(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater presents August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Piano Lesson from September 12 through October 4, 2026 in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater. The production is directed by Francois Battiste (Hospice at Illinois State University, Broke-ology at B-Street Theater) and launches the theater's 2026/27 Season while continuing Two River's commitment to staging all ten plays in August Wilson’s Century Cycle.
The Piano Lesson pits brother against sister as the Charles family fights over the fate of their prized heirloom—a hand-carved piano. One wants to get rich off its sale, the other will do anything to keep it in the family. In this epic drama, the ghosts of the past battle against the promise of the future. Since its Broadway premiere in 1990, The Piano Lesson has become one of August Wilson's most beloved works, earning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and inspiring generations of artists and audiences.
The cast includes Elaán Battiste as Maretha (When We Were Colored, 101 Dalmatians), J. Bernard Calloway as Wining Boy (The Ms. Pat Show, Jitney at Two River), Arden Carethers (recent graduate of Fordham University) as Grace, Brian D. Coats as Avery (Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway; four August Wilson productions at Two River), Joshua Echebiri as Lymon (A Doll’s House at Two River), Brandon Micheal Hall as Boy Willie (The Mayor; God Friended Me), Keith Randolph Smith as Doaker Charles (King Hedley II on Broadway; Wine in the Wilderness at Two River), and Danielle Moné Truitt as Berniece (Law & Order: Organized Crime; Rebel).
Tickets for The Piano Lesson start at $35 and are available for purchase online, by calling 732.345.1400, or at the Two River Theater Box Office at 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, New Jersey.
“I’m incredibly excited to tell the story of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, an enduring classic that remains as powerful and relevant today as ever,” said director Francois Battiste. “It’s a privilege to collaborate with this extraordinary cast and creative team, whose talent, passion, and generosity bring remarkable depth and humanity to every moment of this production. I can’t wait for audiences to experience the enduring power of this play as we bring it to life together.”
“On a deeply personal note,” Battiste continues, “having the opportunity to share this experience with my 11-year-old daughter as she makes her August Wilson debut makes this production even more meaningful. It’s a beautiful reminder that these stories—and the legacy they carry—continue to inspire and connect new generations.”
The creative team includes Scenic Designer Junghyun Georgia Lee, Costume Designer Karen Perry, Lighting Designer Yuki Link, Sound Designer Megumi Katayama, Wig, Hair and Makeup Designer Cici Campbell, Music Supervisor and Composer Ulysses Owens, Music Director Matt Grandy, Fight Director and Intimacy Director Teniece Divya Johnson, Production Stage Manager Kevin Jinghong Zhu, and Assistant Stage Manager Matthew Rohan.
Two River Theater’s 2026/27 Season Sponsor is Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center.
Two River is funded in part by public support through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New the State of New Jersey, and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. Private support includes Courtyard by Marriott, Edgerton Foundation, Grunin Foundation, Merrill G. & Emita E. Hastings Foundation, Investors Foundation, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, MacMillan 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, and Visiting Nurse Association of NJ Health Group, 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.
Keitaro Harada conductor
New Jersey Symphony
Eric Jacobsen conductor
Christian McBride double bass
Chris Komer horn
New Jersey Symphony
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