(RED BANK, NJ) -- Wine in the Wilderness, written by Drama Desk Award winner Alice Childress and directed by Obie Award winner Brandon J. Dirden (director of August Wilson’s Radio Golf and King Hedley II) launches Two River Theater’s 2022-2023 season on October 15 and runs through November 6, 2022.
Dirden says, “I am beyond excited to be teaming up with my favorite artist of ALL TIME, the magnificent Crystal Dickinson! Crystal leads a stellar cast in Alice Childress’ seldom produced masterpiece, Wine in the Wilderness.”
Set in 1964 during the race riots in Harlem, this reflection on how art truly reflects life focuses on artist Bill Jameson and his latest work, three paintings representing three types of Black womanhood. More than his artistic vision is challenged by the arrival of an unexpected muse who refuses to be bound by his shallow assumptions of all that Black womanhood can be.
Playwright Alice Childress is often described as a groundbreaking artist because she was the only African American woman to have written, produced, and published plays for four decades. Actress and activist Ruby Dee, who starred in the 1974 film adaption of Alice Childress' Wedding Band says, “Alice Childress is a splendid playwright, a veteran—indeed, a pioneer.”
Director Brandon J. Dirden continues, “We are also honored to have the legendary Broadway lighting designer, educator and friend of Ms. Alice Childress, Kathy Perkins on this design team! I think audiences will be blown away by how Two River Theater continues to showcase exceptional talent while illuminating the depths of our humanity. Mark your calendars!”
The full cast includes Brittany Bellizare (TV’s The Equalizer, Two River’s King Hedley II and Seven Guitars), Crystal Dickinson (Broadway’s Clybourne Park, Two River’s Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson’s Seven Guitars), Ricardy Fabre (The Christians, A Raisin in the Sun), Korey Jackson (Two River’s The School for Wives, The Hot Wing King), Keith Randolph Smith (Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Broadway’s August Wilson’s Jitney and American Psycho).
The creative team includes Brandon J. Dirden, Director, Kaja Dunn, Intimacy Coordinator, Alex Murphy, Stage Manager, Natalie Jones, Assistant Stage Manager, Nikiya Mathis, Wig Designer, Richard H. Morris, Scenic Designer, Kathy A. Perkins, Lighting Designer, Karen Perry, Costume Designer, Kay Richardson, Sound Designer, and Caity Mulkearns, Associate Costume Designer.
INSIDE TWO RIVER EVENTS
Two River Theater is thrilled to re-launch its beloved Inside Two River event series, a collection of mainly free events open to the general public. For Wine in the Wilderness, events will include a live, in-person radio interview with production creatives, an informative and lively discussion delving into the life and work of Alice Childress, and a hands-on painting event and wine tasting. Dates to be announced in the coming weeks!
TICKET INFORMATION
Single tickets are on sale at tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400. 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 $25 tickets are available for every performance; $25 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 35 are $25 and include the best available seats at every performance.
Three- and four-play subscription packages are available now! Subscribers save up to 25% off regularly priced tickets and enjoy additional benefits.
AUDIENCE EXTRAS & ACCESSIBILITY
The performance on Saturday, November 5 at 3:00pm will have both open-caption and audio description available. 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 [email protected].
For more information about Two River’s full access services, visit tworivertheater.org/accessibility.
Are you a teacher? For student matinee performance info, workshops, and ticket requests, visit tworivertheater.org/student-matinees. Post-play discussions with the production’s actors available after select performances – inquire at the Box Office when purchasing your tickets!
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
We are excited to welcome audiences back for our 2022-23 Season. Effective September 9, 2022, proof of vaccination is not required to attend a performance or event at Two River Theater.
Currently, face masks are recommended, but no longer required, while inside the theater building.
Two River Theater will follow any forthcoming state mandates related to Covid-19. All policies are subject to change, allowing us to best prioritize the safety of our audience members, artists, staff and community.
Should we make a change to these procedures for any performance or event, all patrons will be contacted promptly by the box office and via email.
SPONSORSHIP
Two River Theater’s 2022/23 Season Sponsor is Hackensack Meridian Health/Riverview Medical Center.
Production sponsored by Bank of America.
Two River Theater is supported in part by public support through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Private support includes Bank of America, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Helen Clay Frick Foundation, The Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Investors Foundation, Jewish Communal Fund, The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation, OceanFirst Foundation, PNC Foundation, Springpoint Senior Living Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, Zager Fuchs, PC, Zynergy Retirement Planning, and many other generous foundations, corporations and individuals.
Two River Theater produces a theatrical season that includes American and world classics, new plays and musicals, programs for young people, and festivals of new work. Each year, we also offer 40+ events that reflect our diverse community of Red Bank, New Jersey. Two River produces work on two stages—the 350-seat Rechnitz Theater, and the flexible 110-seat Marion Huber Theater. The theater’s recently opened Center for New Work, Education and Design is a three-story facility that includes two rehearsal studios, artist labs, classrooms, expanded shops and centrally located offices. 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). In June 2019, Two River was nationally recognized by USA TODAY as one of “10 great places to see a play” across the U.S. Two River serves thousands of students and community members through arts and humanities programs at the theater, in schools and throughout its region.
