Signature Theatre News

Laughing Dog Media has announced Broadway star and vocal powerhouse JAMES BARBOUR'S Special Guest Artists at his Sixth Annual Holiday Concert. STEPHEN WALLEM will join Mr. Barbour on stage Saturday, December 7. MARY TESTA will join Mr. Barbour on stage Thursday, December 12.

The long-gestating late-career musical drama from John Kander and the late Fred Ebb based on Friedrich Durrenmatt's dark 20th century play THE VISIT is set for a new production at the Williamstown Theatre Festival this summer, starring the iconic Broadway legend who has taken on the major central role of the piece a few times prior, the one and only Chita Rivera.

Signature Theatre has announced that the World Premiere of CHERI, conceived, directed and choreographed by Martha Clarke, will get a one week extension and now play a limited six week run through Sunday December 29 only. The production began preview performances on November 19 and opening night is December 8 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). A limited number of $25 tickets remain for the initial run through December 22 and tickets during the extension week are $75 each. Signature offers a waitlist option for all sold out performances. Names will be taken at the Box Office starting one hour prior to curtain. Waitlist tickets through December 22 are $25, subject to availability.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced A Broadway Christmas Carol, created by Kathy Feininger, will return to MetroStage for a fourth season for the holidays tonight, Nov. 21-Dec. 22. It has been produced the past three seasons and has become a holiday tradition here at MetroStage. Prior to 2009, it had played to sold out houses at Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, for seven consecutive years ending in 2004.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will take the stage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company this holiday season. Making his STC mainstage directing debut, STC Associate Director Alan Paul heads up the hilarious and fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from today, November 21, 2013-January 5, 2014.

Syracuse Stage will present A Christmas Carol, November 23 through December 29, 2013.

The 2013 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust honored playwrights Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph at last night's 2013 Steinberg Playwright Awards held at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. The evening also highlighted the work of David Henry Hwang, who received the 2012 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award, as last year's event was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a brief look back at the event!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater ushers in the 2013/14 Kogod Cradle Series with workshop performances of the local ensemble-driven company dog & pony dc's newest show Toast, a participatory theatrical performance that asks the question: how is devising a play like developing new technology? dog & pony dc returns to Arena Stage following the successful 2012 workshop of their critically acclaimed A Killing Game. The following week, the series continues with a special new cabaret presentation directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner entitled The Power of Two, which reunites Arena Stage favorites Nicholas Rodriguez and Eleasha Gamble, who were last seen performing together as Curley and Laurey in Arena Stage's hit production Oklahoma!. Toast runs December 5-8, 2013 and The Power of Two runs December 11-15, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust honors playwrights Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph at the Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright 'Mimi' Awards tonight, Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York. The 'Mimi' Awards are presented biennially to honor the accomplishments of some of the most gifted up-and-coming American Playwrights and to recognize the promise they hold for the future of American theater.

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the unforgettable film, CPH enthusiastically breathes new life into this classic story about Ralphie and his ultimate Christmas wish. Having delighted audiences for 30 years on both the big and small screens, this incredible production is brought to vivid life on stage for Northeast Ohio audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (216) 241-6000 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. CPH is pleased to have University Hospitals as the Presenting Sponsor of A Christmas Story, along with Benesch, Nordson and FirstMerit as Supporting Sponsors.

In honor of the Signature Theatre's new production of esteemed two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson's HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, a crossword puzzle celebrating the man and his plays is now available to peruse.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced A Broadway Christmas Carol, created by Kathy Feininger, will return to MetroStage for a fourth season for the holidays Nov. 21-Dec. 22. It has been produced the past three seasons and has become a holiday tradition here at MetroStage. Prior to 2009, it had played to sold out houses at Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, for seven consecutive years ending in 2004.

The cast and creators of the new musical Ghostlight, which will have an industry reading this December, have been asked to appear on GingerNewYork, which airs live every Friday on MNN at 2:00 PM EST. The special Ghostlight themed episode will air today, November 15th.

This Season Mr. Barbour will take the stage at 54 BELOW (254 West 54 Street, Cellar), Broadway's sumptuously successful new Supper club where he will perform, the now highly anticipated Concert, on Saturday, December 7 at 11:00pm and Thursday, December 12 at 7:00pm.

Signature Theatre presents the New York Premiere of August Wilson's HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, co-conceived with and directed by Todd Kreidler, in collaboration with and featuring Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Now in performances, the production will now play through Sunday, December 29. Opening night is November 24 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld has a first look at Santiago-Hudson in action below!

Utah Opera presents a unique, cabaret-style theater experience featuring some of opera's best known arias in Kathleen Cahill's, irreverent Fatal Song onstage at Rose Wagner Theatre.

On Monday evening November 11 striking actress/singer Sandy Bainum presented a concert and launch party for her new CD Simply. This album, as well as her last one from 2012 One Christmas, were both produced by Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Records. It is difficult to think of Bainum simply. She is a tall, statuesque, elegant beauty who offers so much talent in a single breath.

Signature Theatre celebrates the start of its 25th anniversary season next fall with an all-new production of Sunday in the Park with George, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical. Directed by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner and staged in the MAX Theatre, this production marks the first time Signature has produced the play since the theatre's co-production with Arena Stage in 1997.

Billy Crystal will return to Broadway this fall for a 9-week-only limited engagement of his Tony Award-winning, record-breaking play 700 Sundays. This will mark the final engagement of this production. Previews began Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) with opening night scheduled for tonight, November 13, 2013 and a final performance set for Sunday, January 5, 2014. 700 Sundays is performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel and direction by Des McAnuff.

Los Angeles' acclaimed IAMA Theatre Company will present the New York premiere of two new plays in repertory: DO LIKE THE KIDS DO & SHINER. Performances begin December 5 at The Studio NYC at Theatre Row.