ERIC HOBBS
HASAN MINHAJ
The Two River Theater in Red Bank has announced something of a hybrid summer season, with six shows by comedian Hasan Minhaj in August plus an eclectic outdoor series, beginning in late June.
Minhaj, the former “Daily Show” correspondent whose “Patriot Act” show was featured on Netflix from 2018 to 2010, will present a new one-man show titled “Experiment Time” in Two River’s Rechnitz Theater, Aug. 26 at 8 p.m.; Aug. 27-28 at 6:30 and 9 p.m.; and Aug. 29 at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the theater’s Plaza Players Series will feature shows in the theater’s outdoor Plaza throughout the summer, with audience members sitting at tables for two or four, and snacks and light fare available.
The following shows will be part of the Plaza Players Series:
June 25-27 and July 1-4: Joe Iconis + Lauren Marcus. Iconis wrote the music and lyrics for “Be More Chill” and the music, lyrics and book for “Love in Hate Nation”; both musicals premiered at Two River Theater. Marcus appeared in both productions, as well as in “Be More Chill” when it ran on Broadway, and is also an experienced singer-songwriter.
July 15-18: “Real People Things” by Janey Miles Feingold and Bela Konstancja Kawalec. According to the theater’s web site, this is “a live concert presentation of a new musical about finding love on the internet … we eavesdrop on the intimate conversations between Rosie Peters and Theo Goldberg as they get to know each other through pixels and wires and spotty wifi all leading up to the moment when they have to decide to put down their phones and meet in person.”
July 22-25: “ToyBox Live” with Rinde Eckert. Eckert, who wrote songs for and performed in Two River Theater’s 2016 production of Shakespeare’s “Pericles,” returns to Red Bank “with his eclectic collection of instruments to share a selection of songs, readings, monologues, and unexpected imaginings,” according to the website.
July 29-31 and Aug. 1 and 5-8: Sinuhé Padilla-Isunza and Alea. According to the website, this show “traces the musical heritage of many Latin American countries and walks the line between cumbia, vallenato, ranchera, jazz, and pop.”
Aug. 12-15 and 19-22: “Upstream” by Chesney Snow and Faye Chiao. Snow performed in “Oo-Bla-Dee” at the theater in 2019. This show “fuses piano, beatboxing, spoken word, and soaring vocals to weave a magical musical journey of songs ranging from intimate ballads to hip-hop for all ages,” according to the website.
Tickets to all shows, including Minhaj, go on sale June 11 at 10 a.m., with donor and subscriber pre-sales beginning June 9; visit tworivertheater.org.
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