2023 Spring Gala
Two River Theater’s annual spring fundraising event is May 13 / 2023. Join us for an evening of celebration that will include a sneak peek of our 23/24 Season, a VIP cocktail hour and a special musical concert! Following the performance, artists will join our event sponsors for an exclusive post show dinner.
For more information on how to become an event sponsor, please contact Katie Benson, Special Events Manager, at kbenson@trtc.org or 732.345.1400 x 1817.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Click each photo to learn more about our star-studded lineup!
Kate Burton
KATE BURTON, an Emmy and Tony-nominated actress, is best known for her TV work on Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Inventing Anna and The Dropout and she will soon be seen in the feature films Our Son and Dumb Money. A graduate of Brown University and the Yale School of Drama, she spent 20 years at The Williamstown Theater Festival and appeared at The Huntington in Boston, The Ahmanson and Taper in Los Angeles and The Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. On Broadway, she was Tony-nominated for her work in Hedda Gabler, The Elephant Man and The Constant Wife. A labor activist and a professor of theater and a director at USC in LA, she has directed three evenings of Shakespeare and Tchaikovsky for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall and The Hollywood Bowl conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
Eden Espinosa
EDEN ESPINOSA is recognized for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Other Broadway credits include originating the title role in Brooklyn the Musical, and Maureen Johnson in the closing company of Rent. Her regional credits include Eva Peron in Evita, Sadie Thompson in Rain, Emma Borden in Lizzie, Daniela in In the Heights and Mary in Merrily We Roll Along. Mama in The Gardens of Anuncia and most recently starring as Tamara De Lempicka in Lempicka directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin. Her television appearances include Law and Order, Ugly Betty, and Elementary. Voiceover credits include Cassandra in Tangled the Series, Robot Chicken, MAD TV, Elena of Avalor, and Titan Maximum and she received an Emmy Nomination for The Queen of Hearts in Alice’s Wonderland Bakery. Eden’s albums Look Around and Revelation, her album of original music, can be found on all streaming platforms and available at www.edenespinosa.com Instagram @edenespinosa
Christopher Fitzgerald
Broadway: Company, Waitress (Tony nom; OCC and Drama Desk award), An Act of God, The Merchant of Venice, Finian’s Rainbow (Tony, OCC noms; Drama Desk award), Young Frankenstein (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC noms.), Wicked, Amour (Drama Desk nom), Chicago. Off-Broadway: MTC, Lincoln Center, Second Stage, The Public. Recent TV/Film: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (recurring), “Godless” Netflix, “Happy!” Syfy, “Let Them All Talk”, “Girl Most Likely”.
Three-time Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald most recently starred in the Encores! Production of Dear World and the Broadway revival of Company. He earned a Tony nomination and won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for his previous Broadway role as Ogie in Waitress. He was Tony-nominated for prior roles in Young Frankenstein and Finian’s Rainbow, for which he received a second Drama Desk Award. His other Broadway credits include originating the role of Boq in Wicked; An Act of God; The Merchant of Venice opposite Al Pacino; Amour (Drama Desk nomination); and Chicago. Off-Broadway and regional credits include the US premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Saturday Night at Second Stage (Drama Desk nomination); the American premiere of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Public; the renowned Steppenwolf production of McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane; the US debut of Frank McGuinness’ Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme at Lincoln Center; the title roll in Barnum at the Chichester Festival Theatre in England and he spent thirteen seasons with the Williamstown Theater Festival (MA), beginning as an apprentice in 1993. In 2010, he starred in an all-male version of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, directed by his wife, Jessica Stone. Favorite productions include JUNE MOON, WHERE’S CHARLEY and DEAD END among many others. His film credits include Girl Most Likely opposite Kristen Wiig and Annette Bening. He was a series regular on SyFy’s Happy!, DirecTV’s Almost There and WB’s Twins. He most recently recurred on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and on Netflix in Godless.
