Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia)
Signature Theatre is a Greater Washington D.C. Area Tony Award–winning regional theater company based in Arlington, Virginia. Its declared mission is "to produce contemporary musicals and plays, reinvent classic musicals, develop new work, and reach its community through engaging educational and outreach opportunities."[1] In the 20 years since its formation its productions have received numerous local and national awards.
Mission and History
Signature is renowned for reinventing classic musicals and presenting brand new ones. 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.[2] The Theatre is especially well known for its productions of Broadway-quality musicals and daring new plays performed in an intimate space. Now in its 21st season under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric D. Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, the company has staged 32 world premiere productions.
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 19 of his musicals, revues and concerts.[3]
Facilities
In 1990 Signature Theatre began production in the Arlington County Gunston Arts Center.[4]. This original home was in the the library of a former middle school which had been converted to a black box theater. They rapidly outgrew this facility and in 1993 acquired a defunct Auto Bumper Plating shop, AKA "The Garage", which they converted into a 136 seat black box . In 2007, however, in partnership with Arlington County Virginia, Signature moved into a new $16 million theater complex built in The Village at Shirlington.[6][7] The first floor of the building houses the Shirlington Branch of the Arlington County Public Library.[8] The upper three floors house the theater. The complex has an industrial decor, with exposed particle board, pipes and metal sheeting. It includes two state-of-the-art black box theaters. The larger, christened "Max" in honor of Maxine Isaacs, seats 275 and can expand to accommodate 350 patrons. The smaller "Ark", named in honor of Arlene and Robert Kogod, can hold 99. The theaters are built as "square box within a square box, floating on hockey pucks. At $30 a puck. It is built like a soundstage" In addition to the two performance spaces, the complex contains a spacious lobby, meeting rooms, three rehearsal spaces, four individual dressing rooms, three shared dressing rooms, three showers, a cast greenroom, a separate orchestra greenroom, three kitchen areas, scene, prop, and costume shops.[6][9] The large lobby was named by donors Gilbert and Jaylee Mead in honor Gilbert's late son Rob Mead.[6]
Current (2009-2010) Season Productions
[10]
- Dirty Blonde by Claudia Shear; August 11 – October 4, 2009 in the Ark; reviewed by The Washington Post[11]
- Show Boat by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern. Based on the novel by Edna Ferber; November 10, 2009 – January 17, 2010 in the Max; reviewed by The Washington Post[12]
- I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright; January 12 – March 7, 2010 in the Ark; reviewed by The Washington Post[13]
- Sweeney Todd by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim; February 9 – April 4, 2010 in the Max (third Signature production); reviewed by The Washington Post[14]
- [title of show] by Hunter Belland Jeff Bowen; March 30 – June 20, 2010 in the Ark
- Sycamore Trees by Ricky Ian Gordon; May 18 – June 20, 2010 in the Max (world premier)
Next (2010-2011) Season Productions
[15]
- ^A Fox On The Fairway by Ken Ludwig; October 12 – November 14, 2010 in the Max
- ^Walter Cronkite Is Dead by Joe Calarco; October 26 – December 19, 2010 in the Ark
- ^Wheatley's Folly Book by Michael Slade Music by Joseph Thalken Lyrics by Mark Campbell; March 15 – April 10, 2011 in the Max
^ - World Premiere
Recent Productions
Recent 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.[16]
Signature's 2008-2009 season featured a Broadway-bound season opener - the musical Ace, The Little Dog Laughed, The Lieutenant Of Inishmore, a world premiere musical with music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, Giant, See What I Wanna See, and Les Misérables.[17]
Significant Past Productions
- SWEENEY TODD By Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler; August 27 - September 21, 1991. This production was significant because it was the first of the Sondheim musicals produced by Signature and the critical acclaim established the company
- ASSASSINS By Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman; August 20 - October 3, 1992. This production was significant because it was attended by Stephen Sondheim and began a long term relationship between the theatre and Sondheim
- THE FIX by John Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe; March 17 - May 10, 1998. This production was significant because it began a long term relationship between the theatre and Cameron Mackintosh
- GRAND HOTEL, By Luther Davis, Robert Wright, George Forrest, Maury Yeston; August 21 - October 7, 2001. This production was significant because it was running on 9/11 and resonated so well with the mood of the country afterwords
- LES MISÉRABLES by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Based on a novel by Victor Hugo; December 2, 2008 – February 22, 2009. This production was significant because established the ability of Signature Theatre to adapt large musical productions to a small stage.
