Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia)
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Signature Theatre is a
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...
winning regional theater company based in
Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...
.


Overview

Founded in 1989, Signature Theatre is known for its productions of contemporary musicals and plays, reinventions of classic musicals, and development of new work. Under the leadership of Co-Founder and former Artistic Director
Eric D. Schaeffer Eric D. Schaeffer is an American theater director and producer based in Arlington, Virginia. He is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Signature Theatre., and is well known nationally for his re-invention of large American musicals for ...
and Managing Director Maggie Boland, the company has staged 59 world premiere productions, including 19 new musical commissions. Signature is home to the single largest musical theater commissioning project in the United States, The American Musical Voices Project.
Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...
, Terrence McNally,
James Lapine James Elliot Lapine (born January 10, 1949) is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for ''Into the Woods'', '' Falsettos'', and '' Passion''. He ...
, John Kander, and
Fred Ebb Fred Ebb (April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004) was an American musical theatre lyricist who had many successful collaborations with composer John Kander. The Kander and Ebb team frequently wrote for such performers as Liza Minnelli and Chita Riv ...
are among those that have presented works here. Since 1991, Signature has had a long relationship with
Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...
, producing 30 of his musicals, revues and concerts—more than any other professional theater in the country. The theatre established a Sondheim Award "as a tribute to America's most influential contemporary musical theatre composer". The first award, to Stephen Sondheim, was presented at an April 27, 2009 benefit with performances by
Bernadette Peters Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo co ...
,
Michael Cerveris Michael Cerveris (born November 6, 1960) is an American actor, singer, and guitarist. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including several Stephen Sondheim musicals: ''Assassins'', ''Sweeney Todd'', '' Road Show'', and '' Passi ...
, Will Gartshore and Eleasha Gamble. The 2020 awardee is
Carol Burnett Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and writer. Her groundbreaking comedy variety show ''The Carol Burnett Show'', which originally aired on CBS was one of the first of its kind to be hosted ...
. Recent awardees include
Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...
(2017), John Kander (2018), and
Audra McDonald Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970) is an American actress and singer. Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four act ...
(2019).


History

In 1989, in response to DC's theater scene that was dominated by large venues that presented mostly traditional plays and the desire to create a “signature” brand of provocative works, graphic designer and performer Eric Schaeffer founded Signature Theatre with actor Donna Migliaccio. Signature first began in Arlington county's Gunston Middle School auditorium, and in 1991 Signature presented their first production of a musical, Sweeney Todd, a stand-out hit, that put Signature on the map, earned four Helen Hayes Awards and solidified Signature's (and Eric Schaeffer's) reputation as an intrepid producer of Stephen Sondheim's work. In 1993, Signature Theatre converted a defunct auto garage into a blackbox theater, and remained there for the following thirteen years. While in the “garage,” Signature grew into one of the Washington area's leading producers of musical theater. In January 2007, Signature completed a $16 million capital campaign for a dramatic new two-theater facility that tripled its former garage space and now serves as the cultural anchor of Arlington's Village at Shirlington. On June 7, 2009, Signature received theater's highest artistic honor – the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award® – in recognition of artistic excellence. Today, attracting talent from the DC metropolitan region and New York, Signature has grown to reach more than 100,000 people annually from the Washington, DC region and beyond and garners praise from local and national press including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, BroadwayWorld.com, Playbill, Time, Variety, USA Today and American Theatre. Signature has won 107 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 431 nominations. Eric Schaeffer resigned on June 23, 2020, amidst multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault.


Facilities

In 1989 Signature Theatre began production in the Arlington County Gunston Arts Center. This original home was in 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 The Village at Shirlington opened as Shirlington Shopping Center in 1944, and was the first large shopping center to open in the Washington, D.C. suburbs and one of the earliest in the United States. It is located along Campbell Avenue (formerly ...
. The first floor of the building houses the Shirlington Branch of the Arlington County Public Library. 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 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. The large lobby was named by donors Gilbert and Jaylee Mead in honor Gilbert's late son Rob Mead.


