About the Show

Joe Iconis ("Be More Chill") returns to Two River with this world premiere musical about love and rebellion among teenage girls in a 1960s juvie hall.

From the show:

"Joe Iconis is “…The Future of Musical Theater.” – The New York Times

A turbulent rock romance set in a 1960s Juvie Hall, Love in Hate Nation uses classic “bad girl” movies as the inspiration for the story of young people caught between eras of a changing America. Sixteen-year old Susannah Son is carted off to the National Reformatory for Girls to get her head put on straight. There she meets the aggressively incorrigible Sheila Nail, and a relationship forms which leads to an all-out “revolution in the institution” as they attempt to break out of the boxes society has created around them. Girl Group Wall of Sound harmonies are filtered through a punk rock spirit in this rebellious and romantic new musical.

Critic Reviews (7)

"In ‘Love in Hate Nation,’ the Revolution Will Not Be Scrutinized: Joe Iconis’s new musical celebrates women’s prison flicks and girl group harmonies. But his teen rebels could use a cause."
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"'Love in Hate Nation' Is Not the New Orange Is the New Black: Joe Iconis's women-in-prison musical makes its world premiere at Two River Theater."
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"New Musical 'LOVE IN HATE NATION' Rocks the House at Two River Theater"
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"‘Love in Hate Nation’ delivers quirky social commentary plus power ballads in Red Bank"
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"'Love in Hate Nation': a-bop-bob-a-loo-bop, it’s girls gone bad!"
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"Reform follows function: 'Love in Hate Nation' is a little musical that could and can… and I sure as hell hope it does!"
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"Two River Theater presents Joe Iconis’s ‘Love in Hate Nation’: How do you measure a new musical?"
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Cast and creative team

Two River Theater

Theater Company

Joe Iconis

Composer / Bookwriter / Lyricist

John Simpkins

Director