Red Bank: Two River Theater's Summer Youth Program Is Back

RED BANK, N.J.— Are you a teen with a passion for theater? If so, you can develop your artistic muscles at the Two River Theater’s Summer Intensives, back after a two-year COVID hiatus.

Students ages 13 to 18 can create a show in just one week. The Onstage Track is perfect for actors, dancers, and singers. The Backstage Track is where technicians and designers can dig deep into the show-building process. Every week has a theme for the performance, and a specific area of focus for the Backstage Track.

“Two River’s Summer Intensives program is for young theater-makers, students who are interested in more than simply memorizing a script or pulling open a curtain,” says Director of Education Kate Cordaro.

“Our students truly help to shape each week’s performance with their insights into the weekly themes and the interests, talents, and willingness to learn that they bring to the table. The list of skills gained each week in both the Onstage and Backstage Tracks is astonishing. We can’t wait to get started!”

This year’s team of professionals helping to guide and shape the show are Rakesh Palisetty as onstage track director;, Elliot Roth returning as onstage track music director; Lea Anello and Shane O’Neil, returning as backstage track co-directors; and Shannon Rossi, joining as associate director for the backstage track.

The three sessions are taking place July 11 to 15; July 18 to 22; and July 25 to 29.

Each week runs Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a performance each Friday at 7 p.m.

Participants can take one, two, or all three weeks, and switching between multiple tracks while taking multiple weeks is encouraged.

Registration is $475 per week, with a 10 percent discount applied if registering for multiple weeks.

Visit the program's website for registration, scholarship applications and more information.

Full and partial scholarships are available, supported by OceanFirst Foundation’s Summer Camp Grant.

Two River Theater's education programs are supported in part by Investors Foundation, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation, The Mary Owen Borden Foundation, OceanFirst, PNC Foundation, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, and Zynergy Retirement Planning, and are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.