Two River Theater Raises $320K at 32nd Annual Gala
Daniel Durant, Taylor Iman Jones, and James Olivas performed at the Red Bank venue's Park Loft celebration
On April 30, 2026, the award-winning Two River Theater held its 32nd Annual Gala at Park Loft on the Fort Monmouth campus in Oceanport. The celebration featured a dynamic program of special guest speakers, live performances, and a successful fundraising appeal to raise $320,000 in support of the theater's artistic and educational initiatives.
“At Two River, we are here to spark joy, create empathy, build community, and be the light,” said Artistic Director Justin Waldman. “No one person can do this on their own. We need each other, and we are so grateful to the supporters who continue to show up and make this work possible.”
The gala opened with remarks from the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, Commissioner Deputy Director Dominick “Nick” DiRocco and Commissioner Ross F. Licitra, underscoring the importance of the arts in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey. Board of Trustees President Edward J. McKenna, Jr. followed, recognizing the extraordinary contributions of longtime supporters, including the Huber family and the Stone Foundation.
Guests were treated to an exclusive sneak peek of the groundbreaking world premiere musical Elephant Shoes, a co-production between Two River and Deaf West Theatre. Performances featured cast members Daniel Durant (Spring Awakening, CODA), Taylor Iman Jones (Six, Head Over Heels), James Olivas (Evita, American Idiot), and Siena Rafter (Runaways, The Deep Blue Sea), performing selections under the direction of Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Big River).
Elephant Shoes is a love letter to connection, longing, and the courage it takes to truly be understood. Blending spoken English, ASL, and projected text, the production is designed so Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing audiences can fully experience the story. Elephant Shoes runs at Two River from June 4–28, 2026.
Hosted on the campus of Fort Monmouth where Netflix's state-of-the-art production facility is currently under development, the evening celebrated more than three decades of Two River's artistic and community impact and included the presentation of the annual Community Spotlight Award to Monmouth University, honoring its longstanding partnership and contributions to the arts and education in New Jersey.
“Two River Theater would not exist as we know it today without Monmouth University,” said Managing Director Nora DeVeau-Rosen. “More than 30 years later, our collaboration has grown into something extraordinary, spanning programming, workforce development, and a shared commitment to the arts and education.”
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