Two River Theater to Stage THE WOMEN OF PADILLA This Spring

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its season with The Women of Padilla , a new play by Tony Meneses, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll.

Performances will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, April 8 and continue through Sunday, April 30. The opening night performance is Friday, April 14 at 8pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org.

The lead production sponsor of The Women of Padilla is Springpoint Senior Living Foundation. Inside Two River: Operation Homefront is funded in part by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. Nosotros is funded in part by The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

The Women of Padilla tells the story of eight women married to eight brothers, all of whom are away fighting an unnamed war that seems as if it has been going on for years and will continue for many more. While each waits for news of her husband's fate, they carry on and cook and laugh and weep and fight. Inspired by the heightened lyricism of playwright and poet Federico García Lorca, this new play shows there is always a way-even through the hardest of times-to set our love free.

The Women of Padilla features Karina Arroyave as Blanca, the one on the outside; Helen Cespedes as Lucha, the one with poetry; Jacqueline Correa as Mari, the one who quietly leads; Daniella De Jesús as Fidela, the one who's taciturn; Paloma Guzmán as Alejandra, the one who's expecting; Keren Lugo as Marta, the one with faith; Elizabeth Ramos as Cristina, the one who's young; and Jeanine Serralles as Carmen, the one who drinks.

Tony Meneses was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised in Albuquerque and Dallas. His play Guadalupe in the Guest Room had its world premiere at Two River Theater in 2015 and is now published by Dramatists Play Service.

Ken Rus Schmoll previously directed Madeleine George's Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England at Two River Theater. He is a two-time Obie Award-winning director, primarily of new plays and operas.

The creative team for The Women of Padilla includes scenic designer Arnulfo Maldonado, costume designer Oana Botez, lighting designer Yuki Nakase, and sound designer Jane Shaw. The puppet designer is James Ortiz, the puppet director is Will Gallacher, and the casting is by Heidi Griffiths & Kate Murray. The production stage manager is Alison Hassman.

Ticket prices range from $40 to $70, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. A limited number of $20 tickets are available for every performance; $20 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 30 are $20 and include the best available seats at every performance. Tickets are available from tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400.

Inside Two River:

Operation Homefront: Family Day at the Theater: A Salute to Our Troops

Saturday, March 25 from 11am-1:30pm in the Two River Theater Lobby

Two River Theater invites local families to salute our military men and women. Activities will include writing letters to troops, arts and crafts, face painting, theater games; complimentary food will be provided by Urban Coalhouse.

Nosotros: Beauty in Two Languages: An Evening of Spanish-Language Poetry in English Translation

Wednesday, March 29 from 7pm-9pm

From Lorca to Neruda, some of the world's best poets have written in Spanish. They have given us poems of such beauty that they shine, even in English translation. Cast members from The Women of Padilla and members of the Two River Theater community will read Spanish-language poems in translation; to read a poem of your own choosing, email Literary Manager Anika Chapin at achapin@trtc.org with your name and the poem you'd like to read.

Operation Homefront: Girls Night Out: Military Wives and Moms

Thursday, April 13 beginning at 6:30pm in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library

Blue Star Family wives and mothers are invited to attend a free pre-show reception in Two River's VIP Library Lounge prior to the 8pm performance of The Women of Padilla.

Nosotros: Spanish-language reading of The Women of Padilla (Las Mujeres de Padilla)

Monday, April 17 beginning at 7pm in the Rechnitz Theater, on the set of The Women of Padilla

Two River Theater will present a Spanish-language reading of Las Mujeres de Padilla, free and open to both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking audiences. The reading will feature cast members from Two River's production of The Women of Padilla and guest artists.

Audience Extras:

Before Play and Lobby Display

Audiences will learn about The Women of Padilla in Two River's Before Play lecture series, which takes place 45 minutes prior to every performance, and Lobby Display.

Post-Play Conversations

Discussions with members of the cast and a member of Two River Theater's Artistic staff will take place following the performances on Wednesday, April 19 at 7pm; Sunday, April 23 at 3pm; and Wednesday, April 26 at 1pm.

Accessibility:

Working with Google, Two River has created and launched a virtual tour of its facility, which lives on Google Maps and tworivertheater.org. This virtual tour provides an additional level of support and benefit for patrons who use wheelchairs or require other assistance by allowing them to virtually come through the theater's front doors and view the space in detail in advance of their visit.

An audio-described performance is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26 at 1pm, and an open-captioned performance is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 at 3pm. Tickets are available at a discounted rate of $25 for patrons using these services. To reserve wheelchair-accessible seating or tickets to a performance listed above, patrons should call 732.345.1400 or e-mail boxoffice@trtc.org.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, produces American and world masterpieces, and new plays and musicals. Two River Theater offers new-play commissions and artistic development activities that support the most adventurous artists in the American theater, and cultivates a new generation of theatergoers through innovative arts education programs that introduce young people to the theater and create opportunities for them to engage with renowned theater artists. Two River Theater was founded by Joan and Robert Rechnitz in 1994. Go to tworivertheater.org.

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