Orville Mendoza
ORVILLE MENDOZA has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, toured all across the US as well as regional theatre appearances from The Old Globe in San Diego to The 5th Avenue in Seattle to Long Wharf Theater in New Haven. He’s originated roles in new musicals by Stephen Sondheim & John Weidman, Christopher Durang & Peter Melnick, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and Huey Lewis & The News. He is a Barrymore Award winner and a Drama Desk Award nominee. Recent TV credits include “Billions,” “Dead Ringers,” and vocalist for “John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Most recently, Orville performed along side Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks in her new work “Plays for the Plague Year” at The Public Theater. www.orvillemendoza.com
Marina Pires
Marina Pires (Isabel) is a Brazilian actress/singer-songwriter based in NY’s Hudson Valley. Broadway/National Tours: How to Dance in Ohio; On Your Feet! Most recently seen in Nine at The Kennedy Center. Other credits include: The Bridges of Madison County (Signature Theater DC); In The Heights (Dallas Theater Center); Phish New Year’s Run (Madison Square Garden); Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage Company). Film: Kiss of the Spider Woman; Vivo. Marina also writes and performs with her band The Heartstrings Project. MarinaPires.com @MarinaMPires
Sponsor Benefits
$25,000
- Premium seating for 12 guests for performance and sponsor dinner
- Underwrite (6) pre-show reception and show-tickets for community partners, local organizations or artists
- Recognition in press releases for event
- Full page advertisement in ad journal with premium placement
- Corporate logo/name and hyperlink on Two River website
- Recognition as a sponsor in signage, collateral materials, and production program
$15,000
- Premium seating for 10 guests for performance and sponsor dinner
- Underwrite (5) pre-show reception and show-tickets for community partners, local organizations or artists
- Full page advertisement in ad journal with premium placement
- Corporate logo/name and hyperlink on Two River website
- Recognition as a sponsor in signage, collateral materials, and production programs
$10,000
- Preferred seating for 8 guests for performance and sponsor dinner
- Underwrite (4) pre-show reception and show-tickets for community partners, local organizations or artists
- Recognition in press releases for event
- Full page advertisement in ad journal with premium placement
- Corporate logo/name and hyperlink on Two River website
- Recognition as a sponsor in signage, collateral materials, and production programs
$5,000
- Preferred seating for 6 guests for performance and sponsor dinner
- Underwrite (3) pre-show reception and show-tickets for community partners, local organizations or artists
- Half-page advertisement in journal with premium placement
- Corporate logo/name and hyperlink on Two River website
- Recognition as a sponsor in signage, collateral materials, and production programs
$2,500
- Preferred seating for 4 guests for performance and sponsor dinner
- Half-page advertisement in journal with premium placement
- Corporate logo/name and hyperlink on Two River website
- Recognition as a sponsor in signage, collateral materials, and production programs
$1,000
- Preferred seating for 2 guests for performance and sponsor dinner
- Corporate logo/name and hyperlink on Two River website
- Recognition as a sponsor in signage, collateral materials, and production programs
All sponsorships include tickets to a VIP pre-show cocktail reception, performance, and a post-show dinner. For more information, please contact Katie Benson, Special Events Manager, at kbenson@trtc.org or 732.345.1400 ex 1817.
Two River Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This event takes place during the fiscal year from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Sponsorship pledges may be payable up until May 31, 2023. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law less the value of goods and services received. Taxable value of sponsor ticket is $150 per ticket.
UNDERWRITING & AD JOURNAL OPPORTUNITIES
UNDERWRITING
Click to purchase level.
Live Appeal Sponsor — $10,000
Event Underwriter — $10,000
Media Underwriter — $5,000
Entertainment Underwriter — $5,000
Cocktail Party Underwriter — $3,500
Décor Underwriter — $3,500
Ad Journal Underwriter — $2,500
For your tax records, please note this underwriting contribution is fully tax-deductible as no goods or services were received in exchange for this gift.
DIGITAL AD JOURNAL
Click to purchase level.
Outside Back Cover — 8.5 x 10.5″ — $2,000
Inside Front Cover — 8.5 x 10.5″ —�� $1,500
Inside Back Cover — 8.5 x 10.5″ — $1,500
Full Page Color — 8.5 x 10.5″ — $725
Half Page Color — 8.5 x 5.125″ — $500
Quarter Page Color — 3.875 x 5.125″ — $300
Shout Out — Two lines, no logo — $100
All Gala attendees will receive a QR code linking them to the digital ad journal. The ad journal will be available to view on our website and shared with donors and patrons of Two River Theater before and after the event. Please consider including a business advertisement or a message of support.
For more information on purchasing a digital journal ad, please contact Thomas Dougherty, Special Events Assistant, at tdougherty@trtc.org or 732.345.1400 ex 1806. The deadline for submission of ads is Monday, May 1 / 2023.
Individual Tickets - ON SALE NOW!
DINNER TICKET
$400 includes one ticket to the performance and one ticket to the sponsor dinner.
PERFORMANCE TICKET
$70 includes one ticket to the performance.
For your tax records, please note Two River Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Special event tickets are considered donations, and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law less the value of goods and services received. Taxable value of dinner ticket is $150 per ticket. Performance only tickets are 100% tax deductible.
SCHEDULE
6PM
Honoring Hackensack Meridian Health
7PM
Performer reveal coming soon!
8PM
2023 SPRING GALA COMMITTEE
Gala Co-Chairs
Marilyn and Bob Broege
Joanna and Brian Leddin
Gala Committee
Bridget and Jerry Murphy
Lauren Nicosia
Cathy and Tom Sivo
Patti and Vernon Ralph
Joan Rechnitz
2023 Gala Sponsors
PATRON
Jeff Blumenkrantz and Jeffrey Kwong
Farah del Pilar
Allyson and Alberto Hernandez
Thomas K. Hessman
Cathy Larson
Joanna and Brian Leddin
Bruce Meltzer and Tom McCormack
Hon. Edward J. Mckenna, Jr.
Magda and James Muka
JP Nicolaides and The Honorable Ed Zipprich
Lori and Geoffrey Sadwith
Anne Marie Schultz
June and Morton Seligman
Bruce Sherrill and Robert Cordey
Sodon’s Electric Inc.
Elizabeth Tortorella and Ivan Polonsky
EVENT UNDERWRITING
Dr. and Mrs. Eugene and Patricia Cheslock
Michael Cumpsty and John Dias
Nancy Karpf
Charles and Theresa Mattina
Shirley and Robert C. Neff
The Stone Foundation
Cynthia and William Wilby
Dr. Susan Whyman
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
We are excited to welcome audiences back for our 2022/23 Season. 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 us to best prioritize the safety of our audience members, artists, staff and community. Should we make a change to these procedures for any performance or event, all patrons will be contacted promptly by the box office and via email.