For a complete production history see http://www.sig-online.org/pro_hist.htm
Awards
275 Helen Hayes Nominations with 69 Awards (as of 2009) including the following
- 2009 Outstanding Resident Musical Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical - Les Misérables.[21]
- 2006 Outstanding Resident Musical - Urinetown.[21]
- 2005 Outstanding Resident Musical - Allegro.[21]
- 2001 Outstanding Resident Musical - Side Show.[21]
- 1999 Outstanding Resident Play - Nijinsky's Last Dance.[21]
- 1997 Outstanding Resident Musical - Passion.[21]
- 1995 Outstanding Resident Musical - Into the Woods.[21]
- 1993 Outstanding Resident Musical - Assassins.[21]
- 1992 Outstanding Resident Musical - Sweeney Todd.[21]
Other Items Of Note
The Signature Theatre 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 intensive course for performers age 18 and older, is held to encourage young musical theatre performers in the area. A separate, 'pre-Overtures' program (for ages 14-17) exists for younger students, called "Stage One".
- The Cabaret series features professional cabaret singers from Washington and New York City.
Signature Theatre is a member of League of Resident Theatres (LORT) using the League administered collective bargaining agreements with Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), and United Scenic Artists (USA).[22]
Signature Theatre is a member of the League of Washington Theaters (LOWT).[23]
See also
References
- ^ "Signature "About Us"". http://www.sig-online.org/about.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
- ^ Randy Shulman (5 July 2007). "Signature Style: Eric Schaeffer turned his passion for musicals into Arlington's theatrical crown jewel". Metro Weekly. http://metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=2841. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ washingtonpost.com article, "A Signature Space To Match Its Reputation", Jan. 11, 2007
- ^ Schaeffer, Eric with Valente, Sarah (2011). My Signature Story. Parker, CO: Outskirts Press Inc. pp. 12, 122. ISBN 978-1-4327-6199-8.
- ^ a b c Trescott, Jacqueline (January 11, 2007). "A Signature Space To Match Its Reputation". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011002673.html. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
- ^ "New Home for Signature Theatre in Shirlington","Washingtonian.com", January 1, 2007
- ^ "Arlington Virginia - Shirlington Library". http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/libraries/about/librariesaboutshirlington.aspx. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
- ^ "Signature Theatre Open House Back Stage Tour". 13 January 2007.
- ^ "Signature 2009-2010 Season". Signature Theatre. http://www.sig-online.org/new_seasondescrip.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ Marks, Peter (August 19, 2009). "'Dirty'? Come Up and See It Sometime". The Washington Post. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Signature_Theatre_%28Arlington,_Virginia%29&action=edit§ion=3. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ Marks, Peter (November 19, 2009). "Signature's 'Show Boat'? Too often, it just keeps roilin' along". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/18/AR2009111804009.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ Marks, Peter (January 20, 2010). "Theater review: Andrew Long in 'I Am My Own Wife' at Signature". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011904079.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ Pressley, Nelson (February 23, 2010). "Theater review of 'Sweeney Todd' at Signature Theater". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022204781.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ "Signature 2010-2011 Season". Signature Theatre. http://www.sig-online.org/10-11_seasondescrip.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."Kiss to Build a Dream On: Chase, Diaz, Foster Ignite Kander & Ebb Festival in DC", Playbill.com, March 11, 2008
- ^ Signature Theatre listing, 2008-09 season
- ^ "Tony Legacy - Search Past Winners - Signature Theatre". http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/archive/pastwinners/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^ "John Larson Grant Recipients". American Theatre Wing. http://americantheatrewing.org/larsongrants/recipients.php. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
- ^ "Playscripts Inc - Authors - Janet Allard Bio and play details". Playscripts Inc. http://www.playscripts.com/author.php3?authorid=124. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Helen Hayes Awards Search Recipients - Signature". http://www.helenhayes.org/sub/nrsearch.cfm. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^ "LORT Member Theatres". http://lort.web.officelive.com/members.aspx. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
- ^ "Members of the League of Washington Theatres". http://www.lowt.org/members/members.html#S. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
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