Two River Theater facts for kids
Two River Theater entrance, October 2009
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| Location | 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701 |
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| Coordinates | 40°20′58″N 74°04′29″W / 40.3495°N 74.0748°W |
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| tworivertheater.org/ | |
The Two River Theater is a special theater company. It puts on plays and offers fun learning programs. People from central New Jersey and other places enjoy its shows. The theater is in Red Bank, New Jersey. It's named after the two rivers nearby: the Navesink and Shrewsbury. Each year, the theater puts on many plays for its audience.
This theater has won important awards. It was named "Theater of the Year" by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance in 2006. The Star-Ledger newspaper also gave it this award in 2006 and 2008. In 2009, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts called it a "Major Impact Organization." This means it's very important to the arts in New Jersey. Two River Theater is also part of big theater groups like LORT and Theatre Communications Group.
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History of the Theater
The Two River Theater was started by Joan and Robert Rechnitz in 1994. For its first three years, the company performed at Monmouth University. Then, it moved to Manasquan. Finally, in 2005, the theater built its own special building in Red Bank.
Today, John Dias is the Artistic Director and Michael Hurst is the Managing Director. They help the theater create amazing American plays. These plays are made by talented and daring artists. Every year, over 55,000 people visit the theater. They come to see shows in two cozy performance areas. These are the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater and the Marion Huber Theater.
Theater Programs and Shows
The theater has many cool programs. Crossing Borders is a five-day festival each year. It features new plays by Latino writers. It also has free events for the community. This festival started in 2011. Nosotros is another program. It helps connect the theater with Latino artists and audiences. There is also an annual show called Cabaret of New Songs for the Musical Theater.
Since 2010, Two River Theater has asked writers to create new plays. They ask for two new plays each year. More than five of these plays have been performed. The theater also hosts artists who stay for a while. They hold workshops and readings to help new plays grow. This includes working with groups like Clubbed Thumb and NYU's writing program.
In 2020, Two River Theater teamed up with the National Asian American Theater. This partnership helps more Asian American artists get involved in theater across the country.
Learning Programs for Students
Two River Theater offers fun theater arts programs. These are for students from first grade all the way to twelfth grade. Many schools in New Jersey bring their students to special daytime shows. The theater also visits classrooms. This helps students learn and work with theater artists. Some programs even help teens who might be facing challenges.
The "A Little Shakespeare" series is a special program. It started during the theater's 20th year. Each year, high school students perform a play by Shakespeare. This is a great way for young actors to learn.
The Metro Scholar program is for high school juniors. It lets them learn about professional theater. They also get to be a part of the Two River Theater's daily life.
PlayBack is a program where high school students work with theater teachers. They create their own original play. Their play is inspired by a main stage show at the theater.
Summer Ensembles is a three-week summer program. It's for students from first to twelfth grade. Teachers help students use their energy for creative thinking and teamwork. They play theater games, sing songs, and create their own material. Students get to perform for their friends. They also get to see how things work backstage with the theater staff.
The Theater Building
The roof of the Two River Theater looks like river waves. A New York architect named Stewart Jones designed the building. He also designed other famous theaters. These include the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia and the Harvey Theater in Brooklyn.
The main Rechnitz Theater has a special stage that sticks out into the audience. It can seat 350 people. The theater was built so that even the seats furthest away are close to the performers. They are no more than 11 meters (36 feet) from the stage.
The Marion Huber Theater is a smaller, flexible space. It has 99 seats. This "black box" theater is used for new and experimental plays. It's also used for readings, classes, and rehearsals. It gives the audience a very close-up experience. The buildings also have a costume shop and a set shop. This is where all the costumes and stage sets are made.
A new three-story building next to the theater has been added. It gives Two River Theater more space for rehearsals. It also has bigger costume and set shops. Plus, there's more room for public programs.
Famous Guests and Shows
The theater opened in April 2005 with a live recording of VH1 Storytellers. The famous musician Bruce Springsteen was featured. Bon Jovi also played a two-hour show at the theater in 2005. Jackson Browne, joined by Bruce Springsteen, performed a special concert in 2007.
Many famous actors and artists have visited Two River Theater. These include Olympia Dukakis and Edward Albee. Comedian Stephen Colbert and Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman have also been there. Other notable guests include Alec Baldwin, Kevin Kline, Suzan-Lori Parks, David Hyde Pierce, Seth Rudetsky, and Joel Grey.
Plays That Moved to Other Theaters
Some plays that started at Two River Theater have become very popular. They have even moved to bigger stages.
In January 2009, Two River Theater put on the first show of ReEntry. This play then ran for a month in New York City. In May 2010, ReEntry was performed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. It helped leaders and veterans learn about stress.
In September 2008, Two River presented The Garden of Earthly Delights. This performance piece then played at a theater in New York.
In 2015, the musical Be More Chill had its first show at Two River. It became a huge hit! In 2019, it moved to Broadway in New York City. Then, in 2020, it went all the way to London's West End.
Images for kids
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Two River Theater entrance, October 2009
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Theater entrance, December 2006
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Stairs inside the theater
