(RED BANK, NJ) --  Two River Theater announces the cast and creative team for its third world premiere written by playwright Tony Meneses, The Hombres, which will be directed by Annie Tippe in the theater’s Marion Huber Theater from March 12 through April 10. A play that looks at the complexity, diversity and intimacy of male friendship through the lens of machismo culture, The Hombres was co-commissioned by Two River Theater and the NJPAC Stage Exchange, a program of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

This new play by Tony Meneses (Two River’s The Women of Padilla, Guadalupe in the Guest Room) is a fresh and nuanced look at the complexity and intimacy of male friendship. Set in New Jersey (“somewhere off the NJ Transit line”), the play follows Julián, a gay Latino yoga teacher, as he clashes with the straight and macho Latino construction workers outside his studio—particularly the older head of the crew, Héctor, who seeks from Julián something he never expected. Annie Tippe (Lortel award-winning Octet) to direct.

Says Artistic Director John Dias, “I love how brave and vulnerable Tony Meneses always manages to be about the common fears and desperate desires in our quest for human connection. In this play, it’s the mask of machismo and the real and frightening danger of being found out that keep these men from the honesty and intimacy they crave.”

The Hombres will feature Victor Cruz (Pedro), Noah Gaynor (Miles), Eddie Gutierrez (Julián), Gerardo Rodriguez(Héctor) and Jon Rua (Beto).

Tony Meneses is the author of The Women of Padilla and Guadalupe in the Guest Room, both of which had their world premieres at Two River. His thriller twenty50 recently had its world premiere at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. 

Performances will begin on Saturday, March 12 and continue through Sunday, April 10. The opening night performance is Friday, March 18 at 7:00pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. Two River Theater’s 2021/22 Season Sponsor is Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center and the Production Sponsor is Bank of America. 

The creative team includes Choreographer Jon Rua, Scenic Designer Amy Rubin, Costume Designer Haydee Zelideth, Lighting Designer Alejandro Fajardo, Sound Designer Germán Martínez, Fight Director & Intimacy, Consultant UnkleDave’s Fight-House, Dialect Coach Rosie Berrido, Assistant Choreographer Rebecca Corrigan. Casting Binder Casting/Chad Eric Murnane, CSA., Cultural Consultant Markus Rodriguez and Production Stage Manager Megan Smith.

Annie Tippe is a director and creator of new work, film and music theater. Recent directing credits include the world premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet (Signature Theatre Company) and Ghost Quartet (The Bushwick Starr, etc.); James + Jerome’s The Conversationalists (The Bushwick Starr); Leslye Headland’s Cult of Love (world premiere, IAMA Theatre Company); and Bess Wohl’s Continuity (New Stages at the Goodman Theatre). 

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 30 are $25 and include the best available seats at every performance. 

AUDIENCE EXTRAS & ACCESSIBILITY: 

Post-Play discussions will take place after the following performances: Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00pm; Sunday, March 27 at 3:00pm; and Wednesday, March 30 at 1:00pm.

 An audio-described performance is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 at 1:00pm. The performance on Saturday, April 9 at 3:00pm will be open captioned. 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.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS: The safety of our patrons, staff and artists is our number one priority. As such, all audience members over the age of five will be required to show proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination* before entering the theater. In addition, patrons age 18 and over must present a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Children under five will not be permitted entrance at this time. 

All guests are required to wear masks (preferably a high-quality KN95 or equivalent) while inside the theater building. Exceptions are only made for patrons eating and/or drinking in designated areas within one hour prior to showtime.

Audience members with exemptions, must show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 36 hours of the performance time or a negative antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance time. No over-the-counter, at-home test results will be accepted.

Patrons who do not comply with these procedures will be denied entry and may contact the Two River Theater Box Office for a full refund.

Please note: Two River Theater will follow any forthcoming state mandates related to Covid-19 that may be released as your performance date nears. All requirements are subject to change, allowing us to best prioritize the safety of our audience members, artists, staff and community. Any changes to our entry requirements will be communicated to ticket holders in advance of your show or event.

*full vaccination meaning at least 14 days after your second dose of an FDA or WHO authorized two dose COVID-19 vaccine, or at least 14 days after your single dose of an FDA or WHO authorized single dose COVID-19 vaccine.

SPONSORSHIP: Two River Theater’s 2021/22 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, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Private support includes Bank of America, Mary Owen Borden Foundation, Denholtz Properties, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Helen Clay Frick Foundation, The Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, Horizon Foundation of New Jersey, Investors Foundation, Jewish Communal Fund, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Manasquan Bank Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William T. Morris Foundation, OceanFirst Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey,  Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, Zager Fuchs, PC, 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 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. Two River Theater is led by Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst.