Sightlines: Two River says farewell with a Broadway bang; Phoenix seeks quadruple threats

Stars including Broadway and television's George Salazar, Jane Bruce, Daniel K. Isaac, Teal Wicks, Joe Iconis, Jason SweetTooth Williams and Eric William Morris will headline a concert performance in celebration of Two River Theater's outgoing Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst on Saturday, May 21.

Proceeds from the fundraiser, which will also include a gala dinner, will help establish the Dias/Hurst New Musical Fund, which the Red Bank theater says will allow it to continue commissioning and developing new musicals.

The concert brings familiar faces back to Two River. Bruce ("Jagged Little Pill"), Isaac (Showtime's "Billions"), Wicks ("The Cher Show") and Morris ("King Kong") appeared in 2017's "The Ballad of Little Jo," while Salazar starred in Iconis' "Be More Chill," which premiered at Two River in 2015 before a Broadway run in 2019. Two River was also home to Iconis' "Love in Hate Nation."

Other performers include: Kelly McIntyre ("Love in Hate Nation"), Emerson Mae Smith ("Love in Hate Nation"), Murphy Taylor Smith ("Elektrik") and Maria Wirries (Broadway tour of "Dear Evan Hansen").

“I am forever grateful to John Dias and Michael Hurst for their stellar leadership of Two River Theater. For more than a decade, they have made an indelible impact on our community and the national theater landscape - fulfilling Bob’s and my vision to create a world-class theater in Red Bank. I am thrilled to celebrate their tenure with our devoted supporters and artists and establish the Dias/Hurst New Musical Fund in their honor," said Two River Theater founder and event chair Joan Rechnitz.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. For concert-only tickets ($70) and more information, visit tworivertheater.org. Single dinner tickets are sold out, but contact Katie Benson at kbenson@trtc.org or 732-345-1400, ext. 1817, for information on sponsorship packages.

'School of Rock' auditions

Phoenix Productions is ready to rock.

Phoenix, the community theater company of the Count Basie Center for the Arts, is seeking talented kids and adults from around the region for its summer production of "School of Rock."

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“ 'School of Rock' is a unique presentation in that we’re looking for four dynamic quadruple-threat lead performers — actors who can sing, dance, act and play a musical instrument,” said James Grausam, Phoenix's managing artistic director, in a news release.

“Of equal importance is our dedication to making sure the show’s lineup demonstrates our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the idea that actors of all ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritages and body types are welcomed and encouraged to participate in our company," he said.

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Phoenix Productions and the Count Basie Center announced a merger earlier this year, and say they share a vision of bringing together a "diverse mix of talented artists who are committed to doing their best work in an inclusive arena."

Auditions will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 19, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Phoenix’s headquarters at 59 Chestnut St., Red Bank.

Actors interested in the roles of Zach (guitar), Freddy (drums), Katie (cello and bass) and Lawrence (piano and keyboard) should prepare a 30- to 60-second video submission of themselves playing their instrument and submit it to auditions@phoenixredbank.com prior to their in-person audition date.

For full details on available roles and to sign up, visit phoenixredbank.com/auditions.

"School of Rock" runs July 22 to 24. For tickets and more information on this and other upcoming productions, including "Hair" and "A Christmas Carol" later this year, visit phoenixredbank.com or thebasie.org/phoenix.

Cabaret for Life tribute to Linda Ronstadt

Cabaret for Life is revving up for its summer season with a tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Linda Ronstadt.

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The performances, set for June 23 and July 6 at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park, will feature Deb Lyons, Lisa Sherman, Heather Varley and Kristine Winnik. Songs include “That’ll Be The Day,” "It’s So Easy,” “Blue Bayou,” “Silver Threads and Golden Needles,” “Don’t Know Much,” “When Will I Fall in Love” and “Heat Wave.”

The show is music-directed by Jason Neri and produced by Fred Mayo.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) Tickets, $40 donation per person, can be ordered by visiting cabaretforlife.org or by calling 877-CFL-TKTS.

Cabaret for Life was established in 1995 by Monmouth and Ocean County residents to make a difference in the lives of those facing AIDS and other debilitating illnesses.

