After officially opening on May 5^th of last year with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by the mayor of Jersey City, the restored White Eagle Hall attracted audiences with a dynamic schedule of music, theater and dance. As this historic theater begins its first full-year of programming in 2018, White Eagle Hall is poised to become a leading performing arts center in the New Jersey/New York area.

Several New Jersey-based bands – such as Frank Iero and The Patience, Trophy Scars and The Early November – headlined 2017 White Eagle Hall shows, many of them making their Jersey City debut. The venue remains committed to providing crucial exposure for local musicians. Not only did  Jersey City-based Rye Coalition and Sunshine & the Rain headline the May 5^th opening, but local bands – such as Enochian from Bayonne, Red Hymns from Union City, and The Scandals from Jersey City –  are frequently booked to play supporting slots for national touring acts at White Eagle Hall.

In its inaugural year, White Eagle Hall gained the most attention for its eclectic music mix – from emerging new musical artists, such as the contemporary songstress, Mitski and critically acclaimed hip-hop/hardcore mashup, Ho9909 (Horror) – to such legends as the BoDeans, Gary Numan and Max Weinberg’s Jukebox. In only a few short months, this combination of turn-of-the-20^th century charm with the latest in 21^st century audience amenities made White Eagle Hall the most exciting new tour stop for some of today’s leading bands. This Jersey City venue hosted several sold-out shows, including: New Found Glory, The Mountain Goats, and Bouncing Souls.

In addition to this amazing concert lineup, White Eagle Hall showcased theater and performing arts. Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) presented Proliferate by Nimbus Dance Works, Now I know by James Judd, Under the Umbrella of Movement with Carolyn Dorfman Dance and multitalented artist and mime, Grigory Gurevich, and Dia de Los Muertos: Mexican Myth, Legend and Ancestry.  JCTC rings in the new season at White Eagle Hall with an impressive new selection of dance and theater.

On January 21^st, for its first new show of the year at White Eagle Hall, JCTC presents Grace, an afternoon of dance with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Freespace Dance, and LaneCo., an afternoon of captivating dance pieces, all choreographed by women. Next Month, JCTC presents Hamlet by Bedlam, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy by one of the most cutting-edge theatre companies in New York. Another exclusive show, the White Eagle Hall presentation of Hamlet by Bedlam opens a national tour of the production with a new, diverse cast.

The 2018 schedule of music at White Eagle Hall kicks off with a night of Jersey City-based bands – Black Wail, Debra Devi, Hey Anna, Universal Rebel and The Components (Friday, Jan. 19); BoomBox: Western Voodoo Tour (Friday, Jan. 26);  From Good Homes (Saturday, Feb. 3) and The World / Inferno Friendship Society (Feb. 2).

White Eagle Hall’s restoration returned a vital public assembly facility to the Hudson County community. In 2017, some of the community events this historic venue hosted included: The Vogue Ball, an LGBTQ event presented by Hudson Pride Connection; Arts Forum, a mayoral debate on the arts sponsored by Jersey City Arts Council, and Stop, Drop, and Crawl – A First Responder Themed Bar Crawl, which featured a fundraising concert by hometown rockers, MoTHER  that supported the Jersey City Fire Department 2017 Holiday Toy Drive. White Eagle Hall officially opened on May 5^th – Cinco De Mayo – and full plans for a first anniversary celebration will soon be announced. As part of the anniversary celebration – on May 6^th Mexican heritage and culture will be celebrated with a bilingual theatre event,  JCTC Cultures: Trekking Mexico by Mexico Beyond Mariachi.

In less than a year, the fully renovated White Eagle Hall has become one of Hudson County’s most beloved venues. “Reopening White Eagle Hall was an amazing and sometimes difficult journey,” said Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC.  “But the response has been overwhelmingly positive and for 2018 we have even more amazing programming to present.”