Signature Theatre News

Lauded recording artist and compelling stage performer Nellie McKay will be bringing her appreciably idiosyncratic talents to a number of venues across the East Coast in the coming weeks and months, with concert dates coming up in Connecticut, New Jersey and throughout New York state.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced that Thembisile Gxuluwe from West Mifflin Area High School near Pittsburgh has won first place at the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition held on Monday, May 6th at at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Pablo Lopez from Los Angeles was the runner-up, and an honorable mention went to Branndin Phillips-Laramorefrom Chicago. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Atlantic Theater Company presents the world premiere of Rod McLachlan's new play Good Television, directed by Bob Krakower. The cast will feature Talia Balsam, Jessica Cummings, John Magaro, Kelly McAndrew, Zoe Perry, Luke Robertson, Andrew Stewart-Jones, and Ned Van Zandt. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and creative team in rehearsal!

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced that Thembisile Gxuluwe from West Mifflin Area High School near Pittsburgh has won first place at the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition held on Monday, May 6th at at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Pablo Lopez from Los Angeles was the runner-up, and an honorable mention went to Branndin Phillips-Laramorefrom Chicago. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

As Spring makes its way to Seattle, ESP goes to Texas for a typically beautifully-made play by the late, great Horton Foote, author of, among many works, The Trip to Bountiful, and the screenplays of Tender Mercies and To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Pit Stop Players, a thirteen-member instrumental ensemble composed of veteran Broadway pit musicians, will conclude their fourth season with special guest Cynthia Nixon narrating a new work, plus a newly commissioned chamber arrangement of Igor Stravinsky's towering masterpiece, 'The Rite of Spring.' The concert will take place tonight, May 6, 2013 at 8:00 pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York City.

Today in 2008, Glory Days opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for one performance. Glory Days is a musical with music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and a book by James Gardiner about four high school friends reuniting a year after graduation. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre, a professional regional theatre in Arlington, Virginia, from January 15 through February 17, 2008, where it was directed by Eric D. Schaeffer, the Artistic Director of the theatre, with musical staging by assistant director Matthew Gardiner. The producers cited 'low advance sales' in announcing the show's closing.

SHOW BOAT is back in an appealing production by the Washington National Opera. The Kennedy Center Opera House is a fitting berth for Captain Andy's Cotton Blossom and the happy/troubled show folk who make it their home. Boasting a cast and chorus of 100, WNO's SHOW BOAT allows the story to roll along the 40-year time span and the glorious music to enthrall the audience once again.

The Off-Broadway League today gave out awards in 14 categories and two additional special awards for the 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards were handed out on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at NYU Skirball Center, hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event once again benefited The Actors Fund.

The Off-Broadway League previously announced award nominations in 14 categories and two additional special awards for the 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out today, May 5, 2013 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

As previously announced, John O'Hurley will star as King Arthur. Also starring will be Michelle Ragusa as The Lady of the Lake, Kevin Cahoon as Historian, John Scherer as Sir Robin, David Hibbard as Patsy, Chris Hoch as Sir Lancelot, Ben Davis as Sir Dennis Galahad, and Tally Sessions as Dennis' Mother/Sir Bedevere. Joining them will be broadcast legend Bob Costas as The Voice of God.

This week's feature is 'Seeing You There' by Adam Gwon. Tony-nominee Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar), who happens to be a co-founder of Cutting-Edge Composers, sang this at our first concert at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Round House Theatre concludes its 2013 Bethesda season with the area premiere of Becky Shaw, which runs May 29 thru June 23. Patricia McGregor makes her Round House directing debut with this comedy by Gina Gionfriddo, which was an Off-Broadway smash hit as well as aPulitzer Prize finalist. Opening night is Monday, June 3, 2013.

Signature Theatre has announced a change to the theatre's Legacy Program for the 2013-14 All-Premiere Season: the theatre will produce the World Premiere of Horton Foote's THE OLD FRIENDS, directed by Michael Wilson and featuring Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote and Lois Smith. THE OLD FRIENDS replaces the previously announced EDWARD ALBEE'S LAYING AN EGG, which Signature remains committed to premiering in a future season.

You only have until May 5 to hear some great melodies by the team that brought you MAMMA MIA!

Phone rings. Door chimes. In comes Company, one of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals, produced at Signature Theatre for the first time in twenty years and directed by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. The cast of fourteen, led by Matthew Scott (First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb; Side By Side By Sondheim) in the role of Bobby, features many of Signature's most well-known stars in an enchanting, deeply funny exploration of love and marriage.

Soho Rep presents the world premiere of Lucas Hnath's play A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney.

Atlantic Theater Company has just announced casting for the world premiere of Rod McLachlan's new play GOOD TELEVISION, directed by Bob Krakower. The cast will feature Talia Balsam, Jessica Cummings, John Magaro, Kelly McAndrew, Zoe Perry, Luke Robertson, Andrew Stewart-Jones, and Ned Van Zandt.

No Rules takes a chance on an untested work and makes a solid attempt.