Still to come this summer are Felix Truex on July 21 and 27, with his new show "Songster"; and "The Return of The Housewives of Monmouth County" on Aug. 24 and 31, and Sept. 1.

For more on Cabaret for Life and its programming, visit cabaretforlife.org.

'POTUS' T-shirt aids women's organizations

"POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive," Selina Fillinger’s Broadway farce now playing the Shubert Theatre, unveiled an exclusive T-shirt whose proceeds go to women-led advocacy organizations.

The pink unisex crewneck is available for pre-order for $30.

Proceeds benefit the POTUS Coalition, seven non-partisan, women-led nonprofits "working for the advocacy, agency and activism of women through all levels of leadership and in service of equal rights, representation, and access to voter registration and voting," the show said.

The POTUS Coalition is made up of Black Voters Matter, Center For Reproductive Rights, ERA Coalition, IGNITE, She The People, Supermajority Education Fund and Vote Mama

“Through laughter, we come together. The POTUS Coalition is a group of real-world leaders; kick-ass women who are amplifying, mobilizing and organizing,” said Adrienne Becker, CEO of Level Forward, on behalf of the POTUS producers. “The abundance of POTUS — its joy, its history-making Broadway run as the first all-women’s and women-led farce, and its smart and contemporary storytelling — provides this first-ever coalition with an opportunity to explore the comedy of leadership, and the impact of art.”

Tickets to "POTUS," starring Lilli Cooper, Lea DeLaria, Rachel Dratch, Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura, Julie White and Vanessa Williams, are on sale now at Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. Entries to the "POTUS" lottery for $39 tickets can be made at potusbway.com/lottery.

Arts grants available

Monmouth Arts has a variety of grants available for arts professionals and organizations.

• The group will re-grant funds from the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund to artists and teaching artists of all disciplines who have been financially affected by the pandemic. Applications are open now; deadline is June 1. Visit monmoutharts.org/artist-grants for more information.

• Fiscal Year 2023 ArtHelps Local Arts Program grants are available for general operating support and special project support, in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The grants are offered each year through a competitive application process to Monmouth County nonprofit arts organizations and community groups. The deadline is June 13; visit monmoutharts.org/arthelps for more information.

• Monmouth Arts is offering $30,000 in Renew 2022 grants to support live performances and events "that fuel the reopening and recovery of nonprofit arts organizations in Monmouth County." Eligible events must be free and presented by small nonprofit arts organizations or artists partnered with nonprofit organizations. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and must be used by Dec. 31. The deadline to apply is May 23. Visit monmoutharts.org/arthelps and scroll to "Renew 2022" for more information.

• South Jersey Cultural Alliance received a $50,000 grant from the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund to directly support artists and history professionals that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. SJCA will award $1,000 grants to 50 working artists and history professionals from Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties. Priority will be given to those from historically excluded and oppressed communities, including those who identify as Black, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander, Indigenous and/or people of color, LGBTQ+ and those living with disabilities. Grants are also available from Atlantic City Arts Foundation and Superior Arts & Institute in South Jersey. SJCA applications are open; the deadline is June 26. Visit sjca.net for more information.

Laura Bell Bundy in Holmdel

Laura Bell Bundy, Broadway's original Elle Woods ("Legally Blonde"), is next up in Holmdel Theatre Company's Broadway at the Barn series.

The Tony Award-nominated Bundy, also seen on Broadway in "Hairspray" and "Wicked," is the founder of the Women Of Tomorrow Foundation, and a National Women’s History Museum ambassador. She has recorded multiple albums and toured the globe, as well as appeared in television shows and movies including "Anger Management" and "How I Met Your Mother." She is currently starring in the “Fairly Odd Parents: Fairly Odder” on Paramount+, and recently moved to a farm in Tewksbury.

"Born to Entertain" is set for 8 p.m. June 24 at Holmdel Theatre Company, 36 Crawfords Corner Road. For tickets ($49) and more information, visit holmdeltheatrecompany.org/laura-bell-bundy.

Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. She highlights arts advocacy and education, theater fundraisers and more through her column, "Sightlines." Reach out on Twitter: @ilanakeller; ikeller@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Sightlines: Two River Theater fundraiser, School of Rock auditions