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Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater

By: Sep. 16, 2017
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It was a swell family affair at Two River Theater last night as a searing and powerful production of Lorraine Hansberry's American classic A Raisin in the Sun, helmed by Carl Cofield and starring Brandon J. Dirden as Walter Lee Younger, his wife Crystal A. Dickinson as Ruth Younger, his father Willie Dirden as Bobo, Brenda Pressley as Lena Younger, Jasmine Batchelor as Beneatha Younger, Nat DeWolf as Karl Lindner, Charlie Hudson III as Joseph Asagai, Owen Tabaka as Travis Younger, York Walker as George Murchison, with Andrew Binger and David Joel Rivera as the Moving Men, celebrated opening night.

A Raisin in the Sun is the first time that Brandon J. Dirden and his father Willie have shared the same stage, with more than 50 family members in attendance, including Two River alum and brother Jason Dirden, who currently appears as Basie Skanks on "Greenleaf" on the OWN Network. The double celebration included a cake for Willie Dirden who turned 72 and became a member of Actors Equity Association.

The creative team includes scenic designers Christopher Swader & Justin Swader, costume designer Elivia Bovenzi, lighting designer Kathy A. Perkins, sound designer Karin Graybash, wig designer Valerie Gladstone and stage manager Lloyd Davis, Jr.

Performances will continue through Sunday, October 8 in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org

Scroll down for opening night coverage.

Photo Credit: Lia Chang

high res photos

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Brandon J. Dirden, Chase Dirden and Crystal A. Dickinson

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Jason Dirden, Willie Dirden and Brandon J. Dirden

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Two River Theater's A RAISIN IN THE SUN opening night curtain call with Willie Dirden, Brandon J. Dirden, Andrew Binger, David Joel Rivera, Jasmine Batchelor, Charlie Hudson III, Crystal A. Dickinson, York Walker, Owen Tabaka, Brenda Pressley and Nat DeWolf

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Two River Theater's A RAISIN IN THE SUN opening night curtain call with Willie Dirden, Brandon J. Dirden, Andrew Binger, David Joel Rivera, Brenda Pressley, Jasmine Batchelor, Charlie Hudson III, Crystal A. Dickinson, York Walker, Owen Tabaka, and Nat DeWolf

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Cast members Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Willie Dirden, Andrew Binger, Brenda Pressley, Director Carl Cofield, Nat DeWolf, York Walker, Jasmine Batchelor, Charlie Hudson III (not pictured: David Joel Rivera and Owen Tabaka)

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Scenic Designers Justin Swader and Christopher Swader, Brandon J. Dirden, Willie Dirden, Andrew Binger, Owen Tabaka, Director Carl Cofield, Constume Designer Elivia Bovenzi, Nat DeWolf, York Walker, Jasmine Batchelor, Crystal A. Dickinson and Charlie Hudson III

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Willie Dirden celebrates his 72nd birthday and becoming a member of Actors Equity Association on opening night.

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Two River Theater Artistic Director John Dias, Brandon J. Dirden, Willie Dirden and Managing Director Michael Hurst

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Bill Sims, Jr. and his wife Karen Wilson

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Tamara Tunie, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Carl Cofield and Erin Cherry

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Carl Cofield, Jasmine Batchelor and John Dias

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Terria Joseph, Elain Graham, Marjorie Johnson, Inga Ballard.

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
The Dirden Men: Willie Dirden flanked by his sons James Dirden, Brandon J. Dirden and Jason Dirden.

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
A guest, Brandon J. Dirden and Tamara Tunie

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Carl Cofield and Ty Jones

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Charlie Hudson III and Joniece Abbott Pratt

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Charlie Hudson III, Owen Tabaka and Andrew Binger

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Brandon J. Dirden and Garth Kravits

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Erin Cherry, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Brian D. Coats, Carl Cofield and Marjorie Johnson

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
John Dias, Carl Cofield and Michael Cumpsty

Photo Flash: Brandon J. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brenda Pressley & More Celebrate Opening Night of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Two River Theater  Image
Willie Dirden, Allie Woods, Brandon J. Dirden and Jeanine Foster-McKelvia

 



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