Award-winning actor Brandon J. Dirden (All the Way, The Americans) made his directorial debut with a beautifully realized production of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ., celebrating a glorious opening on September 18th.
Charlie Hudson III, Jason Dirden, Kevin Mambo, Crystal Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, Christina Acosta Robinson, Brittany Bellizeare, Brian D. Coats. Photo by Lia Chang
The cast of Seven Guitars including Jason Dirden (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences) as Canewell, Crystal A. Dickinson (You Can’t Take It With You, Clybourne Park) as Louise, Kevin Mambo as Floyd Barton, Christina Acosta Robinson as Vera, Brian D. Coats as Hedley, Charlie Hudson III (A Raisin in the Sun) as Red Carter and Brittany Bellizeare as Ruby, enjoyed a standing ovation at their curtain call.
Seven Guitars is Wilson’s 1940s play in his 10-play cycle exploring the African-American experience in each decade of the 20th century. Set in the Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1948, Seven Guitars 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 actors use every inch of scenic designer Michael Carnahan’s lush and elaborate set. The dilapidated, multi-level house,and the backyard it sits on capture not only the time period but also elevate the emotional tone of each individual character in the play.
Seven Guitars cast members Brian D. Coats, Charlie Hudson III, Jason Dirden, Christina Acosta Robinson, Kevin Mambo, Crystal Dickinson and Brittany Bellizeare with director Brandon J. Dirden at the opening night party of Two River Theater’s Seven Guitars in Red Bank, NJ on September 18, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
The full company of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at Two River Theater. From left: Charlie Hudson III (Red Carter), Brittany Bellizeare (Ruby), Crystal A. Dickinson (Louise), Jason Dirden (Canewell), Kevin Mambo (Floyd Barton), Christina Acosta Robinson(Vera), and Brian D. Coats (Hedley) in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at Two River Theater. Photo by T. Charles Erickson
The fight direction is by Unkle Dave’s Fight-House, the casting is by Heidi Griffiths & Kate Murray, and the production stage manager is Laura Wilson.
Performances will continue through Sunday, October 4 in Two River’s Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ. 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.
Jason Dirden, Mrs. Dirden, Crystal A. Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, Willie Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
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.
Ayo Oneke Cummings, Crystal A. Dickinson, Kaliswa Brewster, Toccarra Cash, Brittany Bellizeare, Lakisha May. Photo by Lia Chang
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.
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.
Calendar
Sunday, September 20 at 3pm
Wednesday, September 23 at 1pm and 7pm
Thursday, September 24 at 10 am (student matinee) and 8pm
Friday, September 25 at 8pm
Saturday, September 26 at 3pm and 8pm
Sunday, September 27 at 3pm
Wednesday, September 30 at 1pm and 7pm
Thursday, October 1 at 10 am (student matinee) and 8pm
Friday, October 2 at 8pm
Saturday, October 3 at 3pm and 8pm
Sunday, October 4 at 3pm
Terria Joseph, Michael Cumptsy, Nikiya Mathis, Stacey Sergeant and Elain Graham. Photo by Lia Chang
Sponsorship
The lead production sponsor for Seven Guitars is Springpoint Senior Living Foundation at The Atrium at Navesink Harbor. Inside Two River is sponsored by The William T. Morris Foundation. The Before Play series is sponsored by Zager Fuchs, PC.
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, Meridian Health/Riverview Medical Center, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Investors Bank, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Springpoint Senior Living Foundation at the Atrium at Navesink Harbor, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Wells Fargo, William T. Morris Foundation, US Trust, Brookdale Community College, and many other generous foundations, corporations and individuals.
Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, creates great American theater performed by award-winning artists. We produce American and world masterpieces, and new plays and musicals. Two River Theater offers new-play commissions and artistic development activities that support the most adventurous artists in the American theater; invites its audience to be part of the creative process through readings and open rehearsals; and cultivates students and young people to participate in innovative arts-education programs and become a new generation of theatergoers. Founded in 1994 by Joan and Dr. Robert M. Rechnitz, Two River Theater is easily accessible by car, train, or bus, with great restaurants and shopping within walking distance of the theater. For more information, visit tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.
In the costume shop with Karen Perry.
Brandon J. Dirden and Lia Chang. Photo by GK
Lia Chang
Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in FebOne1960.com Blog, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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