Notable past productions

*''
Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–47). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet Stre ...
'' By
Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...
and
Hugh Wheeler Hugh Callingham Wheeler (19 March 1912 – 26 July 1987) was a British novelist, screenwriter, librettist, poet and translator. He resided in the United States from 1934 until his death and became a naturalized citizen in 1942. He had attended L ...
; August 27 – September 21, 1991. *''
Assassins An assassin is a person who commits targeted murder. Assassin may also refer to: Origin of term * Someone belonging to the medieval Persian Ismaili order of Assassins Animals and insects * Assassin bugs, a genus in the family ''Reduviid ...
'' By Stephen Sondheim and
John Weidman John Weidman (born September 25, 1946) is an American librettist and television writer for ''Sesame Street''. He has worked on stage musicals with Stephen Sondheim and Susan Stroman. Career Weidman was born in New York City and grew up in Westport ...
; August 20 – October 3, 1992. *''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 Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...
*'' Grand Hotel'', By Luther Davis, Robert Wright, George Forrest,
Maury Yeston Maury Yeston (born October 23, 1945) is an American composer, lyricist and music theorist. He is known as the initiator of new Broadway musicals and writing their music and lyrics, as well as a classical orchestral and ballet composer, Yale Uni ...
; August 21 – October 7, 2001. *Signature's 2007–2008
Kander and Ebb Kander and Ebb were a highly successful American songwriting team consisting of composer John Kander (born March 18, 1927) and lyricist Fred Ebb (April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004). Known primarily for their stage musicals, which include ' ...
Celebration, featuring '' Kiss of the Spider Woman'' starring Natascia Diaz, Will Chase, and
Hunter Foster Hunter Foster (born June 25, 1969) is an American musical theatre actor, singer, librettist, playwright and director. Career After touring in several shows and playing on Broadway, in 2001 he was cast in his breakthrough role of Bobby Strong i ...
, then ''
The Happy Time ''The Happy Time'' is a 1952 American comedy-drama film directed by the award-winning director Richard Fleischer, based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Robert Fontaine, which Samuel A. Taylor turned into a hit play. A boy, played by Bobb ...
'', and finally '' The Visit'' which starred
Chita Rivera Chita Rivera (born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson; January 23, 1933), is an American actress, singer and dancer best known for originating roles in Broadway musicals including Anita in ''West Side Story'', Velma Kelly in ''Chic ...
and
George Hearn George Hearn (born June 18, 1934) is an American actor and singer, primarily in Broadway musical theatre. Early years Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Hearn studied philosophy at Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College before he embarked on ...
.Jones, Kennet
"Kiss to Build a Dream On: Chase, Diaz, Foster Ignite Kander & Ebb Festival in DC"
''Playbill.com'', March 11, 2008
*''Les Misérables'' by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Based on a novel by Victor Hugo; December 2, 2008 – February 22, 2009. *'' Glory Days'' by James Gardiner and Nick Blaemire; January 15 – February 17, 2008 *''
Giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...
'' by Michael John LaChuisa and
Sybille Pearson Sybille Pearson (born January 25, 1937, in Prague, Czechoslovakia)
filmreference.com, accessed February 18, 2011< ...
; April 28 – May 31, 2009 *''First You Dream- The Music of Kander & Ebb;'' September 10 – 27, 2009 *
Chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...
by
Benny Andersson Göran Bror Benny Andersson (; born 16 December 1946) is a Swedish musician, singer, composer and producer best known as a member of the musical group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess'', ''Kristina från Duvemåla'', and '' Mamma M ...
,
Björn Ulvaeus Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (; born 25 April 1945) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, producer, a member of the musical group ABBA, and co-composer of the musicals '' Chess'', '' Kristina från Duvemåla'', and ''Mamma Mia!'' He co-produced the films ...
,
Tim Rice Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', ...
; Aug. 10 – October 3, 2010 *''Really Really'', Paul Downs Colaizzo; January 31 – March 25, 2012 * ''Sunday In The Park With George'', by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine; August. 5 – September 21, 2014 *''Diner'' by
Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three ...
and
Barry Levinson Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American filmmaker, comedian and actor. Levinson's best-known works are mid-budget comedy drama and drama films such as '' Diner'' (1982); ''The Natural'' (1984); '' Good Morning, Vietnam'' (1987); ...
; December 9 – January 25, 2015 *''
West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...
,'' by Stephen Sondheim,
Arthur Laurents Arthur Laurents (July 14, 1917 – May 5, 2011) was an American playwright, theatre director, film producer and screenwriter. After writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the U.S. Army during World War II ...
,
Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...
; December 8 – Jan. 24, 2016 *''
Jelly's Last Jam ''Jelly's Last Jam'' is a musical with a book by George C. Wolfe, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and music by Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson. Based on the life and career of Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known as Jelly Roll Morton and generally ...
'', by
George C. Wolfe George Costello Wolfe (born September 23, 1954) is an American playwright and director of theater and film. He won a Tony Award in 1993 for directing '' Angels in America: Millennium Approaches'' and another Tony Award in 1996 for his direction o ...
,
Susan Birkenhead Susan Birkenhead is an American lyricist. Birkenhead made her Broadway debut as one of a team of songwriters contributing to '' Working'' (1978), for which she received her first Tony Award nomination. Her second was earned for ''Jelly's Last Ja ...
,
Jelly Roll Morton Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Morton was jazz's first arranger, proving that a gen ...
,
Luther Henderson Luther Henderson (March 14, 1919 – July 29, 2003) was an American arranger, composer, orchestrator, and pianist best known for his contributions to Broadway musicals. Early life and career Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Henderson relocated to t ...
August 2 – September 11, 2016 *''
Freaky Friday ''Freaky Friday'' is a comedic children's novel written by Mary Rodgers, first published by Harper & Row in 1972. It has been adapted for several films, including versions in 1976, 1995, 2003, and 2018, and was reinterpreted as a horror film f ...
'', by Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey, Bridget Carpenter, October 4 – November 20, 2016 * ''Titanic'', by Maury Yeston and Peter Stone December 13 – January 29, 2017 *''
A Little Night Music ''A Little Night Music'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film ''Smiles of a Summer Night'', it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a ...
'', by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler August 15 – October 8, 2017


Production history


1990–1991 season

* ''Millfire'', by Sally Nemeth. Directed by Dorothy Newman; October 9–27, 1990 * ''
A Life in the Theatre ''A Life in the Theatre'' is a 1977 play by David Mamet. It focuses on the relationship between two actors, the play's only characters. One, Robert, is a stage veteran while John is a young, promising actor. As the play goes on they are involv ...
'' by
David Mamet David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, filmmaker, and author. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and '' Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first gained cri ...
. Directed by Robert McNamera; February 12 – March 2, 1991 * '' Les Liaisons Dangereuses'' by Christopher Hampton. Directed by Jack Marshall; April 10–27, 1991


1991–1992 season

* ''Sweeney Todd'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 27 – September 21, 1991 * ''Eagle River'', by Paulette Laufer. Directed by Dorothy Newman; January 8 – February 1, 1992 * ''The Wall of Water'', by Sherry Kramer. Directed by Gloria Dugan; April 1–25, 1992 * '' The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia,'' by Preston Jones. Directed by Donald R. Martin; June 24 – July 18, 1992


