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Two River Theater Presents "Living & Breathing" By Mando Alvarado

originally published: 01/05/2023

Pictured from left to right Christopher M. Ramirez, Michael Markham and Carlos Ibarra. Photo by Mac Allen

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The new year brings a new world premiere to Red Bank! Continuing its thrilling theatrical season, Two River Theater presents the darkly funny and complex Living & Breathing, written by Mando Alvarado and directed by Rebecca Martínez. Originally developed as part of the 2019 Two River Theater Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival, Living & Breathing runs January 28 through February 26, 2023 in the Marion Huber Theater. 

The impulsive purchase of some provocative art – a living Latino man who is paid to behave as a statue – shatters a multi-ethnic friend group by sparking questions of commodification, stereotypes, and complacency. While the validity of the artist’s vision might be up for debate, one thing is undeniable: the friendship between these three men is much more fragile than they had realized.

Living & Breathing fully embodies the spirit of Two River,” says Artistic Director Justin Waldman. “This hilarious and thought provoking world premiere was developed right here in Red Bank by the exceptional creative team of Mando Alvarado and Rebecca Martínez. It is a rare piece that will have you laughing, challenge your assumptions, and spark poignant conversations.”

The full cast includes Chris Gardner as Jeremy, Carlos Ibarra as Ruben, Michael Markham as Todd and Christopher M. Ramirez as Michael. 




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The creative team includes Scenic Designer Raul Abrego, Costume Designer Christopher Vergara, Lighting Designer Cat Tate Starmer, Sound Designer and Composer Megumi Katayama, Fight Coordinator Sean Griffin (UnkleDave’s Fight-House), EDI Facilitator Artists Heal, Noelle Diane Johnson, Stage Manager Genevieve Ortiz. 

Single tickets are on sale at tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400. Prices range from $50 to $70, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. A limited number of $25 tickets are available for every performance; $25 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 35 are $25 and include the best available seats at every performance. Three-play subscription packages are available now through their popular 3/$120 offer! Subscribers save over 40% off regularly priced tickets and enjoy additional benefits. Book by phone or online and use code 3for120 to purchase.

Adding a donation to your subscription purchase opens the door to extra benefits as part of their Backstage Pass program. For more information about Backstage Pass and a complete list of all benefits, click here.

 Plays, artists, dates, and ticket prices are subject to change.

AUDIENCE EXTRAS & ACCESSIBILITY 

The performance on Saturday, February 25th at 3:00pm will have both open-caption and audio description available. 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. The performance on Saturday, February 4rt at 3:00pm will be a “Fragrance-Free” performance, for which they ask patrons to attend the theater “fragrance free” to help those afflicted with allergies to scents.

For more information about Two River’s full access services, visit tworivertheater.org/accessibility




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Are you a teacher? For student matinee performance info, workshops, and ticket requests, visit tworivertheater.org/student-matinees. Post-play discussions with the production’s actors available after select performances – inquire at the Box Office when purchasing your tickets!

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS: Effective September 9, 2022, proof of vaccination is not required to attend a performance or event at Two River Theater. Currently, face masks are recommended, but no longer required, while inside the theater building.  

Two River Theater will follow any forthcoming state mandates related to Covid-19. All policies are subject to change, allowing them to best prioritize the safety of our audience members, artists, staff and community.

Should they make a change to these procedures for any performance or event, all patrons will be contacted promptly by the box office and via email.

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. Private support includes Bank of America, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Helen Clay Frick Foundation, The Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Investors Foundation, Jewish Communal Fund, The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation, OceanFirst Foundation, PNC Foundation, Springpoint Senior Living Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Stolfe Zeigler New Jersey Family Law Group, UMAMI Girl, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, Zager Fuchs, PC, Zynergy Retirement Planning, and many other generous foundations, corporations and individuals. 



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. Each year, we also offer 40+ events that reflect our diverse community of Red Bank, New Jersey. 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. Two River Theater has commissioned and premiered original projects including Be More Chill by Tony Award nominee Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz (the theater’s first Broadway production) and Hurricane Diane by former Playwright-in-Residence Madeleine George (which won an Obie Award for its Off-Broadway run). In June 2019, Two River was nationally recognized by USA TODAY as one of “10 great places to see a play” across the U.S. Two River serves thousands of students and community members through arts and humanities programs at the theater, in schools and throughout its region.

FEATURED EVENTS

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The

The Vagina Monologues

Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

A

A Bronx Tale: The One Man Show Starring Chazz Palminteri

Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: theatre


 

Dunbar

Dunbar Repertory Company Presents "Two Trains Running"

Friday, February 14, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre


 

Catching

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream

Friday, February 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: theatre


 

The

The Vagina Monologues

Friday, February 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

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(BORDENTOWN, NJ) -- The musical comedy murder mystery Curtains: School Edition, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and a witty, charming book by Rupert Holmes, will be presented February 21-22, 2025 at the Bordentown Performing Arts Center by the award-winning theatre students of Bordentown Regional High School.



Gateway

Gateway Playhouse to Showcase All of The Bard's Plays in "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare..."

(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse will showcase all of William Shakespeare's 37 plays – in just 95 minutes – in the hilarious "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged/Revised/Again)" by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, who originally created the show for the Edinburgh Theater Fest in 1987. Since then, it has toured the world over, delighting audiences, whether connoisseurs of The Bard or perhaps barely remember one play from high school. This delightful show comes to the Gateway for one weekend only, March 7-9, 2025.



Kelsey

Kelsey Theatre to Host Staged Reading, with Orchestra, of New Musical by Lou DiPietro

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Kelsey Theatre, on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College (MCCC), will host a one-night only staged reading—complete with a nine-piece orchestra—of the inspiring new musical "It's Never Too Late," presented by Theater to Go on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 7:30pm.



Dover

Dover Little Theatre presents "Misery" – A Thrilling Stage Adaptation of Stephen King's Classic Novel

(DOVER, NJ) -- Dover Little Theatre is thrilled to present Misery. Directed by Angel Fajardo, this production will captivate audiences with its intense performances, twisting plot, and psychological tension. Performances run weekends from February 21 to March 2, 2025.



PHOTOS

PHOTOS from "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" at Music Mountain Theatre

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre is presenting Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike weekends from February 7-23, 2025. Family rivalry, outrageous costumes, and a sassy maid bring big laughs in this Tony-winning comedy by local playwright Christopher Durang. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.