the Red Bank Theater to honor 2 leaders; organize a fundraising concert

A New Jersey theater will celebrate two executives this weekend who are taking a final bow when it comes to theater management. The event will also raise funds to help new shows find their way to the stage.

Anyone who has seen a show at Red Bank’s Two River Theater has seen artistic director John Dias’ vision.

Dias says that while he can’t count the number of productions he’s been involved in, he says he’s most proud of the original works the nonprofit theater has staged.

“That was one of the first things we did when I got here was start a literary department and commission writers and start saying, ‘We’re going to do new plays and we’re going to do new musicals,” Dias says.

And as he and general manager Michael Hurst prepare to leave this summer, the theater is setting up a fund to develop new musicals.

A fundraiser is being held at the theater on Saturday, kicking off the effort.

Dias joined Two River in 2010. He says he planned to leave two years ago but stayed to see theater during the pandemic.