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originally published: 06/07/2023 

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- "Horseshoe Empire," by Margo Hammond is a play about one of the most famous figures in Jersey City history; Frank "I am the Law" Hague. The play will be performed across two weekend (June 10-11 and June 16-18, 2023) at the Apple Tree House (Van Wagenen House) in Jersey City.

The play takes place in 1928, in the Horseshoe slum of Jersey City, where people of Irish descent were often discriminated against. Hungry to escape his low status, Teddy Devlin aligns himself with Mayor Hague and while proud to be a part of the machine that empowers the Irish, Teddy struggles to accept the tactics used to get ahead. 

The story asks, "Could our personal comfort keep us from asking questions?"; "When one immigrant group rises, must others fall behind?"; "Have we changed much in the last 100 years?"; and "How easy is it to turn your back on Democracy?".

The production is directed by Scott Alan Evans. The cast includes Frank Hankey (Frank Hague), Brennan Taylor (Teddy Devlin), Kelsea Baker (Kitty Devlin), Philip James (Dutch), Jamie Ragusa (Sophie Capellupo), Mark Dessaix (Monsignor and Hans Becker), Patrick O'Konis (Murphy, Jeff Burkitt, Frank Golden, and Agent Libby).

Performances take place Saturday/Sunday, June 10 & 11 @ 2:00pm & 6:00pm; Friday, June 16 @ 6:30pm (5:00pm Benefit Reception); Saturday, June 17 @ 2:00pm & 6:00pm; and Sunday, June 18 @ 2:00pm.  Tickets are available for purchase online. Apple Tree House is located at 298 Academy Street in Jersey City, New Jersey.

 

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The production team includes Jacob Brown (set designer), Marci Elyn Schein (costume designer), Danielle Giorgetti (props coordinator), Noelle S. LeBlanc (stage manager), Andrew Baldwin (fight director), Nick Von Hagel (sound designer), Shelly Ferina (technical assistant), and Ruby hankey (assistant producer).

Margo Hammond's plays have been presented in London, Milan, NYC, Colorado Springs, San Diego, Abingdon, VA and at various other theatres across the U.S. Her play "Mistress Marlene" is published in Smith & Kraus' "Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2015" and her play "Mae the Magnificent" received 1st Place (The Standing Ovation Award) in their 2019 anthology. Margo's full-length, "Let Maisy Rest In Peace" was part of Barter Theatre's Appalachian Festival of New Plays 2019. Also, Margo was a 1st Prize recipient of the Jerry Kaufman Award for Excellence in Playwriting 2016. More recently, "Blades" was published in Applause Books' "Best New 10-Minute Plays 2021" and it was presented at The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville NC (2021), at Cornell U (Ithaca) and Watchung Hills Regional High in Warren, NJ (2022). 

This production of "Horseshoe Empire" has been supported by public funds from the Jersey City Arts + Culture Fund, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of the Department of State, and administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive & the Hudson County Board of County Commissioners. Also, from HCCC and Office of Hudson County Commissioner, Yraida Aponte-Lipski, in partnership with Ward 'C' Councilman Richard Boggiano.

Margo is a member of Dramatist Guild, Actors Studio PDU, American Renaissance Theatre Company, LPTW (League of Professional Theatre Women), AEA, SAG/AFTRA.