Marisa Michelson News

Jeanine Tesori, the composer of Shrek the Musical and Caroline, or Change, joins Adam Guettel, Michael John LaChiusa, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Joseph Thalken as a newly commissioned composer for Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre.

Previews will begin today at Virginia's Signature Theatre for the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees written by Ricky Ian Gordon, the award-winning composer of the opera The Grapes of Wrath and the musicals Dream True and My Life with Albertine. A starry Broadway cast portrays Gordon's own family story - complete with a tough Bronx-born father and former 'Borscht Belt' singer/comedian mother - in a tale of two generations' struggles and triumphs in the decades from World War II through the 1990s.

Signature Theatre, the current recipient of the Tony Award® for Regional Theatre, presents the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees by Ricky Ian Gordon, composer of the acclaimed opera The Grapes of Wrath and the OBIE Award-winning Orpheus and Euridice, as well as the musicals My Life with Albertine and Dream True.

Mark Kudisch, set to star in the Washington area premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's SYCAMORE TREES at the Signature Theatre, has said he has made a career of playing the jilted man who doesn't need to find love. As he put it, 'I have made a career of being the foil.'

Previews will begin today at Virginia's Signature Theatre for the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees written by Ricky Ian Gordon, the award-winning composer of the opera The Grapes of Wrath and the musicals Dream True and My Life with Albertine. A starry Broadway cast portrays Gordon's own family story - complete with a tough Bronx-born father and former 'Borscht Belt' singer/comedian mother - in a tale of two generations' struggles and triumphs in the decades from World War II through the 1990s.

Signature Theatre, the current recipient of the Tony Award® for Regional Theatre, presents the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees by Ricky Ian Gordon, composer of the acclaimed opera The Grapes of Wrath and the OBIE Award-winning Orpheus and Euridice, as well as the musicals My Life with Albertine and Dream True.

Angela Lansbury, the great star of stage, film, and television, was honored April 12 with the first annual Stephen Sondheim Award, given by Virginia's Signature Theatre at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy. The Sondheim Award, established by Signature last year in the name of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented to the actress by Mr. Sondheim himself.

Angela Lansbury, the great star of stage, film, and television, was honored tonight with the first Stephen Sondheim Award, given by Virginia's Signature Theatre at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy. The Sondheim Award, established by Signature last year in the name of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented to the actress by Mr. Sondheim himself.

Angela Lansbury, the great star of stage, film, and television, was honored tonight with the first annual Stephen Sondheim Award, given by Virginia's Signature Theatre at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy.

On April 12, 2010, the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor beloved stage, screen, and television actress Angela Lansbury with the company's first Stephen Sondheim Award. (The celebration was originally scheduled to take place on April 26, 2010). The award, established last year in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy. The 2010 Sondheim Award Gala is chaired by C. Daniel and Juliann Clemente; Honorary Hosts include actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bernadette Peters, philanthropists Helen Henderson and Ted and Mary Jo Shen, and Congressman James Moran and LuAnn Bennett. The Sondheim Award Gala will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community outreach programs.

Signature Theatre, the current recipient of the Tony Award® for Regional Theatre, presents the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees by Ricky Ian Gordon, composer of the acclaimed opera The Grapes of Wrath and the OBIE Award-winning Orpheus and Euridice, as well as the musicals My Life with Albertine and Dream True.

Broadway stars Victor Garber, Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, and Signature favorite Sherri L. Edelen will salute Angela Lansbury at the Signature Theatre's Sondheim Award Gala on April 12 at the Embassy of Italy. The beloved stage, screen, and television actress will be presented with the company's first Stephen Sondheim Award, established last year in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer.

On April 12, 2010, the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor beloved stage, screen, and television actress Angela Lansbury with the company's first Stephen Sondheim Award. (The celebration was originally scheduled to take place on April 26, 2010). The award, established last year in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy. The 2010 Sondheim Award Gala is chaired by C. Daniel and Juliann Clemente; Honorary Hosts include actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bernadette Peters, philanthropists Helen Henderson and Ted and Mary Jo Shen, and Congressman James Moran and LuAnn Bennett. The Sondheim Award Gala will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community outreach programs.

When he inaugurated The Denver Center Theatre Company's Colorado New Play Summit in 2006, Artistic Director Kent Thompson called the event a 'summit' because of the glorious Rocky Mountains and his goal to build the event into a peak experience... 'a new play festival that is a must-see event for theatre professionals from across the United States.'

Eric Schaeffer, artistic director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced tha stage, screen, and television actress Angela Lansbury will receive the company's Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented to Ms. Lansbury on Monday, April 26, 2010, at a black-tie gala dinner in Washington, DC. The Sondheim Award Gala will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community outreach programs.

On Monday, August 31st, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB @ The Duplex, the monthly cabaret series that highlights new composers, lyricists, and performers.

On Monday, August 31st, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB @ The Duplex, the monthly cabaret series that highlights new composers, lyricists, and performers.

Many graduates of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts are currently appearing with notable summer stock companies. Nadine Malouf of North Grafton (FSPA '05) is appearing in Rent at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont; Chris LeBeau of Holliston (FSPA '04) is currently featured in Crazy For You at The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, Meghan Trahan of Franklin (FSPA '04) is performing in Side Show with the Elden Street Players in Herndon, VA, Matt Rickard of Franklin (FSPA '04) is working with the Reagle Players in Waltham, Ma.

This summer the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, one of the nation?s leading forces in musical theater, launches 21/24 Signature Lab, a new initiative for the creation of musical theatre works by emerging young composers which gives audiences a first look at new musicals.

Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced that Signature Theatre is expanding its American Musical Voices Project (AMVP) for a fourth year with the commission and production of a new musical by Adam Guettel for its 2011-2012 season. Also announced as part of The Next Generation segment of the AMVP were two additional musical commissions awarded to Peter Foley and Marisa Michelson as well as honoree grants given to Chris Miller and Scott Davenport Richards for the development of future musical ideas. Signature, with the support of The Shen Family Foundation, has awarded $595,000 to artists in honors and commissions in the past three years. The American Musical Voices Project is the largest single musical theater commissioning and producing initiative at any non-profit theater in America.