Taylor Iman Jones
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater and Deaf West Theatre are thrilled to announce Taylor Iman Jones (Six The Musical, Head Over Heels) will star as Roxy in the world premiere co-production of Elephant Shoes, alongside Daniel Durant (Spring Awakening, CODA) and James Olivas (Evita, American Idiot).
Roxy, a whip-smart coder, helps turn a groundbreaking tech dream into reality alongside Cy, whose brilliant invention is on the verge of revolutionizing communication. The device instantly translates spoken English into American Sign Language, and vice versa. But Cy’s breakthrough means nothing if he cannot connect with the one person he longs for — Roxy. As they work side by side, Cy finds himself falling in love, only to watch his best friend, Chris, sweep her off her feet. A modern-day Cyrano tale, Elephant Shoes asks: Can love transcend language, or will it forever be lost in translation?
The book is by Ivan Menchell (Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), music and lyrics are by Caroline Kay (Overnight, Daisy), and direction and choreography are by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West’s Big River). Elephant Shoes is presented by special arrangement with producers Kevin Ryan (Ragtime), Diane Scott Carter (Gypsy), Rob Acton (Ragtime), Mary Sullivan (Ragtime), and Deaf West Theatre’s DJ Kurs & Jeff Perri.
With a soaring contemporary score and an immersive blend of spoken English, ASL, and groundbreaking stage technology fully accessible in both languages, Elephant Shoes will run in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater from June 4-28, 2026.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Two River Theater is located at 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Elephant Shoes is performed in ASL, spoken English, and integrated open captioning, fully accessible to both Deaf and hearing audiences.
The creative team for Elephant Shoes includes Jeff Calhoun (director and choreographer), Colin Analco (ASL Choreographer), Meghann Zervoulis Bate (Music Supervisor/Director), Tom Kitt (Orchestrations), Tobin Ost (Scenic Design), Caite Hevner (Projection Design), Sarafina Bush (Costume Design), Annie Wiegand (Lighting Design), Daniel Lundberg (Sound Design), The TRC Company/Spencer Gualdoni, CSA and Claire Burke, CSA (Casting Director).
"We are thrilled to partner with Two River to premiere Elephant Shoes, a bold new musical led by a Deaf hero set in a world that reflects our complex, interconnected reality,” says DJ Kurs, Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre. “Comedy becomes a lens to examine our preconceptions, challenging audiences to see beyond preconceived boundaries. At its core, the piece is a powerful catalyst for human connection, exploring our fundamental desire to be understood in a landscape of ever-shifting communication and technology. With an extraordinary creative team at the helm, we can't wait to share this hilarious, thought-provoking story with beautiful music that illuminates our shared humanity.”
“Building a World Premiere Musical is the ultimate collaboration and to do so with this incredible team is a tremendous gift to Two River,” says Justin Waldman, Artistic Director. “It is a true honor to join forces with the renowned and venerable Deaf West Theatre to tell Ivan and Caroline’s stunning story, helmed by the Tony Award-nominated director, Jeff Calhoun. Elephant Shoes’ combination of American Sign Language, music, laughs, and poignancy is utterly unique and continues Two River’s tradition of bringing people together for world class theatrical experiences right here in Red Bank, NJ.”
Two River Theater’s 2025/26 Season Sponsor is Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center.
Elephant Shoes is made possible through the generous support of an Anonymous donor, Brian and Joanna Leddin, and Anne Marie Schultz.
Two River Theater is funded in part by public support through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the State of New Jersey, and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. Private support includes American Theatre Wing, Courtyard by Marriott, Edgerton Foundation, Grunin Foundation, Merrill G. & Emita E. Hastings Foundation, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, MacMillian Family Foundation, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation, Mary Owen Borden Foundation, Molly Pitcher Inn and The Oyster Point Hotel, Monmouth University, OceanFirst Foundation, Open Heart Yoga, 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.
Award-winning Two River Theater, located in Red Bank, New Jersey, is where bold stories inspire imagination and connection. Each season, the theater produces a mix of new plays, reimagined classics, and musicals, along with new work development, education programs for young people, and community engagement events that bring people of all ages together. Across its 80,000-square-foot campus, more than 20,000 students, families, and theater lovers experience Two River’s acclaimed productions each year on its two stages: the 343-seat Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater and the flexible 110-seat Marion Huber Theater. The theater also houses state-of-the-art scenic, costume, and property shops. Two River has launched productions that have reached international audiences, including Be More Chill by Tony Award®nominees Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz—the theater’s first Broadway production—which went on to play in London’s West End and Japan. Recognized by USA TODAY as one of the “10 Great Places to See a Play,” Two River is led by Artistic Director Justin Waldman and Managing Director Nora DeVeau-Rosen.
Deaf West Theatre (Co-Producer, Elephant Shoes - DJ Kurs, Artistic Director, Jeff Perri, Managing Director): Committed to innovation, collaboration, training, and activism, Deaf West is the artistic bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds. Founded in Los Angeles in 1991, Deaf West engages artists and audiences in unparalleled theater and media experiences inspired by Deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language, weaving ASL with spoken English to create a seamless ballet of movement and voice. In 2005, Deaf West Theatre was selected to receive the Highest Recognition Award by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for its “distinguished contributions to improve and enrich the culture lives of Deaf and hard of hearing actors and theater patrons.”
