For long-time New Yorker John Dias, his first trip to Two River Theater in Red Bank was one of awed discovery.
“My initial attraction was the theater,” says Dias. “But once I came, I did what I think most people do: fall in love with Red Bank and Monmouth County. It’s a beautiful place with a wonderful, diverse community. I’m really happy to be here.”
Before coming to Two River last August as artistic director, Dias was a New York producer and dramaturge long affiliated with the Public Theater, the producer of Central Park’s famed Shakespeare in the Park.
Like Dias, Two River itself has not always called Red Bank home. Founded in 1994 by Joan and Robert M. Rechnitz, the company produced its first three seasons on the campus of Monmouth University, where Rechnitz was a professor of American literature. In 1997, Two River moved to the Algonquin Arts Theatre, a renovated movie house in Manasquan. It was not until 2005, after two years of construction, that Two River finally had its own home: a state-of-the-art, two-theater complex in Red Bank.
Since its founding, the company has been acclaimed for its productions of masterpieces from the world canon as well as contemporary plays by leading American and British playwrights. As executive producer, Rechnitz’s goal—both then and now—has been to make Two River a part of the community. For Dias, Rechnitz’s wish became a vision fulfilled.
“I was at a place where I was looking to go back to an institution,” says Dias. “I was missing the real sense of home. And the theater itself and the history of what it has done are very aligned with what I’ve done as a theater person.”
Though Dias has worked extensively on notable productions of the classics, he is also a leading advocate for bold new American plays. Like Rechnitz, Dias also has experience in education—teaching and lecturing at Columbia University, New York University and Yale University for 15 years combined.
“One of the things Bob always wanted to do was engage with more younger artists,” Dias says. “And with my interests in new work and developing younger artists, I felt like we were a perfect match.”
Under Dias’s direction, Two River has really started opening the doors to playwrights.
“Particularly, I’m interested in creating a place for artists where they can develop their work and find an audience really interested in their plays,” Dias says. “Every bit of new work you do is a risk. The artists are in the business of taking a risk, and the audience is too. You never know what you’ll find when you walk into a theater.”
When Dias took the helm of Two River just before the season began in September, the programming for 2010-2011 had already been chosen by the former artistic director of three years, Aaron Posner. The season finishes with this month’s production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (May 17-June 5). September will mark the beginning of Two River’s first season under Dias’s artistic direction.
“Every season is a new adventure,” Dias says, noting that the line-up will include new American artists and contemporary plays in addition to some Shakespearean classics. “It will of course be different. But at the heart of it, we will be keeping with the mission of this theater.
“I want people to look at us creating plays that everyone in the country will one day know about,” he says. “I think [Two River] is poised to become a theater of consequence in the national conversation.”