Two River Theater to Present August Wilson's SEVEN GUITARS, Begin. 9/12

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the full cast and creative team for its production of August Wilson's Seven Guitars, directed by Brandon J. Dirden, an award-winning actor who is making his directorial debut with this production. Seven Guitars is the third play in Wilson's American Century Cycle produced by Two River, following the theater's acclaimed mountings of Jitney and Two Trains Running. Performances will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, September 12 and continue through Sunday, October 4. The opening night performance is Friday, September 18 at 8pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. The lead production sponsor is Springpoint Senior Living Foundation at The Atrium at Navesink Harbor.

Among his many credits as an actor in the plays of August Wilson, Brandon J. Dirden made his professional debut in a 1990 production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone at the Alley Theatre and was honored with an Obie Award for his performance in The Piano Lesson at Signature Theatre in 2012. He made his Two River Theater debut in Wilson's Jitney. He has also appeared at Two River in the world premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Your Blues Ain't Sweet Like Mine and in Topdog/Underdog, in which he starred opposite his brother Jason Dirden under the direction of the play's author, Suzan-Lori Parks. On Broadway, his credits include Clybourne Park (in which he appeared with his wife, Crystal Dickinson) and, most recently, All the Way, in which he starred as Martin Luther King Jr. opposite Bryan Cranston's Lyndon Johnson. On television, he can be seen as Agent Aderholt in the FX series The Americans.

Seven Guitars is the 1940s play in Wilson's 10-play cycle exploring the African-American experience in each decade of the 20th century. Set in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1948, it tells the story of Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton, played at Two River by Kevin Mambo (Fela!), a blues guitarist who sits on the edge of stardom. The production will feature original music by acclaimed jazz musician Jason Moran.

Featured in the cast are Brittany Bellizeare (Ruby), Brian D. Coats (Hedley), Crystal Dickinson (Louise), Jason Dirden (Canewell), Charlie Hudson III (Red Carter), and Christina Acosta Robinson (Vera).

The creative team for Seven Guitars includes scenic designer Michael Carnahan, costume designer Karen Perry, lighting designer Driscoll Otto, and sound designer David Margolin Lawson. The fight direction is by Unkle Dave's Fight-House, the casting is by Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray, and the production stage manager is Laura Wilson.

"One of the things we are proudest of here at Two River is our track record for giving actors new challenges that stretch them as artists," says Artistic Director John Dias. "Some years ago, Brandon mentioned to me that he wanted to direct, and I have been searching for the right project for him ever since. We found it in August Wilson's beautiful and wrenching Seven Guitars."

Ticket Information

Ticket prices range from $37 to $65, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. A limited number of $20 tickets are available for every performance; $20 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 30 are $20 and include the best available seats at every performance. Tickets are available from tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400.

Inside Two River

Inside Two River is a series of events specially curated for each Two River Theater production. For more information or to reserve seats, patrons should visit tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.

Soulful Cook-Off and Bid Whist Tournament: Saturday, August 22 from 4-8pm on Two River's Outdoor Plaza

In this free community event, Two River will host an afternoon of soul food, a Bid Whist card tournament, and live music. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the cast and director of Seven Guitars, get a sneak peek at the set model for the show, and enter a raffle to win free tickets. For more information, visit tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.

August Wilson 101 with Artistic Director John Dias: Tuesday, September 8 at 7:30pm in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library

August Wilson has been called "America's Shakespeare." His work, and especially his seminal American Century Cycle-10 plays set in each decade of the 20th century-are classics of American theater. In this lecture and Q&A, Artistic Director John Dias will provide background into Wilson's life and the elements that shaped his work, and explore the richness of the plays themselves.

Book Club: The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem, Sunday, September 20 at 5:30pm in the Victoria Mastrobuono Library (following the 3pm performance)

Literary Manager Anika Chapin will lead a discussion of The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem. Dylan and Mingus-one white, one black-are best friends growing up on a rough street in Brooklyn in the 1970s through the 1990s. Surrounded by the characters of their community and bonded by their love for music and comic books, the boys' friendship is tested as the paths of their lives begin to diverge. In conjunction with Seven Guitars, Two River's Book Club (free and open to the public) will discuss the good and bad sides of growing up in a tight-knit community, the power of musical stardom, and the dark side of a dream.

Audience Extras

Before Play and Lobby Display

Audiences will learn about August Wilson in Two River's Before Play lecture series, which takes place 45 minutes prior to every performance, and Lobby Display.

Post-Play Conversations

Discussions with the cast and a member of Two River's Artistic staff will take place on Wednesday, September 23 at 7 pm; Sunday, September 27 at 3pm; and Wednesday, September 30 at 1pm.

Accessibility

Working with Google, Two River has created and launched a virtual tour of its facility, which lives on Google Maps and tworivertheater.org. This virtual tour provides an additional level of support and benefit for patrons who use wheelchairs or require other assistance by allowing them to virtually come through the theater's front doors and view the space in detail in advance of their visit.

An audio-described performance is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 at 1pm, and an open-captioned performance is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 at 3pm. Tickets are available at a discounted rate of $25 for patrons using these services. To reserve wheelchair-accessible seating or tickets to a performance listed above, patrons should call 732.345.1400 or e-mail boxoffice@trtc.org.