(RED BANK, NJ) -- Join Two River Theater on Saturday, May 3, 2025 for an immersive theatrical experience to celebrate their 31st anniversary season! Explore the theater with a reimagined journey, from cocktails on the Rechnitz stage to a vaudevillian show that comes alive around you. Enjoy dinner with friends and mingle with fellow theater enthusiasts.
Entertainment for the night includes Kyle Driggs (Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour), a writer, performer, and designer specializing in a unique fusion of juggling, object manipulation, movement, and theatrical persona; Ryan Shinji Murray (Cirque du Soleil Kurios), a multi-disciplinary circus artist from Brooklyn; Nathalia Garcia, a spoken word performer; singer and emcee, Alexandra Silber (¡VOS!, Fiddler on the Roof); and a specially commissioned dance piece choreographed by Mayte Natalio (Love in Hate Nation, Suffs).
The performance will be directed by Shelley Butler (The Scarlet Letter, A Doll’s House, Part 2) and West Hyler (Piff, the Magic Dragon).
As part of its 31st Gala, Two River Theater is thrilled to honor the long-standing collaboration with Community Partner T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center with its inaugural Spotlight Award.
All proceeds of this event benefit the programs and services of Two River Theater. The Spring Gala is sold out, but there are still ways to support!
Learn more about underwriting opportunities:
UNDERWRITING
Dinner Underwriter — $12,500
Entertainment Underwriter — $10,000
Cocktail Reception Underwriter — $7,500
Floral Underwriter — $5,000
Valet Underwriter — $3,500
For more information on underwriting opportunities, please contact the Development Department 732.345.1400 x 1820.
Gala Co-Chairs: Joanna & Brian Leddin, Cathy Pugliese-Sivo & Thomas Sivo
Event Committee: Dr. Ann Bagchi, Betsy & Robert Barrett, Marilyn & Robert Broege, Christopher Curcia, Stephanie Giordano, Eileen & Timothy Hogan, Barbara Levy-Hollander & Joseph Hollander, Nora & Kenny King, Robin Klein, Molly Kroon Jackubecy, Paula & Larry Metz, Magda & James Muka, Bridget Murphy, JP Nicolaides & the Honorable Edward Zipprich, Lauren Nicosia, Sean O’Connell, Michael Parent, Maria Ramirez-Jurgens & Jason Jurgens, Joan Rechnitz, Joanne Spears
Honorary Committee: New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal, New Jersey State Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Monmouth County Commissioners: Thomas A. Arnone, Director, Susan M. Kiley, Deputy Director, Dominick “Nick” DiRocco, Ross F. Licitra, Erik Anderson, Red Bank Mayor William Portman
ENTERTAINMENT BIOS
Kyle Driggs is a writer, performer, and designer specializing in a unique fusion of juggling, object manipulation, movement, and theatrical persona. A graduate of École Nationale de Cirque de Montréal, he has performed with renowned companies, including Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour on Broadway and The Big Apple Circus. His work explores the intersection of contemporary circus and physical theatre, blending high technical skill with immersive narratives and experimental stage design. In addition to performing, Kyle is also a lighting, rigging, and set designer, bringing a holistic approach to production that unites visual storytelling, spatial composition, and dynamic stagecraft. In 2018, he co-founded 3AM Theatre, based in Queens NY.
Nathalia Garcia is an English-Education major at Georgian Court University and interns at Project Write Now. She has been published in Bridge Ink and Spill Words. She has performed in events such as Two River Theater’s Latin showcase, Project Write Now’s Electrified: Live Storytelling & Celebration, the Monmouth Arts 2023 Annual Meeting, and more. She was also a guest on the podcast PWN’s Debut Review. When not writing or reading, Nathalia can be found either on the water in her kayak or tending to her forest of houseplants. She seeks connection through poetry and what she likes to call “haunted prose.”
Ryan Shinji Murray is a multi-disciplinary circus artist from Brooklyn, NY. Circus: Cirque du Soleil Kurios (Tour), Cirque du Soleil Festa (Andorra), Cirque Éloize iD (Tour) Opera: Anthony Roth Costanzo in The Marriage of Figaro (Antonio, Little Island NYC) Ryan is a circus generalist, always picking up new skills and looking for new stages to put them on! After ten years of touring with circus shows, he is now based in New York City bouncing between the worlds of nightlife, cabaret, theater, music and more. He also coaches trampoline and flying trapeze at Circus Academy New York.
Alexandra Silber is an actress, singer, and author. In London’s West End she played starring roles in Indecent, The Woman in White, Fiddler on the Roof, Kiss Me Kate, and Carousel. In New York she’s appeared in Our Class, The Merchant of Venice, Hello Again, The Lucky Star, Arlington, and the Broadway revivals of Master Class and Fiddler on the Roof. Regional Theatre credits include the World Premiere casts of Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Soprano, and Murder on the Orient Express, and also leading roles in The Music Man, Cabaret, Camelot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carousel, Master Class and Love Story. Alexandra is a Grammy-nominee for her portrayal of Maria in the San Francisco Symphony recording of West Side Story. Alexandra’s debut novel, "After Anatevka,” and memoir, "White Hot Grief Parade," are published by Pegasus Books and available on Audible.com.
