Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia)
Signature Theatre is a regional theater company based in Arlington, Virginia.
Signature is a theatrical force renowned for reinventing classic musicals and inventing new voices. Founded in 1990, Signature serves as a home for both emerging talents and established composers and librettists who are developing new works for musical theater.[1] The Theatre is especially well known for its bold productions of Broadway-quality musicals and daring new plays performed in an intimate space. Now approaching its 19th season under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric D. Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, the company has staged 25 world premiere productions, has received 59 Helen Hayes Awards and 234 nominations [2], and has been honored by the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation.[3]
Cameron Mackintosh, Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb are among the talents that have presented works here. Since 1991, Signature has enjoyed a long relationship with Stephen Sondheim, producing 18 of his musicals, revues and concerts.[4]
In addition to its dedication to quality professional theater, the company offers a number of programs beneficial to both writers and performing artists, and to the community. The New Play Festival develops new work by local and national writers. Signature in the Schools is a program designed for Arlington County high school students, culminating in an annual all-student production. Signature Sings Broadway in Ballston presents a series of free summer concerts. Signature in the City mounts productions in Washington, DC. Overtures, a two-week musical theater course for performers age 15 and older, is held at the Kennedy Center. The Cabaret series features professional cabaret singers from Washington and New York City.
In 2007, Signature moved into a dramatic new $16 million theater complex just minutes from Washington, DC in the vibrant urban Arlington area of Shirlington Village. Its two unique state-of-the-art black box theaters are home to theatrical work that attracts more than 80,000 patrons annually.
Productions
Past notable productions include Over and Over, Urinetown, Side Show, Grand Hotel, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Rink, The Witches of Eastwick, and The Visit, starring Chita Rivera.
In the 2007-08 season, The Signature presented a Kander and Ebb Celebration. It began in March 2008 with Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Natascia Diaz, Will Chase, and Hunter Foster, then The Happy Time, and finally The Visit which starred Chita Rivera and George Hearn.[5]
Signature's upcoming 2008-2009 season features a Broadway-bound season opener - the musical ACE[1], two plays direct from Broadway, a world premiere epic musical, and a recent Off-Broadway smash hit.[6]
References
- ^ Randy Shulman (5 July 2007). "Signature Style: Eric Schaeffer turned his passion for musicals into Arlington's theatrical crown jewel". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Helen Hayes Awards
- ^ Larson Awards
- ^ washingtonpost.com article, "A Signature Space To Match Its Reputation", Jan. 11, 2007
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."Kiss to Build a Dream On: Chase, Diaz, Foster Ignite Kander & Ebb Festival in DC", Playbill.com, March 11, 2008
- ^ Signature Theatre
External links
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2007) |
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