1992–1993 season

* ''Assassins'', music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...
, book by
John Weidman John Weidman (born September 25, 1946) is an American librettist and television writer for ''Sesame Street''. He has worked on stage musicals with Stephen Sondheim and Susan Stroman. Career Weidman was born in New York City and grew up in Westport ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 20 – October 3, 1992 * ''
Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love ''Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love'' is a 1989 stage play written by Canadian playwright Brad Fraser. Set in Edmonton, Alberta, the comedy-drama follows the lives of several sexually frustrated "thirty-somethings" who try t ...
'', by Brad Fraser. Directed by Dorothy Newman & Eric Schaeffer; February 3–27, 1993 * ''
Our Country's Good ''Our Country's Good'' is a 1988 play written by British playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker, adapted from the Thomas Keneally novel ''The Playmaker''. The story concerns a group of Royal Marines and convicts in a penal colony in New South Wales ...
'', by Timberlake Wertenbaker. Directed by Jerry Manning; April 21 – May 22, 1993


1993–1994 season

* '' Company,'' music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; October 19 – November 27, 1993 * ''Raft of the Medusa'', by Joe Pintauro. Directed by Wallace Action; January 11 – March 5, 1994 * ''Vera'', by Roland Reed. Directed by Marcia Gardner; January 18 – March 4, 1994 * ''Abundance'', by Beth Henley. Directed by Dorothy Newman; March 15 – April 23, 1994 *''Wings'' – The Musical, book & lyrics by Arthur Perlman, music by Jeffrey Lunden; May 10 – June 18, 1994


1994–1995 season

* ''
Into The Woods ''Into the Woods'' is a 1987 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. T ...
'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 28 – October 23, 1994 * ''Otabenga'', by John Strand. Directed by Michael Kahn; November 16 – December 17, 1994 * ''Poor Super Man'', by Brad Fraser. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 17 – February 11, 1995 * ''
First Lady Suite ''First Lady Suite'' is a chamber musical by Michael John LaChiusa. The musical contains four separate segments about four of the First Ladies of the United States of America and the people surrounding them. They are: Eleanor Roosevelt, Mamie Eise ...
,'' by ''Michael John Lachuisa''. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 14 – April 15, 1995 * ''Lu Anne Hampton Laverty Oberlander'', by Preston Jones. Directed by Donald R. Martin; May 9 – June 10, 1995 * ''Here to Stay'', by Norman Allen. Directed by Normal Allen; May 20 – June 17, 1995


1995–1996 season

* ''
Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining o ...
'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fredd Ebb, book by
Joe Masteroff Joe Masteroff (December 11, 1919 – September 28, 2018) was an American playwright. Early life Masteroff was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Jewish parents Louis Masteroff from Korsun, Russia (now Ukraine) and to the former Rose Pogost f ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 23 – October 22, 1995 * ''
A Grand Night for Singing ''A Grand Night for Singing'' is a musical revue showcasing the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring songs from such lesser-known works as '' Allegro'', '' Me and Juliet'', ''State Fair'', and ''Pipe Dream'', ...
'', music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. Directed by Karma Camp; November 15 – December 23, 1995 * ''Taking my Life in Your Hands'', by Paulette Laufer. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 17 – February 18, 1996 * ''Four Dogs and a Bone'', by
John Patrick Shanley John Patrick Shanley (born October 13, 1950) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film ''Moonstruck''. His play, '' Doubt: A Parable'', won the 2005 Pulitzer P ...
. Directed by Dorothy Newman; February 28 – March 31, 1996 * '' Passion'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; April 23 – June 30, 1996


1996–1997 season

* '' The Rink'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Terrence McNally. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 21 – October 6 * ''Three Nights in Tehran'', by John Strand. Directed by Kyle Donnelly; November 15 – December 22, 1996 * ''No Way to Treat a Lady'', by Douglas Cohen. Directed by Scott Schwartz; January 22 – March 2, 1997 * ''Melville Slept Here'', by Norman Allen. Directed by Tom Prewitt; March 28 – May 4, 1997 * '' Sunday in the Park with George'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; April 12 – June 15, 1997 (Co-production with arena Stage, Washington, D.C.)


1997–1998 season

* ''Never the Sinner'', by John Logan. Directed by Ethan McSweeney; August 19 – September 30, 1997 * '' Working'', by
Stephen Schwartz Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over five decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as ''Godspell'' (1971), ''Pippin'' (1972), and ''Wicked'' (20 ...
& Nina Faso. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; October 28 – December 7, 1997 * ''Shooting in Madrid'', by Tug Yourgrau. Directed by Tom Prewitt; January 6 – February 23, 1998 * ''The Fix'', book and lyrics by John Dempsey, music by Dana Rowe. directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 17 – May 10, 1998 * ''A Stephen Sondheim Evening'' – ''The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim''. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; May 26 – July 5, 1998


1998–1999 season

* ''
A Little Night Music ''A Little Night Music'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film ''Smiles of a Summer Night'', it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a ...
'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Frank Lombardi; August 18 – October 4, 1998 * ''Nijinsky's Last Dance'', by Norman Allen. Directed by Joe Calarco; November 3 – December 13, 1998 * ''Over & Over'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by
Joseph Stein Joseph Stein (May 30, 1912 – October 24, 2010) was an American playwright best known for writing the books for such musicals as ''Fiddler on the Roof'' and '' Zorba''. Biography Born in New York City to Jewish parents, Charles and Emma ( ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 6 – February 14, 1999 * ''
Tell Me On a Sunday ''Tell Me on a Sunday'' is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black. A one-woman show, it has been performed by a number of female singers/actors, most notably Marti Webb and Bernadette Peters. A one-act song cycl ...
'', music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Don Black. Directed by Marcia Gardner; March 16 – April 25, 1999 * '' Angels in America, Part One: Millenium Approaches'', by
Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...
. Directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner


