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2023 Spring Gala

Honoring Hackensack Meridian Health

Rechnitz Theater

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

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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.), WickedAmour (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 is a Brazilian singer, actor, and songwriter based in New York’s Hudson Valley. As a songwriter, Marina’s lyrics have been featured in the Off-Broadway musicalA Never-Ending Line & on Broadway Records’ Songs by an Immigrant with Jaime Lozano. She performs regularly throughout NYC at Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, Greenroom 42, and Rockwood Music Hall, and nationally with her band The Heartstrings Project. Past credits include: “Ashley Amigo” in How to Dance in Ohio (Syracuse Stage), “Conchita” in Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage), “Gloria Estefan” in On Your Feet! (Broadway First National Tour & Regional), PHISH (Madison Square Garden), “Vanessa” In The Heights (Dallas Theatre Center), Evita (Asolo Rep), “Rapunzel” Into The Woods (Arsht Center w/ Tituss Burgess). B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Otterbein University. In her downtime, Marina loves to bake, hike, and write love poems. Follow @marinampires & MarinaPires.com

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

PURCHASE LEVEL

$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

PURCHASE LEVEL

$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

PURCHASE LEVEL

$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

PURCHASE LEVEL

$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

PURCHASE LEVEL

$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

PURCHASE LEVEL

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.

GET DINNER TICKETS

PERFORMANCE TICKET

$70 includes one ticket to the performance.

GET PERFORMANCE TICKETS

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

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

VISIONARY

Joan Rechnitz

INNOVATOR

Mary Jane and Richard Kroon

PARTNER

Elizabeth Columbo

BENEFACTOR

Marilyn and Robert Broege

Cathy and Tom Sivo

Deborah and Dr. Leonard Waldman

CHAMPION

Samuel Huber and Catherine Weiss

Robin and John Klein

Lauren Nicosia

Patricia and Vernon Ralph

Chryssa Yaccarino, Esq. and Ronald L. Reisner, J.S.C.

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.

FULL DETAILS & FAQS

Dates and tickets

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