Two River Theater In Red Bank Names New Artistic Director

RED BANK, NJ – Justin Waldman has been named the new artistic director of the Two River Theater, the theater announced Tuesday. Waldman returns to the East Coast from San Diego after an 11-year career at the Old Globe Theatre.

“I am honored to carry on the legacy of Two River Theater as artistic director,” he said in a news release.

“To shepherd the beautiful vision of Robert and Joan Rechnitz, alongside the incredible and dedicated board, staff, artists, and artisans, is an enormous privilege."

Waldman is from New Hampshire and is a graduate of Tufts University, Massachusetts. He and his family are now looking into housing options in New Jersey.

"Theater is a place of joy and wonder. I look forward to building on the great good work of John Dias and Michael Hurst and welcoming more people to partake in Two River’s excellent, accessible, and representative work and practice," he said.

He said the Two River Theater has the "unrivaled ability to highlight beauty, expand community, and bring us all together with considered intention. To be its steward for a time thrills me and is a responsibility I hold with the utmost care.”

Waldman begins the role on Nov. 1 and will assume responsibility for Two River Theater’s 2022/2023 season put together in the transition by outgoing Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst.

“We are delighted to welcome Justin aboard,” said Two River Theater Board president, Edward J. McKenna Jr.

“Justin is a consummate artist, a bold producer and a passionate leader of nonprofit regional theater. He deeply believes in the value of further developing Two River’s relationships with its community partners, and is also firmly committed to catching the baton John Dias has passed, expanding Two River’s impact beyond its stages in order to reach a larger, even more inclusive audience,” McKenna said.

Waldman will take full responsibility for curating programming for Two River beginning in Fall 2023. Two River continues its search for a managing director and hopes to announce a choice later this fall, the theater said.

Waldman is a theatrical producer and director who has brought over 250 productions to life during his over 20-year career. As associate artistic director at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Calif., one of America’s flagship regional theatres, he has developed new musicals and plays, American and world classics, holiday programming, and overseen one of the country’s preeminent Shakespeare festivals.

During his tenure, the Globe has transferred five productions to Broadway, including "A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder" (Tony Award for Best Musical), "Bright Star" (Tony Nomination for Best Musical) and the upcoming "Almost Famous."

It had six productions remounted in New York theatres, including Lincoln Center Theater and Roundabout Theatre Company, and presented 35 world premiere productions.

Waldman was instrumental in the creation of the Old Globe’s Social Justice Roadmap, which charts a path toward making the Globe a more just, equitable, representative, accessible and anti-racist institution, the news release said.

As artistic associate at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Waldman led the Literary Department and new play development initiatives for three seasons. Six of the 11 new plays produced were subsequently presented at New York theatres, including Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, The Culture Project, and more, the news release from the theater continued.

Other prior staff positions include artistic associate of the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, and producing artistic director of Next Stages, which he founded.

Two River Theater produces a theatrical season that includes American and world classics, new plays and musicals, programs for young people, and festivals of new work. Each year, we also offer 40+ events that reflect the diverse community of Red Bank, the theater said.

Two River produces work on two stages—the 350-seat Rechnitz Theater, and the flexible 110-seat Marion Huber Theater.