ONLINE CLASSES EXPLORE PLAYWRITING, MUSICAL THEATER HISTORY, SPECTRUM THEATER EDUCATION, ACTING, AND THE WORK OF BLACK, FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS

Kick-off the new year with the resolution to engage in new theater education programs through Two River Theater’s Winter Education Series that started on January 12.

The series is open to all those wishing to explore playwriting, musical theater history, spectrum theater education, acting, and the work of Black, female playwrights. Classes are conducted by members of the Two River Theater family of artists, featuring award-winning stage and screen actress Barbara Andres (I Remember Mama), Broadway actress Crystal Dickinson (A Raisin in the Sun, Seven Guitars), Obie Award-winning actor and director Brandon J. Dirden (Radio Golf, Seven Guitars), Playwright Tony Meneses (The Hombres) and TRT Education and Community Engagement Manager Amanda Espinoza.

SERIES INCLUDES:

PLAYS AND THEIR SHAPES: A 4-WEEK CLASS ON STRUCTURE WITH PLAYWRIGHT TONY MENESES 

4 DAY SERIES | JAN 12, 19, 26, FEB 2 | 6-8pm | FOR ADULTS AGES 18+, CLASS LIMIT 15 | ZOOM

Tickets: $160

Whether we’re writing Naturalism or something more out there, how we structure our plays is a place for a lot of imagination. We can play with plot, character development, exposition, even spectacle, all through how we shape our worlds. Linear chronology is oft the de facto structure, but this class will challenge how we render an audience’s experience even if we do write traditional beginnings, middles, and ends. The goal is to innovate and surprise the container that we place our storytelling in.

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/plays-and-their-shapes/

MY FUNNY WORLD WITH RODGERS AND HART BY BARBARA ANDRES 

FEB 9 | 7pm

Tickets: $10

Award-winning stage and screen actress Barbara Andres (I Remember Mama) shares her whirlwind experience in the 1975 Broadway musical revue, Rodgers and Hart, saluting the iconic musical theater compositions of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Journey with this engaging storyteller and performer into the bustling world of Broadway in the 1970s, as she and the revue’s creative team strove to pay tribute to the music and impact of one of musical theater’s most revered musical duos. This digital performance is an excerpt from Barbara’s upcoming memoir of her storied life on stage.

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/myfunnyworld/

SPECTRUM THEATER: CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE THEATER CLASSROOM AND SPACE WITH AMANDA ESPINOZA 

Feb 16 | 6pm| ZOOM

Taught by TRT Education and Community Engagement Manager Amanda Espinoza | ZOOM

Tickets: $25

Join TRT Education and Community Engagement Manager Amanda Espinoza as she introduces participants to techniques, imagination exercises, and activities to teach theater to students with autism and autism spectrum disorders. Using a variety of dramatic methods, participants will be able to create custom-made games and activities for their students. In addition to teaching the basics of drama-based games used to improve verbal and body awareness, this class will also incorporate the effects of drama therapy in person and online.

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/spectrum-theater/

BASIC ACTING TECHNIQUES WITH CRYSTAL DICKINSON AND BRANDON J. DIRDEN

Feb 21 | 2:00PM | ZOOM

Tickets: $30

Two River artistic family favorites Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden take you inside the actor’s process with this two-class series on analyzing text and seeking deeper meaning in theatrical works, as both an artist and as a human being. Actors at all levels of experience are welcome to join Crystal and Brandon in a basic acting technique class centered around monologue performance, with additional insight into how to shift performance techniques from the audition room to the camera. This class is $30, attendance to this class as well as the Feb 28 discussion on Black female playwrights on race and America for $50.