1999–2000 season

* ''Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika'', by Tony Kushner. Directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner * ''Sweeney Todd'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; September 7 – November 13, 1999 * ''
Floyd Collins William Floyd Collins (July 20, 1887 – February 13, 1925) was an American cave explorer, principally in a region of Kentucky that houses hundreds of miles of interconnected caves, today a part of Mammoth Cave National Park, the longes ...
'', music and lyrics by
Adam Guettel Adam Guettel (; born December 16, 1964) is an American composer- lyricist of musical theater and opera. The grandson of musical theatre composer Richard Rodgers, he is best known for his musical '' The Light in the Piazza'', for which he won the ...
, book by
Tina Landau Tina Landau (born May 21, 1962) is an American playwright and theatre director. Known for her large-scale, musical, and ensemble-driven work, Landau's productions have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, most extensively at the ...
. Directed by Gordon Greenberg; January 4 – February 13, 2000 * ''Available Light'', by Heather McDonald. Directed by Heather McDonald; March 7 – April 16, 2000 * ''
Side Show In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, traveling carnival, carnival, fair, or other such attraction. Types There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions: *The Ten-in-One offers ...
'', music by Henry Kreiger, book and lyrics by Bill Russel. Directed by Joe Calarco; May 9 – June 18, 2000


2000–2001 season

* ''The Rhythm Club'', music by
Matthew Sklar Matthew Sklar (born October 7, 1973) is an American composer for musical theatre, television, and film. His works have appeared on Broadway, the West End, and theatres worldwide. Sklar has written primarily with lyricist Chad Beguelin, having w ...
, book and lyrics by Chad Bequelin''.'' Directed by Eric Schaeffer; September 5 – October 22, 2000 * ''In the Absence of Spring'', by Joe Calarco. Directed by Joe Calarco; November 7 – December 17, 2000 * ''
Gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
'', music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents. Directed by Bayorke Lee; January 9 – February 25, 2001 * ''In the Garden'', by Normal Allen. Directed by Joe Calarco; March 13 – April 2001 * ''
Putting it Together ''Putting it Together'' is a musical revue showcasing the songs of Stephen Sondheim. Drawing its title from a song in '' Sunday in the Park with George'', it was devised by Sondheim and Julia McKenzie. The revue has received several productions ...
,'' music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; May 22 – July 8, 2001


2001–2002 season

* '' Grand Hotel'', music and lyrics by Robert Wright, George Forrest & Maury Yeston, book by Luther Davis. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 21 – October 7, 2001 * ''Zander's Boat'', by Grace Barnes. Directed by Grace Barnes; October 30 – December 9, 2001 * ''The'' ''Gospel According to Fishman'', book and lyrics by Michael Lazar, music and lyrics by Richard Oberacker. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 8 – February 24, 2001 * '' Hedwig & The Angry Inch'', by
John Cameron Mitchell John Cameron Mitchell (born April 21, 1963) is a two-time Tony Award winning American actor, playwright, screenwriter, singer, songwriter, producer and director. He is best known as the writer, director and star of the 2001 film '' Hedwig and th ...
&
Stephen Trask Stephen Trask (born Stephen R. Schwartz; born August 29, 1966) is an American musician and composer who graduated from Wesleyan University. He was the music director and house band member at the New York City club Squeezebox, where they perform ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 19 – May 11, 2002 * ''The Diaries'', by John Strand. Directed by P.J. Papernelli; June 4 – July 14, 2002 * ''The Rink – In Concert'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Terrence McNally; June 19–23, 2002


2002–2003 season

* ''What the Butler Saw'', by Joe Orton. Directed by Jonathan Bernstein; September 3 – October 20, 2002 * ''The Christmas Carol Rag'', by Norman Allen. Directed by Eric Schaeffer, November 12 – December 29, 2002 * '' 110 in the Shade'', music by
Harvey Schmidt Harvey Lester Schmidt (September 12, 1929 – February 28, 2018) was an American composer for musical theatre and illustrator. He was best known for composing the music for the longest running musical in history, '' The Fantasticks'', which ran of ...
, lyrics by Tom Jones, book by
N. Richard Nash Nathan Richard Nusbaum (June 8, 1913 – December 11, 2000), known as N. Richard Nash, was an American writer and dramatist best known for writing Broadway shows, including '' The Rainmaker''. Early life Nash was born Nathan Richard Nusbau ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 21 – March 9, 2003 * ''
Follies ''Follies'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot takes place in a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on the ''Ziegfeld Fol ...
'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by
James Goldman James Goldman (June 30, 1927 – October 28, 1998) was an American playwright and screenwriter. He won an Academy Award for his screenplay '' The Lion in Winter'' (1968). His younger brother was novelist and screenwriter William Goldman. Biog ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; April 1 – June 1, 2003 * ''Donna Q'', by Paulette Laufer. Directed by Jose Carrasquillo; June 17 – July 17, 2003 * '' Mack and Mabel – In Concert'', music and lyrics by
Jerry Herman Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyricist ...
, book by Michael Stewart. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; June 18–22, 2003


