Signature Theatre News

Host Estelle Parsons, honorees, presenters, and the League of Professional Theatre Women had a blast at this year's LPTW Awards & Big Mingle at the Pershing Square Signature Theatre Center on Monday, May 2nd, 2016. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - are proud to present the closing concert of their successful inaugural season. MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY: A 60s Cocktail Party will debut at the George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium today, May 6th at 8:00 PM.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell presents the World Premiere of SHOES & BAGGAGE, a one-woman musical about the 'high of the buy.' It is written and performed by Broadway veteran Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, The Women) with music by Drama Desk nominee Tom Kochan (Almost, Maine). Directed by Joe Barros, previews begin tonight, May 5, at the cell with opening slated for Thursday, May 12. This limited engagement is produced on an Off-Broadway contract.

Mara Davi to appear at the Long Wharf Theatre's play, My Paris by Alfred Uhry.

Today's big news: Scott Coulter and Jessica Hendy headline THE QUENTIN TARANTINO SONGBOOK, the cast of TUCK EVERLASTING is performing on TODAY, and we're meeting with this year's Tony nominees, so stay tuned for coverage!

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of DAPHNE'S DIVE, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes (Water by the Spoonful, In the Heights) and directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Fox's 'Grease: Live'). The production is currently in previews for an extended run through June 12, with a May 15 opening night in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Led by Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereira, The Playwrights Realm is pleased to announce its 2016-17 10th anniversary season. Over the past decade, The Realm has continually produced work by brave new voices and worked to introduce new initiatives to expand its commitment to providing holistic support to playwrights as they strive to make a life in the arts.

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to announce its full 2016-17 Season, kicking off this fall with its first-ever world premiere - THE BLACK SLOT, Warren Hoffman's hilarious and biting satire about racial politics in the American regional theater, directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen. 

In the 2014-15 season, the NYC theatre industry hit a record high in the 9 years AAPAC has data collected. For the first time, 30% of all available roles went to actors of color, a jump from 24% the previous year. After three years in a row of exceeding the nine-year average of 23%, it seems safe to say that there is a definite upward trend in the casting of actors of color.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell presents the World Premiere of SHOES & BAGGAGE, a one-woman musical about the "high of the buy." It is written and performed by Broadway veteran Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, The Women) with music by Drama Desk nominee Tom Kochan (Almost, Maine). Directed by Joe Barros , previews begin May 5 at the cell with opening slated for Thursday, May 12.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of La Cage aux Folles directed and choreographed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner.

The Off-Broadway League tonight presents the 31st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway at NYU Skirball Center. BroadwayWorld will be bringing you the full list of winners below. Stay tuned to find out who will win big!

Previews begin Sunday, May 1, at 7:30pm for Theatre for a New Audience's production of August Strindberg's The Father in a new version by Scottish author David Greig commissioned by Theatre for a New Audience and Tuesday, May 10, at 7:30pm for A Doll's House in an adaptation by Thornton Wilder not seen in New York since its Broadway premiere in 1937.  The plays, both directed by Arin Arbus, Associate Artistic Director of Theatre for a New Audience, feature Maggie Lacey as Nora in A Doll's House and as Laura in The Father and John Douglas Thompson as Thorwald in A Doll's House and the Captain in The Father.

  The Ridgefield Playhouse and Ridgefield Magazine Broadway and Cabaret Series bring Tony Award winner Betty Buckley - Live in Concert on Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. in a special one night only performance! 

Drama Desk, Tony®, and Emmy® Award nominee and Theater World Award and NAACP Image Award winner Vanessa Williams (Into The Woods, The Trip to Bountiful, 'Ugly Betty') and Drama Desk, Tony®, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Drama League Award Nominee and SAG & TV Land Award winner Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland, Hairspray, The Light in the Piazza, 'Glee') just announced the nominations for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards.

A re-imagined version of the 1921 musical SHUFFLE ALONG, one of the earliest stage hits starring, written and directed by African-Americans, opens tonight, April 28, on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. SHUFFLE ALONG has a new book and is directed by George C. Wolfe, choreographed by Savion Glover. Scroll down to learn more about the company, plus watch SUNDAY MORNING's recent behind-the-scenes look at the show!

The 7th Annual Lilly Awards Ceremony, which celebrates women of distinction in the American Theater, will this year honor playwright Danai Gurira, actor Martha Plimpton, director Kate Whoriskey, actor Mia Katigbak, and more to be announced. The Lilly Awards will be presented Monday, May 23, at the Signature Theatre (480 West 42nd St).

The Drama League has announced the 11 stage directors who have been selected as the 2016 Directing Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project: Noa Egozi, Drew Feldman, Sara Holdren, Candis Jones, Yavor Kostov, Katie Lupica, James Palmer, Jesca Prudencio, Ilana Ransom Toeplitz, Chloe Treat, Shaun Patrick Tubbs. More information can be found at www.dramaleague.org

Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, April 24, 2016 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!

Ghostlight Records will release a special EP of world-premiere recordings by acclaimed singer/songwriter SHAINA TAUB - which she wrote for and performed in the hit Off-Broadway production of Old Hats - on Friday, April 29.