Signature Theatre Hires New Resident Director

Tony Award-winning regional theatre, Signature Theatre, has added a seasoned director to their staff.

According to the Washington Post, director/playwright Joe Calarco, who directed Signature's successful productions of GYPSY, ASSASSINS, and URINETOWN, in addition to some of his original works, will join the Signature team as resident director and director of new works on December 1, 2014.

At most other theatres, developing new plays is the job of dramaturgs, so to have an entire position dedicated to it is a novelty.

"The hardest thing is not getting the first production done, it's getting the second production done," says Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer of the need for Calarco to fill such a position. "I also think he understands who we are. He gets what Signature is, and he knows the kind of work that could work at Signature."

Calarco has directed 16 of Signature's productions, joins a producing team including Schaeffer, Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, and Managing Director Maggie Boland.

"It couldn't be the more perfect position. I love the city," Calarco says of his new job. "And it's the perfect theater in that city."

Calarco is about to direct THE CIRCUS IN WINTER in Connecticut.