2003–2004 season

* ''
Twentieth Century The 20th (twentieth) century began on January 1, 1901 (1901, MCMI), and ended on December 31, 2000 (2000, MM). The 20th century was dominated by significant events that defined the modern era: Spanish flu, Spanish flu pandemic, World War I and ...
'', by Ben Hecht &
Charles MacArthur Charles Gordon MacArthur (November 5, 1895 – April 21, 1956) was an American playwright, screenwriter and 1935 winner of the Academy Award for Best Story. Life and career MacArthur was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the sixth of seven chil ...
, adaptation by
Ken Ludwig Ken Ludwig is an American playwright and theatre director whose work has been performed in more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. Personal life Ken Ludwig was born in York, Pennsylvania. His father was a doctor and his mother was a former ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 19 – September 28, 2003 * '' A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by
Larry Gelbart Larry Simon Gelbart (February 25, 1928 – September 11, 2009) was an American television writer, playwright, screenwriter, director and author, most famous as a creator and producer of the television series ''M*A*S*H'', and as co-writer of the B ...
. Directed by Garry Griffin; October 28 – December 14, 2003 * ''
Allegro Allegro may refer to: Common meanings * Allegro (music), a tempo marking indicate to play fast, quickly and bright * Allegro (ballet), brisk and lively movement Artistic works * L'Allegro (1645), a poem by John Milton * ''Allegro'' (Satie), an ...
'', music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, book adaptation by
Joe DiPietro Joe DiPietro (born 1961) is an American playwright, lyricist and author. He is best known for the Tony Award-winning musical ''Memphis'', for which he won the Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score as well as for writi ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer * '' Elegies: A Song Cycle'', by
William Finn William Alan Finn (born February 28, 1952) is an American composer and lyricist. He is best known for his musicals, which include '' Falsettos'', for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, ''A New B ...
. Directed by Joe Calarco; March 23 – May 9, 2004 * ''The Blue Room'', by David Hare. Directed by Wendy Goldberg; June 1 – July 11, 2004


2004–2005 season

* ''One Red Flower'', by Paris Barclay. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 17 – October 3, 2004 * ''The Highest Yellow'', music and lyrics by Michael John LaChuisa, book by John Strand; October 26 – December 12, 2004 * ''Fallen From Proust'', by Norman Allen. Directed by Joe Calarco; January 11 – February, 2005 * ''The Unknowns'', by Robin Baitz. Directed by rick DeRoches; March 15 – April, 2005 * ''
Pacific Overtures ''Pacific Overtures'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by John Weidman, with "additional material by" Hugh Wheeler. Set in 19th-century Japan, it tells the story of the country's westernization starting in 185 ...
'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; May 17 – July 3, 2005


2005–2006 season

* ''
Urinetown ''Urinetown: The Musical'' is a satirical comedy musical that premiered in 2001, with music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. It satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bu ...
'', music and lyrics by Mark Hollman, book and lyrics by
Greg Kotis Greg Kotis (born 1965/1966) is an American playwright, best known for writing the book and co-writing the lyrics for the musical ''Urinetown''. Biography Career Kotis studied political science at the University of Chicago, where he was a membe ...
. Directed by Joe Calarco; August 16 – October 16, 2005 * ''Yemaya's Belly,'' Quiara Alegria Hudes, directed by Rick DeRoches; November 8 – December 18, 2005 * ''Nevermore'', music by Matt Conner, lyrics by
Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
, book by Grace Barnes. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 10 – February 26, 2006 * ''The Sex Habits of American Women'', by Julie Marie Myatt. Directed by Michael Baron; March 28 – May 7, 2006 * ''Assassins'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman. Directed by Joe Calarco; May 30 – July 30, 2006


2006–2007 season

* ''
My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...
'', music by Frederick Loewe, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; September 26 – November 25, 2007 * ''Into the Woods'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 11 – February 25, 2007 * ''Crave'', by Sarah Kane. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore; January 30 – April 1, 2007 * ''Saving Aimee'', music by David Pomeranz and David Freidman, book and lyrics by
Kathie Lee Gifford Kathryn Lee Gifford ( née Epstein; born August 16, 1953) is an American television presenter, singer, songwriter, actress and author. From 1985 to 2000, she and Regis Philbin hosted the talk show '' Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee''. Gifford is ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; April 10 – May 13, 2007 * ''Nest'', by Bathsheba Dolan. Directed by Joe Calarco; April 24 – June 24, 2007 * ''
The Witches of Eastwick ''The Witches of Eastwick'' is a 1984 novel by American writer John Updike. A sequel, '' The Widows of Eastwick'', was published in 2008. Plot The story, set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Eastwick in the early 1970s, follows the witc ...
'', music by Dana P. Rowe, book and lyrics by John Dempsey. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; June 5 – July 15, 2007


2007–2008 season

* ''Merrily We Roll Along'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth. Directed by Eric Schaeffer' September 4 – October 14, 2007 * ''The Word Begins'', written and performed by Steve Connel and Sekou. Directed and developed by Robert Egan; October 2 – December 2, 2007 * ''The Studio'', written, directed, and performed by Christopher D'Amboise; November 6 – December 9, 2007 * ''Glory Days'', music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire, book by James Gardiner. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 15 – February 17, 2008 * '' Kiss of The Spider Woman'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Terrence McNally. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 11 – April 20, 2008 * ''
The Happy Time ''The Happy Time'' is a 1952 American comedy-drama film directed by the award-winning director Richard Fleischer, based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Robert Fontaine, which Samuel A. Taylor turned into a hit play. A boy, played by Bobb ...
,'' music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred ebb, book by Richard Nash. Directed by Michael Unger; April 1 – June 1, 2008 * '' The Visit'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Terrence McNally. Directed by
Frank Galati Frank Joseph Galati (November 29, 1943 – January 2, 2023) was an American director, writer, and actor. He was a member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company and an associate director at Goodman Theatre. He taught at Northwestern University for many ...
; May 13 – June 22, 2008


