Two River Theater is a professional regional theater located in Red Bank, NJ. Two River Theater Company was founded in 1994 by Joan and Dr. Robert M. Rechnitz and is now under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst. After producing seasons at Monmouth University in West Long Branch and the Algonquin Arts in Manasquan, Bob and Joan Rechnitz led a community effort to build a new, permanent home for the theater in the locale that gave the company its name, the peninsula formed by the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. In 2005, we opened our state-of-the-art, two-theater complex in Red Bank, which was designed by the renowned architectural firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates.

We produce an eight-play season of classics and contemporary plays, and new plays and musicals. We also produce readings and workshops throughout each season to support writers and other artists as they work on new plays and musicals, and look with fresh eyes at the classics. These are free and open to the public, giving audiences opportunities to be part of the creative process.

In addition to the work on stage, we offer vital education and community programs for multigenerational audiences. Our work with students includes classroom residencies, theater training, and programs for young people to devise and perform their own original work. We encourage all students, not only those interested in drama, to explore their creativity, take risks, and build their confidence in a safe and collaborative environment. To support a new generation of theater-goers, we offer discounted or subsidized tickets for youth to attend our productions.  

We foster conversation and opportunities for audiences to interact with artists, both at the theater and in community centers across our region. Our enrichment activities include a pre-performance lecture series, post-play discussions, guest speakers, and ongoing partnerships with groups and civic leaders in Red Bank and New York.

In only its first season, Two River was heralded as having “arrived” (in the words of The New York Times) as an institution of “taste, class, and resilience.” Over the years, we have enjoyed growing audiences, been supported by loyal donors, and have been recognized with numerous accolades, including being designated a major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.  

Today, we are noted for the intimacy of our stages, our exceptional productions, innovative education and community programs, and far-reaching vision. Exceptional artists come to Red Bank to explore great classics and work on original plays and musicals, and have opportunities to engage with our lively, adventurous audiences. From our founding to the present day, Two River Theater is a cultural resource for our community and one of New Jersey’s most respected nonprofit theaters.