Two River Theater Adds SONGBIRD To Its Season

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces a change in programming in its current season. The theater will present Songbird, written by Michael Kimmel (The Last Goodbye) with music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch (The Last Match, Animal), from June 9-July 1. Songbird will be presented by special arrangement with Allison Bressi and Diana Buckhantz.

Songbird will replace Oo-Bla-Dee by Regina Taylor, with original music by Diedre L. Murray, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, which was previously scheduled for the same dates. Oo-Bla-Dee will move to the theater's 25th Anniversary Season in 2018/19, allowing Santiago-Hudson to direct Othello for Shakespeare in the Park this season.

With a rousing score that blends folk, bluegrass, and pop-country, Songbird drops Chekhov's The Seagull into a bar in Nashville, where some country music dreams are realized, while others languish on the shelf right next to the whiskey.

Songbird premiered Off-Broadway at 59E59 in the fall of 2015. Additional details about Two River's production, including the full cast and creative team, will be announced soon. Tickets will go on sale March 1 from www.tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400

Two River Theater is supported in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Monmouth University, The Shubert Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Riverview Medical Center, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Springpoint Senior Living Foundation at The Atrium at Navesink Harbor, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Jorgensen Foundation, US Trust, Wells Fargo, William T. Morris Foundation, Kessler Foundation, Investors Foundation, The John Ben Snow Foundation, VNA Health Group, Brookdale Community College, and many other generous foundations, corporations and individuals.

Since its founding in 1994, Two River Theater has been committed to creating great American theater by developing and producing work by some of the country's leading artists. We are proud to be viewed as a vital cultural resource in the community of Red Bank, New Jersey. Through 10 theatrical productions each year (including world premieres, musicals, classics and theater for young audiences) and 40+ annual events happening around Monmouth County, we produce exceptional theater and cultivate engaged audiences. Two River Theater is under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst. For more information, visit tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.