2008–2009 season

* ''Ace'', book and music by Richard Oberacker, book and lyrics by Rob Taylor. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 27 – September 28, 2008 * ''
Anyone Can Whistle ''Anyone Can Whistle'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Described as "a satire on conformity and the insanity of the so-called sane," the show tells a story of an economically depressed town w ...
'' – A Benefit Concert, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; October 6, 2008 * ''
The Lieutenant of Inishmore ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' is a black comedy by Martin McDonagh, in which the 'mad' leader of an Irish National Liberation Army splinter group discovers that his cat has been killed. It has been produced twice in the West End and on Bro ...
,'' by Martin McDonagh. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore; September 23 – November 16, 2008 * ''Les Misérables'', music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by
Herbert Kretzmer Herbert Kretzmer (5 October 192514 October 2020) was a South African-born English journalist and lyricist. He was best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and for his long-time collaboration ...
. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; December 2 – February 22, 2009 * ''
The Little Dog Laughed ''The Little Dog Laughed'' is a 2006 comedy play by Douglas Carter Beane. The four characters are an actor, Mitchell, his acerbic agent Diane, a hustler named Alex, and Alex's girlfriend Ellen. When Mitchell and Alex become involved in a physica ...
'', by
Douglas Carter Beane Douglas Carter Beane is an American playwright and screenwriter. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Beane now lives in New York. His works include the screenplay of ''To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! J ...
. Directed by Michael Baron; January 13 – March 15, 2009 * ''
See What I Wanna See ''See What I Wanna See'' is a musical by Michael John LaChiusa based on three short stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa: "Kesa and Morito", "In a Grove" (1922, the inspiration for Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film ''Rashomon'') and '' Dragon: the Old Pott ...
'', music, lyrics, and book by Michael John LaChuisa. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; April 7 – May 31, 2009 * ''
Giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...
'', music and lyrics by Michael John LaChuisa, book by Sybille Pearson. Directed by Johnathan Butterall; April 28 – May 31, 2009


2009–2010 season

* ''First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; September 10-2009 * '' Dirty Blonde'', by Claudia Sheer. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore; August 11 – October 4, 2009 * ''
Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock worke ...
'', music by
Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in ove ...
, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; November 10 – January 17, 2010 * ''
I Am My Own Wife ''I Am My Own Wife'' is a play by Doug Wright based on his conversations with the German antiquarian Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. The one-man play premiered Off-Broadway in 2003 at Playwrights Horizons. It opened on Broadway later that year. The p ...
'', by
Doug Wright Douglas Wright (born December 20, 1962) is an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2004 for his play ''I Am My Own Wife''. Early years Wright was born in Dallas, Texas. He attended and ...
. Directed by Alan Paul; January 12 – March 7, 2010 * ''
Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–47). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet Stre ...
'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; February 9 – March 2010 * itle of show music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen, book by Hunter Bell. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; March 30 – June 20, 2010 * ''Sycamore Trees'', book, music, and lyrics by Ricky Ian Gordon. Directed by
Tina Landau Tina Landau (born May 21, 1962) is an American playwright and theatre director. Known for her large-scale, musical, and ensemble-driven work, Landau's productions have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, most extensively at the ...
; May 18 – June 20, 2010


2010–2011 season

* ''
Chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...
'', music by
Björn Ulvaeus Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (; born 25 April 1945) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, producer, a member of the musical group ABBA, and co-composer of the musicals '' Chess'', '' Kristina från Duvemåla'', and ''Mamma Mia!'' He co-produced the films ...
&
Benny Andersson Göran Bror Benny Andersson (; born 16 December 1946) is a Swedish musician, singer, composer and producer best known as a member of the musical group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess'', ''Kristina från Duvemåla'', and '' Mamma M ...
, lyrics by
Tim Rice Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', ...
, book by Richard Nelson. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 10 – September 26, 2010 * ''A Fox on the Fairway'', by
Ken Ludwig Ken Ludwig is an American playwright and theatre director whose work has been performed in more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. Personal life Ken Ludwig was born in York, Pennsylvania. His father was a doctor and his mother was a former ...
. Directed by
John Rando John Rando is an American stage director who won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for ''Urinetown the Musical'' in 2002. He received his 2nd nomination in the same category in 2015 for the 2014 Broadway revival of '' On the Town''. ...
; October 12 – November 14, 2010 * ''Walter Cronkite is dead'', written and directed by Joe Calarco; October 26 – December 19, 2010 * ''
Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in ...
'', music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, book and lyrics by Don Black & Christopher Hampton. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; December 7 – February 13, 2010 *''And the Curtain Rises'', Music by Joseph Thalken, lyrics by Mark Campbell, book by Michael Slade. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 15 – April 10, 2011 *''
Art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...
,'' by
Yasmina Reza Yasmina Reza (born 1 May 1959) is a French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter best known for her plays Art and ''God of Carnage''. Many of her brief satiric plays have reflected on contemporary middle-class issues. The 2011 blac ...
, translated by Christopher Hampton. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; March 29 – May 22, 2011 *''Side by Side by Sondheim'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; April 26 – June 12, 2011


2011–2012 season

* ''The Hollow'', music by Matt Conner, book by
Hunter Foster Hunter Foster (born June 25, 1969) is an American musical theatre actor, singer, librettist, playwright and director. Career After touring in several shows and playing on Broadway, in 2001 he was cast in his breakthrough role of Bobby Strong i ...
. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; August 23 – October 16, 2011 * ''The Boy Detective Fails'', music and lyrics by Adam Gown, book by Joe Meno. Directed by Joe Calarco; August 25 – October 16, 2011 * ''Saturday Night (musical), Saturday Night'' – A Concert, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Phillip Epstein; October 29–30, 2011 * ''A Second Chance'', book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterel; November 15 – December 11, 2011 * ''Hairspray (musical), Hairspray'', music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by March Shaiman and Scott Wittman, book by Thomas Meehan (writer), Thomas Meehan. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; November 21 – February 5, 2012 * ''Really Really'', by Paul Downs Colaizzo. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; January 31 – March 24, 2012 * ''Brother Russia'', music by Dana P. Rowe, Dana Rowe, book and lyrics by John Dempsey (lyricist), John Dempsey. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 6 – April 15, 2012 * ''God of Carnage'', by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. Directed by Joe Calarco; April 10 – June 24, 2012 * ''Xanadu (musical), Xanadu'', Music & Lyrics by Jeff Lynne & John Farrar, book by Douglas Carter Beane. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; May 8 – July 1, 2012


