Arts Programs For Students Return To Two River Theater In Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ — Students and their teachers can enjoy several programs geared to arts education at the Two River Theater.

As the new school year begins, Two River Theater is welcoming back student matinees and the Have a SEAT program, as well as the Howard Aronson Metro Scholars Program and the popular A Little Shakespeare during its 2022/2023 season.

“Two River’s upcoming season includes so many meaningful opportunities for students and teachers to dive back into professional theater,” says Director of Education Kate Cordaro. “The theater buzzes with energy when students fill the theater and we are excited to share these programs with them.”

Introducing students to professional world-class theater is an important aspect to Two River’s programming, as the theater believes that arts education promotes two central goals: supporting the artist within every student and building future audiences, Cordaro said.

She said arts education inspires "empathy, risk-taking and a sense of adventure, and supports academic achievement and life-long learning."

She described the Two River’s Education Department programs:

Student Matinees

Students will experience high quality, professional productions created by accomplished actors, writers, directors and designers. The themes of the plays will inspire engaging and relevant discussions for classrooms, after-school clubs, and groups. Tickets are just $15 and include:

• Convenient 10 a.m. performances
• Curriculum guides to help teachers integrate the work on stage to their work in the classroom
• A post-show Q & A with the actors

Have a SEAT (Student/Engagement/Access/Theater)

The newly named “Have a SEAT” program (formerly No Seats Empty) is a grant-funded, arts-in-education initiative that makes theater accessible to all students by providing free tickets and transportation to under-resourced schools attending student matinee performances, as well as offering them the option to attend every pre-show workshop at Two River Theater for free.

Depending on the performance, qualifying students are eligible to receive up to either 30 or 50 free tickets per school. Additional tickets can be purchased at student matinee ticket prices, if available.

For ticket requests and Have a SEAT qualifications, visit https://tworivertheater.org/student-matinees/

Howard Aronson Metro Scholars

This year-long, highly competitive program, open to high school juniors from across New Jersey, is a unique opportunity for students to learn about professional theater.

In addition to seeing every show in Two River’s season for free, selected students take workshops with professional artists, and assist our staff throughout the company—an immersion into theater that has made this a proven training ground for the country’s best university programs.

Since 2005, 201 outstanding students have completed the Howard Aronson Metro Scholars program. This season, the Howard Aronson Metro Scholars program will be offered as a hybrid (in-person or virtual) experience.

Metro Scholars Virtual Info Session will be on Sept. 8, all other upcoming dates and deadlines for the 2022/23 Howard Aronson Metro Scholars can be found at https://tworivertheater.org/metro-scholars/

A Little Shakespeare: "Romeo and Juliet"

The performances will be Dec. 2 – 11 at the Marion Huber Theater. The Shakespeare favorite will be adapted and directed by Diana M. Fathi.

Each season, for 10 years, Two River Theater produces a 75-minute adaptation of a Shakespeare play—directed and designed by theater professionals, and performed and supported backstage by high school students.

Auditions for actors and interviews for backstage students for Romeo and Juliet are on Saturday, Oct. 1, by appointment only.

Information on auditions and backstage opportunities can be found here. Learn more about all of Two River’s Educational offerings here. For health and safety protocols, visit here.

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 and many private sponsors.

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. 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.