Signature Theatre News

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) announced today, that as of April 14, 2014, Erin Moore will be the new Executive Director, replacing Taryn Sacramone, who resigned last June. This is the culmination of a nearly year-long search for that candidate whose love for the performing arts is matched only by her commitment to further the cultural vibrancy of Queens. Moore's first production as Executive Director will be Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro, directed by APAC's Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik, opening May 1st, 2014.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Observership Program grants emerging Directors and Choreographers 25 paid opportunities to observe the work of master Directors and Choreographers as they create productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and at leading regional theatres across the country. SDCF Observers have access to the entire rehearsal process, from first rehearsal through previews to opening night. Observers are guaranteed the invaluable opportunity to observe, first-hand, the techniques, disciplines, approaches and insights of master artists as they create new productions and revive classics.

Best for ages 5-10, Cinderella: the Remix runs in Imagination Stage's Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Theatre April 9-May 25, 2014. Tickets start at $10, and may be purchased online at www.imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or via phone at 301-280-1660. Group rates are available.

Signature Theatre just held its Annual Gala celebration last night, April 7, 2014 honoring 108th New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and actor/playwright/director Ruben Santiago-Hudson. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the gala below!

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, April 6, 2014.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Atlantic Theater opens THE THREEPENNY OPERA tonight, and D.C.'s Signature Theatre honors Jonathan Tunick at its annual gala!

With Broadway's 2014 season now in full swing, there's a solid group of performers making their Broadway debuts this Spring. Meet all of the Great White Way's newest stars below, and be sure to let us know who you're most looking forward to seeing onstage!

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the world premiere of The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley, directed by Patricia McGregor. The House that will not Stand will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) April 18-May 10. Opening Night is Thursday, April 24.

On April 7, 2014, Broadway stars Heidi Blickenstaff, Pamela Myers, and Ron Raines will perform alongside an 18-piece orchestra as Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre honors renowned orchestrator and longtime Stephen Sondheim collaborator, Jonathan Tunick.

Longtime theatreWashington Board Chairman Victor Shargai will be honored with the Helen Hayes Tribute at the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the National Building Museum. In addition to serving as theatreWashington's board chair since 1997, Shargai has been instrumental in advocating for the entire Washington theatre community. As a board member and patron of several flagship theatres, he played a leading role in the area's artistic renaissance, which saw the number of professional theatres grow exponentially, creating an environment that now supports more than 200 productions annually.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, will present The Last Five Years, written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, from May 7 through June 1, 2014 on the Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Theatre.

MetroStage will be producing its first In Rep series this spring featuring two one man shows The Thousandth Night by Carol Wolf starring Marcus Kyd (today, Apr. 3-May 18) and Underneath the Lintel by Glen Berger starring Paul Morella (Apr. 17-May 25.) Both will be directed by John Vreeke.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre announces the cast for The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife.

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 18 categories and one special award for the 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed husband and wife actors and comedians, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

Cherry Lane Theatre's award-winning MENTOR PROJECT for emerging playwrights concludes its 16th season with Lina Patel's new play RAGGED CLAWS, running at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St. in Greenwich Village) from today, April 2 to 12. Jedadiah Schultz directs RAGGED CLAWS, and the Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang serves as Ms. Patel's Mentor Playwright.

Columbia Stages will present NEW PLAYS NOW, a festival of new plays by Columbia's MFA Playwriting Class of 2014. NEW PLAYS NOW will be presented at The Ford Studio of The Signature Theatre at Pershing Square, 480 West 42nd Street, with the exception of The Big White Door, which will be held at The Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. Festival runs from April 3 - 26, 2014.

Announced earlier today, Everyman Theatre and Foreman Wolf Restaurants' upcoming wine and food festival - Vino Festa - will now include an incredible line-up of performers to be featured throughout the event. The previously announced Baltimore soul sensation Bosley will be featured throughout the event, as well. Vino Festa will take place on Saturday, April 5th beginning at 6:30pm. All festivities will take place at Everyman Theatre.