Pictured from left to right Christopher M. Ramirez, Michael Markham and Carlos Ibarra. Photo by Mac Allen
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The new year brings a new world premiere to Red Bank! Continuing its thrilling theatrical season, Two River Theater presents the darkly funny and complex Living & Breathing, written by Mando Alvarado and directed by Rebecca Martínez. Originally developed as part of the 2019 Two River Theater Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival, Living & Breathing runs January 28 through February 26, 2023 in the Marion Huber Theater.
The impulsive purchase of some provocative art – a living Latino man who is paid to behave as a statue – shatters a multi-ethnic friend group by sparking questions of commodification, stereotypes, and complacency. While the validity of the artist’s vision might be up for debate, one thing is undeniable: the friendship between these three men is much more fragile than they had realized.
“Living & Breathing fully embodies the spirit of Two River,” says Artistic Director Justin Waldman. “This hilarious and thought provoking world premiere was developed right here in Red Bank by the exceptional creative team of Mando Alvarado and Rebecca Martínez. It is a rare piece that will have you laughing, challenge your assumptions, and spark poignant conversations.”
The full cast includes Chris Gardner as Jeremy, Carlos Ibarra as Ruben, Michael Markham as Todd and Christopher M. Ramirez as Michael.
The creative team includes Scenic Designer Raul Abrego, Costume Designer Christopher Vergara, Lighting Designer Cat Tate Starmer, Sound Designer and Composer Megumi Katayama, Fight Coordinator Sean Griffin (UnkleDave’s Fight-House), EDI Facilitator Artists Heal, Noelle Diane Johnson, Stage Manager Genevieve Ortiz.
Single tickets are on sale at tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400. Prices range from $50 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-play subscription packages are available now through their popular 3/$120 offer! Subscribers save over 40% off regularly priced tickets and enjoy additional benefits. Book by phone or online and use code 3for120 to purchase.
Adding a donation to your subscription purchase opens the door to extra benefits as part of their Backstage Pass program. For more information about Backstage Pass and a complete list of all benefits, click here.
Plays, artists, dates, and ticket prices are subject to change.
AUDIENCE EXTRAS & ACCESSIBILITY
The performance on Saturday, February 25th 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]. The performance on Saturday, February 4rt at 3:00pm will be a “Fragrance-Free” performance, for which they ask patrons to attend the theater “fragrance free” to help those afflicted with allergies to scents.
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: 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 them to best prioritize the safety of our audience members, artists, staff and community.
Should they make a change to these procedures for any performance or event, all patrons will be contacted promptly by the box office and via email.
Two River Theater’s 2022/23 Season Sponsor is Hackensack Meridian Health/Riverview Medical Center.
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, Stolfe Zeigler New Jersey Family Law Group, UMAMI Girl, 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.
