Tony Nominee Michael Cumpsty to Star in The Lion in Winter

Red Bank, New Jersey's Two River Theater has announced the lineup of productions set for its 2016-17 season.

August Wilson’s Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, will open the season with a four-week run from September 10-October 9. The official press opening will be September 16.

Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty (End of the Rainbow) will then star in Two River's production of The Lion in Winter, written by James Goldman. Performances will run from November 12-December 4 with an official opening on November 18.

Lightwire Theater will then present A Very Electric Christmas, running from December 27-30. Hurricane Diane, written by Madeleine George and commissioned by Two River Theater, will follow with a run from January 14-February 12, 2017, and a January 27 press opening. Tony nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet) will direct.

Next will be Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Eric Tucker. The play will be performed by a cast of three, featuring Jason O’Connell (Sense & Sensibility). Performances will run from February 25-March 26, 2017, with an official March 3 press opening. A Little Shakespeare, a 70-minute version of the play performed by high school students, will be produced simultaneously from March 7-12.

Tony Meneses (Guadalupe in the Guest Room) then returns to Two River Theater with The Women of Padilla. Performances will run from April 8-30, 2017, with an official press opening on April 14.

Closing out the season will be The Ballad of Little Jo, a musical based on the film by Maggie Greenwald. Directed by John Dias, the production features a book by Sarah Schlesinger, Mike Reid, and John Dias, music by Mike Reid, and lyrics by Sarah Schlesinger. Performances will run from June 3-25, 2017, with a June 9 press opening.

For more information about Two River Theater's 2016-17 season, click here.