The first time Alec Baldwin took to the stage of Red Bank’s Two River Theater, it was for a 2009 fundraiser, during which the leading man of silver screen (“The Hunt for Red October”) and Broadway stage (“A Streetcar Named Desire”) participated in a Q&A for the benefit of the local Junior League.
By the time Baldwin returned to the Bridge Avenue space two years later, he had netted two Emmys, a couple of Golden Globes and a SAG Award for his work on the sitcom “30 Rock.” That appearance found the actor taking part in an entertaining panel discussion with the Tony-nominated frequent Two River artist Michael Cumpsty — a chat moderated by TRTC artistic director John Dias, who made no secret of his desire to secure Baldwin’s services for a future mainstage production in Red Bank.
When Baldwin makes his scheduled appearance at Two River this coming Monday, he’ll have added to his list of conquered media (movies, TV, live drama, commercials, voice mails) a new one: podcasting. And, he’ll be bringing along a fellow multi-platform performer with a formidable set of skills.
The podcast is Here’s The Thing, the Baldwin-moderated, WNYC-produced series that finds the star in what has increasingly proven to be his natural element: engaged in one-on-one conversation with a wide variety of personalities from the realms of showbiz, politics, journalism and community activism. Past subjects of the project, which premiered in late 2011, have ranged from actors (Dustin Hoffman, Julie Andrews), comedy legends (Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer), and pop music icons (Paul Simon, Billy Joel) to Dan Rather, Brian Williams, and even Kris Kardashian Jenner.
For the live recording session, the host will be joined by Kevin Kline, star of musical and dramatic stages (Tony awards for “On the Twentieth Century” and “Pirates of Penzance”) and movie screens (an Academy Award for “A Fish Called Wanda”). The versatile performer, whose filmography also includes “In & Out,” “The Big Chill,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Wild Wild West” (and who’s done turns as Douglas Fairbanks, Cole Porter, Errol Flynn and Ulysses S. Grant), will discuss the actor’s life and more, in an event that’s scheduled for 8 p.m.
It’s a fundraiser for the ongoing educational and community outreach programs of Two River Theater Company, and tickets (starting at $75) are still available here from the TRTC box office. A $350 VIP option includes an exclusive pre-show reception with the guest artists at 6:30 p.m., and additional info on sponsorships and other details can be had by calling (732) 345-1400.