PRODUCTION BIOS
Shelley Butler has over forty Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional credits to date and has worked extensively with writers on new plays and musicals. Notable productions include the world premiere of Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House Part 2 at South Coast Repertory and the Japanese premiere of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo. She has directed and developed work across the country for theaters including: Ars Nova, Primary Stages, E.S.T., WP Theater, Hartford Stage, South Coast Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, Pioneer Theatre Company, Geva, The Old Globe, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, New York Stage and Film, Dallas Lyric Stage, PlayPenn, New Dramatists, the Lark, New Georges, Dixon Place, The Playwright’s Realm, Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre and Keen Company. Shelley is the recipient of a Drama League Directing Fellowship, a 2005 Director’s Guild of America Trainee, a member of SDC, the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab and the Women’s Project Directors Lab. Shelley spent two seasons as artistic associate in charge of new play development for Hartford Stage and three seasons as artistic associate for Great Lakes Theater Festival.
West Hyler is the Executive Director of the South Carolina New Play Festival, the co-Artistic Director of Drama-League Nominated Artistic Stamp and was formerly the Producing Artistic Director of the Obie-Winning New York Musical Festival, the largest musical theater festival in the world. He was a Director and Story Writer for Cirque du Soleil's first Broadway Musical Cirque du Soleil Paramour and he has several shows currently in production around the world, including the international tour of “Air Play", the Vegas Headliner Piff, the Magic Dragon, and five productions currently running in Bulgaria; Shrek! The Musical and The Sound of Music (National Opera of Sofia), The SpongeBob Musical and Avenue Q (*IKAR award, State Puppet Theater of Bulgaria), and an original musical, Book of Dreams (National Palace of Culture). Mr. Hyler's other Broadway credits include associate director on How The Grinch Stole Christmas and associate director and artistic overseer Jersey Boys worldwide. Other Directing credits include: The Pilot and the Little Prince (Poland), Sister Act (Cape Fear Regional Theater), Fun Home (Lean Ensemble Theater), the NY premiere of H2O by Jane Martin (59E59), Tempest, Merry Wives and Windsor, and Love’s Labours Lost (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival), Georama (St Louis Rep *St Louis Critics Circle Award, New York Musical Festival *Award for Outstanding Direction), The Disappearing Man by Jahn Sood (MTF and St Louis Rep), Legendarium and Metamorphosis (Big Apple Circus, Lincoln Center), and Panda! (Beijing and Las Vegas).
Mayte Natalio is a movement-based performer, choreographer, and director from NYC. Born from Dominican parents, she studied at the LaGuardia H.S. for the Performing Arts and SUNY Purchase (BFA). As a choreographer, her Broadway credits include: Suffs, How to Dance in Ohio, and Encores! Urinetown (New York City Center). Off Broadway and regionally, Mayte choreographed The Winter's Tale and Measure for Measure (Public Works/DTC), Into the Woods (Barrington Stage), Love in Hate Nation (Two River Theater), Hair (The Old Globe), and Kiss My Aztec (Hartford Stage). She has also choreographed for cruise ships, such as Another Rose for Virgin Voyages. She wrote, directed, and choreographed La Hora Santa for Ars Nova’s Vision Residency Program, as well as choreographed Pyer Moss’s Haute Couture Show for Paris Fashion Week 2021. As a performer, Mayte has toured with Parsons Dance Company, Camille A. Brown, and Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M. Her acting credits include Stagger Lee and Hair (Dallas Theater Center), Aida (Ogunquit Playhouse), the Drama Desk-winning immersive show Queen of the Night, and Third Rail Project’s The Grand Paradise. On screen, Mayte appeared in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), The Get Down (Netflix), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix), Harlem (Amazon), NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live, and NBC’s 2019 New Year’s Eve Special. Most recently, she portrayed Rosie Perez in Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical. Mayte was honored with a 2024 Chita Rivera Award for her acclaimed work.
The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center is dedicated to preserving the home and legacy of T. Thomas Fortune, a civil rights advocate and leading African American journalist of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into slavery, Thomas Fortune was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. He found professional success as editor and owner of The New York Globe newspaper, later named The New York Age. During his over 20-year tenure at the paper, Fortune grew it into the nation’s most influential Black paper used to protest discrimination, mob violence, and disenfranchisement. He also founded the National Afro American League.
Fortune’s home was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains one of only two such sites in the state affiliated with African American history.
Two River Theater produces American and world classics, new plays and musicals, programs for young people, and festivals of new work. Each year, they serve over 20,000 students, families and community members through their 4-6 show season, and 85+ events that reflect their diverse community of Monmouth County. Two River produces work on two stages—the 350-seat Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater, and the flexible 110-seat Marion Huber Theater.
In 2020 they expanded their campus to 80,000 square feet with the opening of the Center for New Work, Education and Design. Two River Theater has commissioned and premiered original projects including Be More Chill by Tony Award nominee Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz (the theater’s first Broadway production) and Hurricane Diane by former Playwright-in-Residence Madeleine George (which won an Obie Award for its Off-Broadway run), and in June 2019, Two River was nationally recognized by USA TODAY as one of “10 great places to see a play.” Two River Theater is led by Artistic Director Justin Waldman and Managing Director Nora DeVeau-Rosen.
Two River Theater’s 2024/25 Season Sponsor is Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center.
Two River Theater is funded in part by public support through the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel & Tourism, and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. Private support includes Achelis & Bodman Foundation, Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, Courtyard by Marriott, Edgerton Foundation, Grunin Foundation, Merrill G. & Emita E. Hastings Foundation, Investors Foundation, Jersey Coast Family Law, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, John Ben Snow Foundation and Memorial Trust, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation, Molly Pitcher Inn and The Oyster Point Hotel, Monmouth University, Music Works Inc., OceanFirst Bank, OceanFirst Foundation, Open Heart Yoga, Senior Living Residences Marlboro, Springpoint Senior Living Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Triumph Brewing Company, Visiting Nurse Association of NJ Health Group, Zager Fuchs P.C., and other generous funders.
