Two River Theater and Deaf West Theatre Announce Community Events Alongside New Musical "Elephant Shoes"

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The Red Bank production will feature events with director Jeff Calhoun and deaf poet Noah Buchholz.

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Two River Theater and Deaf West Theatre will host a variety of curated audience events and accessibility services for Elephant Shoes, the new musical with a soaring contemporary score and an immersive blend of spoken English, ASL, and stage technology. Elephant Shoes will run in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater from June 6 - 28, 2026.

The full event lineup includes:

Wednesday, June 10 5:30 PM Studio A FREE Artistic Director Justin Waldman hosts an intimate conversation with Elephant Shoes director and choreographer, Jeff Calhoun . Coffee and cookies will be available starting at 5:30 PM, with the discussion set to start at 5:45 PM.

Tickets available at: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/in-the-know-elephant-shoes/

Tuesday, June 16 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library FREE Join us at Two River Theater as we bring poetry to life! Deaf poet and actor Noah Buchholz will be joined by local poet Shrimpy Jack. This event will be hosted by spoken word poet and artist Chris Rockwell. Following their performances, all attending guests are invited to “Inspire Our Poetry” by participating in a poetry open mic. ASL interpretation will be provided.

Tickets available at: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/inspire-our-poetry/

Saturday, June 20 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Two River Plaza FREE Celebrate Juneteenth in style at Brunch en Blanc, a vibrant community gathering presented by Two River Theater in collaboration with the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center.

Join us on June 20 from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM on the plaza for an unforgettable brunch experience. Guests are invited to dress in white and enjoy a joyful morning filled with music, culture, and connection, accented with touches inspired by the African American flag.

The event will feature live DJ entertainment, line dancing, keynote speaker Di Shawn Gandy, gospel performances from local artists including members of Calvary Baptist Church, and a delicious Southern-style brunch by It Takes Two Catering.

Families can also enjoy a dedicated children's activity area, local vendors, and interactive moments throughout the morning, including trivia and giveaways.

Come together in celebration of freedom, heritage, and community — Brunch en Blanc is a Juneteenth event you won't want to miss!

Tickets available at: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/juneteenth/

Friday, June 26 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Two River Plaza FREE Celebrate love, community, and self-expression at Two River Theater's 8th Annual Pride on the Plaza, a joyful summer tradition that brings the community together for an evening of music, performance, food, and Pride.

This all-ages celebration takes place from 5:00 PM–8:00 PM on the plaza and features live entertainment from DJ Catrina Lovelace, local vendors and community organizations, festive food and drinks, and a fabulous drag show hosted by Two River's own Lady Celestina alongside special guest performers Sasha Curvy and Inita D, beginning at 6:00 PM.

Guests can enjoy outdoor cocktails, pizza and snacks from Urban Coalhouse, sweet treats from Crazees, and browse a variety of local vendors and organizations, including returning favorites like Free Mom Hugs, Project REAL, Dani's Delightz, and Between the Covers.

Filled with rainbow décor, community spirit, and unforgettable performances, Pride on the Plaza has become one of Two River Theater's most beloved annual traditions.

Tickets available at: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/pride-on-the-plaza/

Tuesday, June 23 7:00PM Basie Center Cinema House FREE

Academy Award-winning film CODA comes to Two River Theater and the Count Basie Center for the Arts for a free screening and talkback. The Apple Original film follows Ruby, the only hearing member of a Deaf family, as she navigates the tension between pursuing her passion for music and supporting her family's fishing business. Following the screening, audience members are invited to stay for a conversation with star of the film and Elephant Shoes cast member Daniel Durant , who played Leo Rossi in the film.

Tickets available at: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/coda-film-screening/

Elephant Shoes is a new musical with a soaring contemporary score and an immersive blend of spoken English, ASL, and innovative stage technology, fully accessible in both languages.

The full cast includes Antoinette Lori Abbamonte (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Switched At Birth) as Laurie, Klea Blackhurst (Dolly: A True Original Musical, Everything the Traffic Will Allow) as Beverly/Mrs. Millner, Daniel Durant (Deaf West's Spring Awakening, CODA) as Cy, Taylor Iman Jones (Six The Musical, Head Over Heels) as Roxy, Amy Keum (KPOP!, Honor Society ) as Jenna, Remy Laifer (Fiddler on the Roof, New Amsterdam) as Bob, James Olivas (Evita, Deaf West's American Idiot) as Chris, Siena Rafter (Runaways, Deep Blue Sea) as Simone, Hector Reynoso (Deaf West/LA Phil's FIDELIO, Sweeney Todd) as Roy, Don Stephenson (The Producers, Titanic) as Wayne, and Raven Sutton (The Circle) as Liz.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/ASL-and-Spoken-English-ELEPHANT-SHOES-to-Host-Film-Screenings-Poetry-Slam-and-More-20260528)._