(RED BANK, NJ) — Two River Theater has announced a unique and exciting summer education program for high schoolers called Opening Act. This summer program is designed for rising 9th-12th graders during the weeks of July 19-23, July 26-30 and August 2-6.
Each week students will team up with composer Elliot Roth (Music Director, Two River Theater Summer Intensives) and choreographer Dionna PridGeon (Founder and Creative Director, moveDIPR, Guest Choreographer for TRT Summer Intensives ‘19) to learn a fun and challenging song and dance number, which they’ll perform that Friday as the Opening Act for Two River’s Plaza Players outdoor performance.
Sessions are from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Monday through Friday, with performances at 7:00pm each Friday before the Plaza Players show.
“We are thrilled for students and teaching artists to work together in person again this summer,” says Director of Education Kate Cordaro. “This program fuses the unique talents of Elliot and Dionna with the joy and resilience of high schoolers and shares it with the audiences of Two River. What a long, strange year it has been. It’s time to sing and dance together!”
Full and partial need-based scholarships are available. Spots are extremely limited.
The Opening Act Summer Program is sponsored by the OceanFirst Foundation.
PRICING/SIGN UP INFORMATION
For rising 9th-12th graders: Monday-Friday, 5:00pm-7:00pm. $175/week (full and partial need-based scholarships available) Take 1, 2, or all 3 weeks!
Health and safety FAQ, scholarship info, and registration info is available here.
TEACHING ARTISTS BIOS
Elliot Roth is a NYC based singer/pianist/actor, composer and instructor. Hailed by the New York Times for his “silky smooth voice”, he is a masters graduate of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music jazz arts program. Broadway: Our Sinatra and A Christmas Carol, Off-Broadway credits include Village Voice lauded role as ‘Jesus’ in Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert at the Living Room. He has appeared in Downbeat Magazine as one of the area’s “Top 20 Performers to Watch” and is one of the most versatile performers in the tri-state area. Elliot also currently teaches voice, rock/pop audition technique and jazz/soul recording arts in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY. Elliot currently serves on the voice faculty at Marymount Manhattan College’s Theatre Arts Department.
Dionna PridGeon is a freelance artist from Chicago. She is the Founder & Creative Director of moveDIPR and holds 17 years of experience in Dance Education/Choreography. She has served on the faculty of 12 prestigious facilities, including Lou Conte Dance Studio| HSDC, Ailey Extension, Steps on Broadway, Joffrey Ballet School/Academy, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, Visceral Dance Center, and more. Dionna has also taught in Montreal, Norway, and Germany. She is a Point Park University graduate, performing works in both concert & commercial dance. Dionna received scholarships/recognition from Monsters of Hip Hop, Pulse on Tour, & Dance Spirit Magazine; she also worked/trained at Ballroom Dance Chicago. Dionna’s choreography has been presented at Millennium Park (Chicago), Ailey Citigroup Theatre NY, and the US Open, to name a few . . . plus dance programs & studios across the US. Dionna hopes to start The DIPR Foundation.
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 the Mary Owen Borden Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Denholtz Properties, Doris Duke Charitable 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, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Visiting Nurse Association Community Health Center, 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.
Photo by Yurik Lozano