2012–2013 season

* ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'', music and lyrics by Carol Hall, book by Larry King and Peter Masterson. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 14 – October 21, 2012 * ''Dying City'', by Christopher Shinn. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; October 2 – November 25, 2012 * ''Dreamgirls'', music by Henry Krieger, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; November 13 – January 13, 2013 * ''Shakespeare's R&J'', adapted and directed by Joe Calarco; February 5 – March 3, 2013 * ''Hello, Dolly! (musical), Hello, Dolly!'', music and lyrics by
Jerry Herman Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyricist ...
, book by Michael Stewart. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 15 – May 18, 2013 (A Co-Production with Ford's Theatre) * ''The Last Five Years,'' by Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Aaron Posner; April 2–28, 2013 * '' Company'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; May 21 – June 30, 2013


2013–2014 season

* ''Miss Saigon'', Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. & Alain Boublil. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 16 – October 6, 2013 * ''Pride in the Falls of Autrey Mill'', by Paul Downs Colaizzo. Directed by Michael Kahn (theatre director), Michael Kahn; October 15 – December 8, 2013 * ''Crossing'', music and lyrics by Matt Conner, book by Grace Barnes. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; October 29 – November 24, 2013 * ''Gypsy'', music by Jule Sytne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents. Directed by Joe Calarco; December 17 – January 26, 2014 * ''Beaches'', music by David Austen, lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart, book by Iris Rainer Dart & Thom Thomas. Directed By Eric Schaeffer; February 18 – March 29, 2014 * ''Tender Napalm'', by Philip Ridley. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; March 18 – May 11, 2014 * ''The Threepenny Opera'', music by Kurt Weill, Kurt Weil, book and lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; April 22 – June 1, 2014 * ''Cloak & Dagger'', book, music, and lyrics by Ed Dixon. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; June 12 – July 6, 2014


2014–2015 season

* ''Sunday in the Park with George'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; August 5 – September 21, 2014 * ''Elmer Gantry'', music by Mel Marvin, lyrics by Bob Satuloff, book by John Bishop. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; October 7 – November 9, 2014 * ''Sex with Strangers'', by Laura Eason. Directed by Aaron Posner; October 14 – December 7, 2014 * ''Diner'', music and lyrics by
Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three ...
, book by
Barry Levinson Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American filmmaker, comedian and actor. Levinson's best-known works are mid-budget comedy drama and drama films such as '' Diner'' (1982); ''The Natural'' (1984); '' Good Morning, Vietnam'' (1987); ...
. Directed by Kathleen Marshall; December 9 – January 24, 2015 * ''Kid Victory'', music by John Kander, book and lyrics by Greg Pierce. Directed by Liesl Tommy; February 17 – March 22, 2015 * ''Soon'', book, music, and lyrics by Nick Blaemire. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; March 10 – April 26, 2015 * ''Simply Sondheim'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Co-conceived by David Loud & Eric Schaeffer, directed by Matthew Gardiner; April 2–19, 2015 * ''
Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining o ...
'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff''.'' Directed by Matthew Gardiner; May 12 – June 28, 2015


2015–2016 season

* ''The Fix'', music by Dana Rowe, book and lyrics by John P. Dempsey. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 11 – September 20, 2015 * ''Cake Off'', music by Adam Gwon, lyrics by Adam Gwon & Julia Jordon, book by Sheri Wilner & Julia Jordan. Directed by Joe Calarco; September 19 – November 22, 2015 * ''Girlstar'', Music by Brian Feinstein, book and Lyrics by Anton Dudley. Directed by Eric Scaheffer; October 14 – November 15, 2015 * ''
West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...
'', music by
Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...
, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthurt Laurents. Directed by Matthew Gardiner, December 8 – January 31, 2016 * ''George'': ''My Adventures with Georgie Rose'', by Ed Dixon. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; January 8 – February 7, 2016 * ''Road Show (musical), Road Show'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman. Directed by Gary Griffin; February 16 – March 13, 2016 * ''The Flick'', by Annie Baker. Directed by Joe Calarco; April 1–24, 2016 * ''The Mystery of Love and Sex'', by Bathsheba Doran. Directed by Stella Powell Jones; April 5 – May 8, 2016 * ''La Cage Aux Folles'', music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Harvey Fierstein. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; May 31 – July 10, 2016


2016–2017 season

* ''
Jelly's Last Jam ''Jelly's Last Jam'' is a musical with a book by George C. Wolfe, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and music by Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson. Based on the life and career of Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known as Jelly Roll Morton and generally ...
'', Music by Jelly Roll Morton, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, book by George C. Wolfe. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; August 2 – September 11, 2016 * ''The Gulf'', by Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Joe Calarco; September 13 – November 6, 2016 * ''
Freaky Friday ''Freaky Friday'' is a comedic children's novel written by Mary Rodgers, first published by Harper & Row in 1972. It has been adapted for several films, including versions in 1976, 1995, 2003, and 2018, and was reinterpreted as a horror film f ...
'', music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Brian Yorkey, book by Bridget Carpenter. Directed by Christopher Ashley; October 4 – November 20, 2016 * ''Silver Belles'', Music by Matt Conner, lyrics by Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith, book by Allyson Currin. Directed by Eric Scaeffer; November 22 – December 31, 2016 * ''Titanic (musical), Titanic'', music and by
Maury Yeston Maury Yeston (born October 23, 1945) is an American composer, lyricist and music theorist. He is known as the initiator of new Broadway musicals and writing their music and lyrics, as well as a classical orchestral and ballet composer, Yale Uni ...
, book by Peter Stone. Directed by Eric Scaheffer; December 13, 2016 – January 29, 2017 * ''Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing'', by James Lapine; Directed by James Lapine. February 28 – March 26, 2017 * ''Midwestern Gothic'', music by Josh Schmidt, lyrics by Royce Vavrek and Josh Schmidt, book by Royce Vavrek. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; March 14 – April 30, 2017 * ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by
Tim Rice Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', ...
. Directed by Joe Calarco; May 9 – July 9, 2017


