Eric Schaeffer
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Bio:
Eric Schaeffer is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Arlington’s Signature Theatre. Under his leadership, the Theatre was honored with the 2009 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre in America, as well as 97 Helen Hayes Awards with an additional 411 nominations for theater excellence ...
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Latest News on Eric Schaeffer
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Eric Schaeffer, Nova Y. Payton, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Erivo, Heidi Blickenstaff, Maggie Boland, and Norm Lewis
Audra McDonald and Eric Schaeffer
Eric Schaeffer, John Kander and Maggie Boland
Eric Schaeffer, John Kander and Maggie Boland
Joel Grey, John Kander, Eric Schaeffer and Susan Stroman
Stage
Productions
Eric Schaeffer Biography
Eric Schaeffer is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Arlington’s Signature Theatre. Under his leadership, the Theatre was honored with the 2009 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre in America, as well as 97 Helen Hayes Awards with an additional 411 nominations for theater excellence in Washington, DC.At Signature, Schaeffer directed productions including: Titanic; Silver Belles; Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose; Girlstar; The Fix; Elmer Gantry; Cloak and Dagger; Beaches; Miss Saigon; Crossing; Hello, Dolly! (Ford’s Theatre co-production); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Brother Russia; Hairspray; Sunset Boulevard; Chess; Show Boat; First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb; The Hollow; Les Misérables; ACE; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Glory Days; The Witches of Eastwick; Saving Aimee; Into the Woods; My Fair Lady; Nevermore; The Highest Yellow; One Red Flower; Allegro; Twentieth Century; 110 in the Shade; Hedwig and the Angry Inch; The Gospel According to Fishman; Grand Hotel; The Rhythm Club; Over & Over; The Fix; Working; The Rink; Cabaret; First Lady Suite; Wings; Poor Superman; Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love; and the Sondheim musicals Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George (Arena Stage co-production), Passion, Into the Woods, Company, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Follies and Pacific Overtures, among others.
On Broadway, Schaeffer directed Gigi, the critically acclaimed Follies as well as the Tony Award®-winning Million Dollar Quartet, Glory Days and Putting It Together. His national tours include Million Dollar Quartet and Big. Off-Broadway, he has directed Sweet Adeline (City Center Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert) and Under the Bridge. His West End credits include Million Dollar Quartet and The Witches of Eastwick.
Eric’s regional credits include Drury Lane: Beaches; Ford’s Theatre: Meet John Doe; Goodman: Million Dollar Quartet; Apollo Theatre: Million Dollar Quartet; Mark Taper Forum: Putting It Together (w/ Carol Burnett); Chicago: Elmer Gantry; Los Angeles: Disney’s Snow White. For the Kennedy Center, Schaeffer served as the Artistic Director of the acclaimed Sondheim Celebration in 2002 as well as directing its productions of Sunday in the Park with George and Passion. At the Kennedy Center, he also directed Follies starring Bernadette Peters, Mame starring Christine Baranski, First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb and Gigi starring Vanessa Hudgens. Overseas, Eric directed Sweeney Todd in Seoul, South Korea with the OD Company.
In 2006, Schaeffer created Signature’s musical theater commissioning program, the American Musical Voices Project (AMVP), in partnership with the New York-based Ted & Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, to commission and produce new musicals for the American theater canon. Since that time, AMVP has grown to become the largest musical theater commissioning program in the country, providing writers and composers a creative, fertile ground to develop original musicals. Since the program was launched, Signature has commissioned 18 new musicals from composers such as Michael John LaChiusa, Ricky Ian Gordon, Joseph Thalken, Adam Guettel, Jeanine Tesori, Josh Schmidt and Joshua Rosenblum, among others.
Schaeffer earned his BFA from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, where he received an Honorary Doctorate in 2012. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Shenandoah University in 2014.
