THE ROGUE THEATRE presents The River by Jez Butterworth

THE ROGUE THEATRE

presents

 

 

The River

by Jez Butterworth

 

February 20 – March 15, 2026

The Rogue Theatre at The Historic Y

300 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ

 

The Rogue Theatre is proud to announce its next production of the 2025–26 season: The River, written by acclaimed British playwright Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, The Ferryman). Performances run February 20 through March 15, 2026, with Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.

About the Play

A piece of timeless and haunting chamber theatre, The River captures an intimate, enigmatic evening on a river—a fisherman, a woman, another woman—but are they really there? Memories or ghosts? Butterworth’s lyrical, hypnotic script explores longing, connection, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love. Audiences can expect an evening of deeply atmospheric, emotionally resonant storytelling in The Rogue’s signature intimate setting.

Creative Team

Director: Christopher Johnson, Associate Artistic Director and Resident Ensemble Member at The Rogue Theatre. Johnson has directed numerous acclaimed productions for The Rogue including Cloud 9, Romeo and Juliet, The Weir, and The Seafarer—and previously directed a staged reading of The River for The Rogue’s play-reading series. He is the recipient of eight Arizona Daily Star Mac Award nominations for Best Director.

Music Direction: Russell Ronnebaum, The Rogue’s Resident Composer and Director of Music since 2019, with live guitar, harmonica, and vocals performed by John Keeney.

Cast

The Man — Ryan Parker Knox*

The Woman — Sophie Gibson-Rush*

The Other Woman — Bryn Booth*

Another Woman — Chelsey Jean Smith

*Member of The Rogue Resident Acting Ensemble

Performance Schedule

Preview: Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. (Discount Preview)

Opening Night: Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Regular Performances: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. through March 15, 2026.

Free Open Talk

Director Christopher Johnson presents Old Flames, Still Waters: Jez Butterworth & The River on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The presentation will deepen audiences’ understanding of the play, with members of the cast offering a sneak peek of the production.

Tickets & Information

Tickets are available online at theroguetheatre.org or by calling 520-551-2053. Free off-street parking is available at the venue.

 

Production Sponsors: Andy Watson; Karen DeLay & Bill Sandel

The Rogue Theatre is supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and the Shubert Foundation.

 

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