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/monologue-performance-with-crystal-dickinson-and-brandon-j-dirden/

BLACK FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS ON RACE AND AMERICA WITH CRYSTAL DICKINSON AND BRANDON J. DIRDEN

Feb 28 | 2:00PM | ZOOM

Tickets: $30

Two River artistic family favorites Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden take you inside the actor’s process with this two-class series on analyzing text and seeking deeper meaning in theatrical works, as both an artist and as a human being. In this class, Crystal and Brandon will present scenes from works by Black female playwrights, and participate in a discussion led by co-moderators Gilda Rogers and Taylor Barfield to explore the ways in which these artists addressed American issues of race and gender. The class is $30, enjoy this class as well as the Feb 21 on basic acting techniques for $50.

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/black-female-playwrights-with-crystal-dickinson-and-brandon-j-dirden/

FOR EDUCATORS:

The following workshops are the last two in a four-part professional development series entitled The ART of Social Justice, offered as a collaboration between Red Bank’s T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center and Two River Theater, in compliance with the New Jersey Amistad Commission. Participants will receive proof of professional development hours.

TEACHING BALDWIN

Feb 17 | 2pm

Tickets: $25 | ZOOM

James Baldwin was one of the greatest writers of the 20^th Century, and a journey through his work reveals the American tragedy of race and class and their effects on history and politics in our democratic society. An essayist, novelist and a Black gay man, Baldwin’s acerbic analysis of America is still relevant as are his questions about this country’s desire for a more perfect union in the time of Black Lives Matter.  This workshop will provide insightful avenues to discuss the politics of democracy in a racially charged time, by infusing Baldwin’s work into the conversation and address the humanity of a multi-racial nation. It will be led by journalist, Two River Theater Community Relations Manager and VP of the T. Thomas Fortune Foundation Gilda Rogers, with special guest Alan C. Burgess.

For more info, visit: https://bit.ly/3rYft5P

VALUING BLACK LIFE THROUGH RE-THINKING PEDAGOGY

May 19 | 2pm

Tickets: 25 | ZOOM

For this workshop, Dr. Anwar D. Uhuru and participants will examine how teachers and administrators may be complicit in re-enforcing ideologies that retain a standard/non-standard culture in their classrooms, and how to facilitate long overdue and necessary change.

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/valuingblacklife/

TICKET INFORMATION:

To purchase tickets and to learn more about the Winter Education Series, visit tworivertheater.org

Things have been really busy here behind the scenes at The Jersey Shore Arts Center! In addition to rescheduling and planning future events, we’ve been concentrating on writing grants and making our historic home beautiful! We are super proud of the Main Lobby painting project. Through our fundraising and private donations, we were able to cover the entire cost. Thanks go out to Charles Messick, Director of  IUPAT and Robert Lane, who was instrumental in coordinating efforts of the Local Painters Union (711) to corral apprentices to get the job done lead by Michael Rocha. We also appreciate all the volunteers from the local Kiwanis groups throughout. Over 30 people showed up! Now our Main Lobby shines lighter and brighter. The stairs were repaired, cracks in the walls were filled and the paint job ensures that visual art displays will look much better in this newly lighter space.

We were also able to complete a fence project in the south parking lot. With a donation from Walmart and private funding, this was the first step in improving the exterior and grounds. Grant applications have been submitted for us to really get a lot more repair work done on the building, parking lot and ramps. It is our goal to get the North handicap ramp, door and hallway rebuilt and ADA compliant.

We also intend to improve the North front door and the sidewalk on Lawrence Ave. We expect to hear about what funding we will be granted in early May. In the meantime, we are ready to go with a project that will improve the facades around the building once the weather warms. The wooden easements over the east and west side doors will be finished and completed. Look for our awnings to go up once we receive ok from Historic Commission.

We’re also updating our marquee sign with our newest residents listed. It is also with great excitement that we will be able to put the name back on our beautiful building come April – we’re looking into historic lettering options once the weather warms and operations resume! Thanks to the Monmouth County Historical Commission for the grant to crown “The Old Neptune High School” once again!

https://www.jerseyshoreartscenter.org/

Many of us plan memorable celebrations for our 25th birthdays and Two River Theater in Red Bank is no exception. In the case of the nonprofit professional theatrical organization, employees are marking its 25th anniversary with the opening of the new state-of-the-art Center for New Work, Education and Design.