2017–2018 season

* ''A Little Night Music'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 15 – October 15, 2017 * ''An Act of God'', by David Javerbaum. Directed by Elanor Holdridge; October 3 – November 26, 2017 * ''Crazy for You (musical), Crazy For You'', music by George Gerswhin, lyrics by Ira Gerswhin, book by Ken Ludwig. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; November 7, 2017 – January 14, 2018 * ''4,380 Nights'', by Annalisa Dias. Directed byKathleen Akerley ; January 16 – February 18, 2018 * ''Light Years'', book, music, and lyrics by Robbie Schaefer. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; February 6 – March 4, 2018 * ''John'', by Annie Baker. Directed by Joe Calarco; April 3–29, 2018 * ''Girlfriend (album), Girlfriend'', music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet, book by Todd Almond. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; April 17 – June 17, 2018 * ''The Scottsboro Boys (musical), The Scottsboro Boys'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson (writer), David Thompson. Directed by Joe Calarco; May 22 – July 1, 2018


2018–2019 season

* Passion (musical), ''Passion'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; * Heisenberg (play), ''Heisenberg'', by Simon Stephens. Directed by Joe Calarco; September 18 – November 11, 2018 * Billy Elliot the Musical, ''Billy Elliot'', music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall (playwright), Lee Hall, directed by Matthew Gardiner; October 30, 2018 – January 6, 2019 * Ain't Misbehavin' (musical), ''Ain't Misbehavin, Music by Fats Waller, conceived by, Richard Maltby, Jr. & Murray Horwitz. Directed by Joe Calarco; January 23 – March 10, 2019 * ''Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'', by Heather McDonald (playwright), Heather MacDonald. Directed by Nadia Tass; February 26 – April 7, 2019 * Grand Hotel (musical), ''Grand Hotel'', music and lyrics by Robert Wright (musical writer), Robert Wright and George Forrest (author), George Forrest & Maury Yeston, book by Luther Davis. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; April 2 – May 19, 2019 * Spunk (play), ''Spunk'', by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by George C. Wolfe. Directed by Timothy Douglas; April 30 – June 23, 2019 * ''Blackbeard'', music by Dana Rowe, lyrics by John P. Dempsey. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; June 18 – July 14, 2019


2019–2020 season

* ''Assassins'', music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; August 11 – September 29, 2019 * ''Escaped Alone'', by Caryl Churchill. Directed by Holly Twyford; September 24 – November 3, 2019 * ''A Chorus Line'', music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, book by James Kirkwood Jr., James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; October 29, 2019 – January 5, 2020 * ''Gun & Powder'', music by Ross Baum, book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri. Directed by Robert O'Hara; January 28 – February 23, 2020 * ''Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes'', by Dani Stoller. Directed by Stevie Zimmerman; * Camille Claudel (musical), ''Camille Claudel'', music by Frank Wildhorn, book and lyrics by Nan Knighton. Directed by Eric Schaeffer; March 24 – April 19, 2020 * ''Nijinsky's Last Dance'', by Norman Allen. Directed by Joe Calarco; April 14 – May 24, 2020 * ''Hair (musical), Hair'', music by Galt MacDermot, book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni & James Rado. Directed by Matthew Gardiner; May 19 – July 12, 2020


Awards

* 2009 – Regional Theatre Tony Award 431 Helen Hayes Award, Helen Hayes Nominations with 107 Awards (as of 2019) including the following * 2015 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Sunday in the Park With George'' * 2014 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Hello, Dolly!'' * 2013 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Dreamgirls'' * 2013 Charles MacArthur Award – Paul Downs Colaizzo for ''Really Really'' * 2011 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Hairspray'' * 2009 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Les Misérables''. * 2006 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Urinetown''. * 2005 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Allegro''. * 2001 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Side Show''. * 1999 Outstanding Resident Play – ''Nijinsky's Last Dance''. * 1997 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Passion''. * 1995 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Into the Woods''. * 1993 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Assassins''. * 1992 Outstanding Resident Musical – ''Sweeney Todd''.


Programs and memberships

The Signature Theatre offers a number of programs to both writers and performing artists, and to the community.. * ''Signature in the Schools'' is a program designed for Arlington County high school students, culminating in an annual all-student production. * ''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". * "Signature Conservatory," an innovative program for advanced high school actors, began in fall 2018. * The ''Cabaret'' series features professional cabaret singers from Washington and New York City. Signature Theatre is a member of LORT, 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). Signature Theatre is a member of the League of Washington Theaters (LOWT).


See also

*Helen Hayes Award *Theater in Washington, D.C.


References


External links


Official websitearlingtonunwired article, date unknown
{{authority control 1989 establishments in Virginia League of Resident Theatres Theatres in Virginia Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington League of Washington Theatres Tony Award winners Regional theatre in the United States Theatre companies in Virginia, Signature Theatre Theatres completed in 1989