INTIMATE APPAREL, A THOUSAND CLOWNS & More Part Of Two River Theater Company 2010-11 Season

Following months of reading scripts, discussion, and meticulous season planning, Two River Theater Company is proud to announce the 2010-11 Season. Outgoing Artistic Director Aaron Posner had this to say about the season: "Two River Theater is committed to bringing theater of the highest caliber to the Red Bank and Monmouth County communities. The staff and I have worked tirelessly to create a season of the quality our audiences have come to expect from us, with world-class actors, directors, and designers. Many artists will be familiar to Two River audiences: Matt Pfeiffer-the director of Charlie Brown-is back to direct this year's family show, along with Aaron Cromie, who designed the puppets for Our Town."
 
Added Managing Director Tom Werder: "We are so excited about the season that we are announcing. As our audiences have come to expect of us, our series of plays explore the range of human emotion and experience. There is something for everyone: comedy and drama, classics and contemporary plays, and a dynamic new staging of one of the greatest musical revues of all time! We will be working with outstanding artists from across the country, and cannot wait to share this wonderful season with our audiences."
 
Two River Theater Company's 2010-11 subscription series kicks off with Intimate Apparel by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Premiering seven years ago, Intimate Apparel has been produced all around the country, including in New York at the Roundabout Theatre. Set at the turn of the twentieth century, the play follows Esther, a young African-American woman from the south as she tries to make a life for herself in New York City. A seamstress, she makes beautiful and intricate undergarments for a variety of women. Intimate Apparel is a beautiful and heart-warming tale about love, friendship, and independence, and will run from September 21 through October 10, 2010.
 
Following this is a hilarious and intelligent play by violinist turned playwright Michael Hollinger with his play Opus. The play follows a prominent string quartet on the eve of the most important concert of their career. A member is fired and the others must now find a replacement in a hurry. Brimming with Bach, Bartok, and Beethoven, Opus explores the lengths people will go to achieve perfection.
Opus will run October 26 through November 14, 2010.
 
TRTC brings in the New Year with A Thousand Clowns by Herb Gardner, a classic story about a non-conformist uncle and the smart and responsible twelve-year-old nephew that lives with him. A Tony Award winner, and a classic movie with Jason Robards, it is funny, quirky, and charming. A Thousand Clowns runs at Two River Theater Company from February 1 through February 20, 2011.
 
In the spring, TRTC brings you Candida, the classic comedy by George Bernard Shaw, about a love triangle of sorts, where two men are desperately in love with the beautiful Candida. TRTC will present a fresh new look at Shaw's classic, witty, and timeless play. Candida will run from March 22 through April 10, 2011.
 
Rounding out the season is the naughty, funny, dark, and romantic, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. This musical revue of the work of singer-songwriter Jacques Brel played Off-Broadway for a run of four years from 1968-1972, and then for a year in 2006. It has been produced all over the world with runs in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, as well as South Africa (where it was the longest running theatrical production in the country's history) and Singapore. TRTC will produce a dynamic staging of this intoxicating and seductive musical. Jacques Brel begins May 17 and runs through June 5, 2011.
 
In addition to the 5-show subscription series, and continuing the theater's tradition of producing holiday shows for the whole family, TRTC will produce Charlotte's Web this holiday season.  Following the success of Charlie Brown and Frog and Toad, TRTC will be tackling a timeless tale friendship and kindness with Charlotte's Web, written by E.B.White, and adapted by Joseph Robinette. Helmed by Matt Pfeiffer (most recently here with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown), this production will include professional actors, local kids, and puppets designed by Aaron Cromie (Our Town). It will run from December 7, 2010 through January 2, 2011.
 
With the announcement of the play selection for next season, the TRTC Box Office will now take orders for new subscriptions at discounted rates of up to 35% off single ticket prices. Five-Play Subscription prices range from $125-$230 depending on performance date and time. Discounted student subscriptions (30 years and younger) are available for $90 for a five-play subscription, $76 for a four-play subscription, and $60 for a three-play subscription. Subscribers may include the family holiday production, Charlotte's Web – in their subscription package for an additional $35 for single tickets, $16 for children's tickets and $100 for a family four-pack.
 
