Two River Theater To Present Inaugural Spotlight Award At 31st Gala

RED BANK, NJ — This May, Two River Theater will honor the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center with its Inaugural Spotlight Award as part of the theater’s 31st Gala.

According to Gala Co-Chair Cathy Pugliese-Sivo, the award acknowledges the center’s “invaluable contributions to preserving and celebrating the legacy of T. Thomas Fortune,” as well as the center’s commitment to fostering dialogue and understanding around issues of social justice, echoing Fortune’s own advocacy.

Known for being a pioneer civil rights activist, T. Thomas Fortune was a leading African American journalist of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Born into slavery, he was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and found professional success as an editor and owner of the New York Globe newspaper (later named The New York Age).

During his over 20-year tenure at the paper, Fortune grew it into the nation’s most influential Black paper used to protest discrimination, mob violence and disenfranchisement. He also founded the National Afro American League.

Today, the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center works to preserve Fortune’s legacy and home, which has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

“I am honored, grateful and humbled by this award, which spotlights my love for this community, the arts and culture,” said Gilda Rogers, the executive director of the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center. “The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center has been a huge accomplishment and I am very proud of our Board who have supported my vision from the start.”

“What we were able to do together was pretty unbelievable, yet I am not surprised, because this is what happens when egos are cast aside and we work for the greater good of all,” Rogers continued. “Thank you Two River Theater.”

The theater’s 31st gala will take place on Saturday, May 3, and feature an immersive theatrical experience for guests, ranging from cocktails on the Rechnitz stage to performances and a show.

All proceeds of the event will benefit the programs and services of Two River Theater.

For more information on tickets, sponsorship packages and underwriting opportunities, you can contact Catherine Hill at chill@trtc.org or 732-345-1400 (ext. 1820).

To purchase tickets, you can visit the Two River Theater website. To learn more about the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, you can visit their website.

Two River Theater is located at 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank.