STAGE TUBE: Edward Norton on Edward Albee as Part of Signature Series

Signature Stories: Edward Norton from Signature Theatre Company on Vimeo.

As Signature Theatre Company prepares for the January 2012 opening of their new Frank Gehry-designed home, Signature Center, they have launched a new video series featuring interviews with a wide array of playwrights, directors, actors, and others connected to the Theatre. Called "Signature Stories," the videos capture personal reminiscences about time spent at Signature and offer a "behind the scenes" glimpse into the inner-workings of the Company. The first three multi-subject videos in the series have featured architect Frank Gehry and Signature alumni Ethan Hawke, Frankie Faison, Kate Mulgrew and more talking about the Company's new home, as well as past Signature Playwrights-in-Residence, actors, directors and designers reflecting on their artistic experiences at Signature.

Today's release features Academy Award-nominee Edward Norton (Primal Fear, Fight Club) describing a memorable rehearsal of Edward Albee's Fragments at Signature in 1994 - long before he became a Hollywood star. Norton, who appeared again at Signature in Lanford Wilson's Burn This and is now a board member, recalls memorizing a long monologue, which he was sure he had "letter perfect," and performing it for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Albee, who was less than impressed. This video may be viewed here.

A new installment of "Signature Stories" will be posted every week between now and the opening of Signature Center. In all, there are more than 30 videos planned for the series. Drawing from Signature's 20-year history, the videos feature Signature alumni Edward Albee, Lee Blessing, Michael Greif, Katie Finneran, John Guare, Bill Irwin, Christine Jones, Tony Kushner, the late Romulus Linney, the late Lanford Wilson, Harris Yulin and many others.

Opening in January 2012, Signature Center is the new, permanent home of Signature Theatre Company. Signature Theatre Company, founded in 1991 by James Houghton, exists to honor and celebrate the playwright. Signature makes an extended commitment to a playwright's body of work, and during this journey, the writer is engaged in every aspect of the creative process. Signature is the first theatre company to devote an entire season to the work of a single playwright, including re-examinations of past writings as well as New York and world premieres. By championing in-depth explorations of a living playwright's body of work, the Company delivers an intimate and immersive journey into the playwright's singular vision.

Signature is currently in the midst of its 20th Anniversary Tony Kushner Season, with performances of Kushner's The Illusion, directed by Michael Mayer, opening this Sunday at The Peter Norton Space and The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, a co-production with The Public Theater in association with The Guthrie Theater, playing through June 12 at The Public. For more information on current Signature programming, visit www.signaturetheatre.org.

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