Individual tickets for the five subscription series shows go on sale Wednesday, July 1, 2010 at 10am. Tickets for Charlotte's Web are available now for subscribers and will be on sale to the general public July 1, 2010 at 10am.
 
There are 15 student matinees scheduled throughout the season. Study guides, Educator Preview performances, post-show discussions with the cast, and visiting teaching artists are all part of the student matinee package. Selected student matinees will also offer a pre-show workshop. TRTC's No Seats Empty program ensures underserved students have the opportunity for the full TRTC theater experience as well. Applications for the No Seats Empty program are available by contacting Kate Cordaro, Director of Education, at 732.345.1400 ext. 1814. Reservations for student matinees may be made by calling 732.345.1400 or emailing groups@trtc.org.
 
For more information about TRTC's 2010/2011 Season, call 732.345.1400, visit www.trtc.org or visit the Two River Theater Company Box Office, located at 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, NJ.
Box Office Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm; Sunday: Noon-5pm.

 
THE 2010-11 SEASON LINE-UP
 
INTIMATE APPAREL
By Lynn Nottage
September 21 – October 10, 2010
 
Esther-an African-American seamstress working in New York City-creates beautiful undergarments for a variety of women, from prostitutes to socialites. Sparkling with vivid and memorable characters, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage weaves a charming tale of romance, acceptance, and independence at the start of the twentieth century.
 
OPUS
By Michael Hollinger
October 26 – November 14, 2010
 
When one member of an esteemed string quartet is fired days before the most important performance of their career, the others must quickly find a replacement.  Personalities clash, tensions rise, and four musicians grapple with how far they will go to achieve excellence. A hilarious and intelligent story that will resonate with the artist / perfectionist/ neurotic in all of us.
 
CHARLOTTE'S WEB
Adapted from E.B.White
By Joseph Robinette
December 7, 2010 – January 2, 2011
 
You grew up with it. Your children love it. Now see the story come to life onstage!  Celebrate kindness and friendship with Charlotte the spider, Wilbur the pig and a host of wonderful characters and share in the spirit of the holidays with your entire family!
 
A THOUSAND CLOWNS
By Herb Gardner
February 1 – February 20, 2011
 
An uproarious comedy about a whip-smart kid who lives with his unconventional uncle in 1960s New York. When child services knocks on their door, Uncle Murray is forced to make a decision: hold on to the kid, or hold on to his life of free-spirited fun.  A Tony Award winner and classic movie with Jason Robards, this heart-warming tale is brought to the Two River stage with humor, vigor, and a fresh new look.
 
CANDIDA
By George Bernard Shaw
March 22 – April 10, 2011
 
Candida is married to an eloquent and spirited preacher. But when she brings home a fervent young poet who falls in love with her, a battle ensues to secure her heart. Which man will win her?  Or will they both lose?  This witty ode to love, faith, beauty, and strong women truly defines the term "classic."
 
Jacques Brel IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS
Music and Lyrics by Jacques Brel
May 17 – June 5
 
Naughty, funny, dark, and romantic…this is an intoxicating musical revue of the work of singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. Over half a century after they were written, Brel's songs retain their edgy vibe in a show The New York Times calls "a potent mixture of romanticism and cynicism, world-weariness and jaunty whimsy."

 
Titles and dates are subject to change.
 
TWO RIVER THEATER COMPANY is a professional not-for-profit regional theater company providing outstanding plays and educational programs for audiences of central New Jersey and beyond. Two River was founded in 1994 by Joan and Robert Rechnitz and over the past 15 seasons has grown into one of the most vital and dynamic arts organizations in the region. From Shakespeare to Quiara Alegría Hudes, the Tony-nominated author of the Broadway smash hit In The Heights, Two River produces a range of great theater to inspire and engage our audiences. Two River received great acclaim for its production of Macbeth, co-directed and co-conceived by Teller and the theater's artistic director Aaron Posner. The theater has co-produced plays with theaters around the country including California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, California, the Folger Theatre in Washington D.C., and the Roundhouse Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. The company received "Theatre of the Year" awards from the New Jersey Theatre Alliance in 2006 and from The Star-Ledger in both 2006 and 2008.

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