“We have been in need of modern scene shops, additional offices, rehearsal space and storage for a while now,” says Michael Hurst, managing director of the theater. “The new building fulfills all of our needs, making it easier and more efficient for us to support our productions, develop new work and provide educational programs to the public.”  Indeed the theater has grown quite a bit since Joan and Robert Rechnitz founded it in 1994 to develop and produce world-class performances.

In the beginning, the theater operated out of Monmouth University, later showcasing works at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan. Since 2005 it has been located at 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank. It features two main venues: The Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater, which seats 350 patrons and the Marion Huber Theater, a 110-seat black box performance space. They feature a diverse range of classics, new plays and musicals, free audience engagement programs and arts education for students and young people.

“Single ticket buyers make up the majority of our patrons, but thousands of subscribers save by signing up for three or more productions each season,” says Hurst. Since moving to Red Bank, employees have relied on the Chavant Building across the parking lot to create scenery and props and store costumes. But Hurst says as the number of employees continued to grow and the building fell into disrepair it was clear a newer, more modern facility was needed.

“When we opened the new theater in 2005 we had approximately 10 employees,” he says. “We now have 50 employees. The deteriorating Chavant building was becoming a difficult place to work.  “For example, the very old heating and cooling system in the building does not work properly,” says Hurst. “We also lacked proper space to rehearse our shows and we needed more space for our educational programs as well.”

But none of that will be a problem once they move into the three-story Center for New Work, Education and Design later this summer. Connected to the main theater building, it will include two rehearsal studios, expanded scene shop spaces, a formal wood shop for the props department, a large costume shop, offices for production and education staff as well as multiple storage areas.

“We anticipate that we may hold many of our free community events that we offer through our ‘Inside Two River’ program in the new building,” says Hurst. Once they move out of the Chavant Building, it will be demolished and the parking lot reconfigured. Hurst expects the entire project to be completed in October.

In the meantime, the theater is gearing up for the opening of “Oo-Bla-Dee,” which runs from June 8 through June 30. Written by Golden Globe Award winner Regina Taylor and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the production follows Evelyn Waters and the Diviners, an all-Black, all-female jazz band, as they travel from St. Louis to Chicago to get a record deal in the aftermath of World War II.

“We have been developing the play for a number of years and it’s a great example of the work we do here and our commitment to making a home for artists,” says Hurst. “Oo-Bla-Dee marks director Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s fifth production at Two River.”

For more information about the theater or to purchase tickets go to https://tworivertheater.org/.

Photos courtesy of Two River Theater

Last night I had the opportunity to visit NJ Repertory Theater in Long Branch to see a one woman play called “Surfing My DNA.” Written and performed by Jodi Long, I was so taken by how, in this intimate setting, we as an audience were drawn into the life lived by the author. This show has garnered Jodi an Ovation Nomination for Best Solo Performance in Los Angeles and is about her experiences being the daughter of two night club performers that shaped her own journey in the theater.

NJ Repertory is one of the gems at the Jersey Shore that is working hard to develop and promote new plays. Many of these go on to be produced all over the world and to play on Broadway. According to their website NJ Rep seeks to achieve the following:

• To be a catalyst in the redevelopment and revitalization of its surrounding community
• To build and encourage young audiences and inspire interest in theater arts among young people
• To nurture the work of writers from diverse backgrounds and build diverse audiences

In keeping with its mission New Jersey Rep has produced 93 plays in seventeen seasons including 61 world premieres. The theater is committed to nurturing the work of not only established writers but new and unknown playwrights and has maintained an open- submission policy receiving over 750 scripts each year from throughout the U.S. and around the world.

I will be back and will continue to keep you updated on future performances. This is a non-profit theater that needs our support, so why not see one of their first-rate shows?

You still have time to see “Surfing My DNA”, it’s is in town until May 26th. Click here to get your tickets: /https://www.njrep.org/