBOKEN AVE becomes NEWARK AVE.  Library is on the RIGHT

NJ DRIVING - US1/US9 NORTH:  NOTE: Street Parking around the library can be difficult.  Please allow for extra time to find a spot.  Summit Ave may be your best place to find parking.  Take US RT 1 & 9 N to the Pulaski Skyway.  Bear right at the TONNELLE AVE/ LINCOLN TUNNEL exit.  Turn right on to TONNELLE AVE.  Turn LEFT on to NEWARK AVE.  Library is on the LEFT                  

NJ DRIVING - RT 3 EAST:  Take RT 3 E toward LINCOLN TUNNEL.  Turn slight RIGHT on to TONNELLE AVE (RTS 1 & 9).  Follow US RT 1 & 9/TONNELLE for several miles through NORTH BERGEN toward JERSEY CITY.  Pass the Pulaski Skyway Circle and turn on to NEWARK Ave.  Library will be up on the LEFT.     

Please consult mapquest.com for further driving directions.       

Click here to view our other Jersey City Venues:    

Hamilton Park   Van Vorst Park    Jersey City Libraries   Landmark's Loew's Jersey Theatre

To view the Jersey City, NJ Page    

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Send mail to jciccarelli@hudsonshakespeare.org with questions or comments about this web site.

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