Eric Schaeffer Awards and Nominations
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Director of a Musical, HAYES Production | ||
| Eric SchaefferBeaches | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferHello, Dolly! | ||
| Drama Desk Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Director of a Musical | ||
| Eric Schaeffer, Follies | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferHairspray | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2011 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferChess | ||
Helen Hayes Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical  |
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| Eric SchaefferLes Misérables | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferAce: The New Musical Adventure | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferKiss of the Spider Woman | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical |
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| Eric SchaefferMeet John Doe | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric Schaeffer The Witches of Eastwick | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2006 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferPacific Overtures | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2005 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical |
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| Eric SchaefferAllegro | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric Schaeffer11 in the Shade | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferFollies | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferSunday in the Park with George | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric Schaefferhe Gospel According to Fishman | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferPutting It Together | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferThe Rhythm Club | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 2000 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferSweeney Todd | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1999 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferThe Fix | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferSunday in the Park with George | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1997 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical |
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| Eric SchaefferPassion | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1997 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferThe Rink | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1996 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferCabaret | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1995 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferInto the Woods | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1995 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | ||
| Eric SchaefferWings | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1994 - Outstanding Director, Resident Production | ||
| Eric SchaefferUnidentified Human Remains and the 1 Nature of Love | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1993 - Outstanding Director, Resident Musical |
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| Eric SchaefferAssasins | ||
| Helen Hayes Awards - 1992 - Outstanding Director, Resident Production |
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| Eric SchaefferSweeny Todd | ||
Eric Schaeffer News
Kelli O'Hara, Adrienne Warren & More to be Featured in Arlington's Signature Theatre Summer 2022 Eventsby Chloe Rabinowitz - May 19, 2022
This summer, Signature Theatre will feature an array of concert and cabaret performances to kick off the 2022/23 season, ranging from a special presentation at Wolf Trap, to a new musical to the return of Signature’s popular cabaret series.
BWW Review: A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS at Arkansas Repertory Theatre Brings the TV Special to the Stageby Theresa Bertram - Dec 22, 2021
For all the Charlie Brown fans out there (and I know there are a lot of you), The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main Street in Little Rock, performed A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS for most of December, and if you missed it, all I can say is 'good grief!' This show was almost a replica of the cartoon Christmas special on TV, right down to the 30ish minutes of the actual show.
BWW Exclusive: A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Cast Talks Favorite On Stage Moments!by BroadwayWorld TV - Dec 10, 2021
Just in time for Christmas, everyone's favorite Peanuts holiday special comes to life in A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage. New Yorkers can celebrate the holiday season with the Peanuts gang when A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage has its New York City premiere December 21 - 24 at The Palladium Times Square (1515 Broadway, NYC).
Photos: Meet the Cast of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS at Chappaqua Performing Arts Centerby Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Dec 6, 2021
Just in time for the holiday season, everyone's favorite Peanuts holiday special comes to life in A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage.
Photos: First Look at A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS at Chance Theaterby Stephi Wild - Dec 6, 2021
Chance Theater, Anaheim’s official resident theater company, is excited to present an encore of the extremely popular stage adaptation of A Charlie Brown Christmas! Created by Charles M. Schulz, based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, this stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer is presented by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson, and will be directed by Resident Artist James Michael McHale.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: LIVE ON STAGE Comes To Westchester, Prior To NYC Premiereby A.A. Cristi - Dec 2, 2021
Just in time for the holiday season, everyone's favorite Peanuts holiday special comes to life in A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage.
BWW Feature: Stephen Sondheim at Signature Theatreby Elliot Lanes - Dec 2, 2021
The phrase “No one is irreplaceable” was shattered this past week when composer/lyricist/GOD of American musical theatre Stephen Sondheim passed away at age 91. Simply put, Sondheim was unique, groundbreaking and a true original that many tried to copy and never could.
Photos: First Look at A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS at First Stageby A.A. Cristi - Nov 19, 2021
This holiday season brings the joyful return of First Stage’s production of Charles M. Schulz’s A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS to the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: LIVE ON STAGE to be Presented at The Palladium Times Squareby Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 15, 2021
New Yorkers can celebrate the holiday season with the Peanuts gang when A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage has its New York City premiere December 21 – 24 at The Palladium Times Square (1515 Broadway, NYC).
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Returns By Popular Demand At Chance Theater!by A.A. Cristi - Nov 2, 2021
Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, presents an encore of the extremely popular stage adaptation of A Charlie Brown Christmas!
Eric Schaeffer Videos
BWW Exclusive: A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Cast Talks Favorite On Stage Moments!by BroadwayWorld TV - Dec 10, 2021
Just in time for Christmas, everyone's favorite Peanuts holiday special comes to life in A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage. New Yorkers can celebrate the holiday season with the Peanuts gang when A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage has its New York City premiere December 21 - 24 at The Palladium Times Square (1515 Broadway, NYC).
Broadway Rewind: Vanessa Hudgens Makes Her Broadway Debut in GIGIby BroadwayWorld TV - Sep 15, 2020
Today we rewind to 2015, when the first revival of Gigi arrived on Broadway. The musical opened on April 8 at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 86 performances.
VIDEO: Eric Schaeffer Salutes 'Signature in the Schools' on SIGNATURE STRONG LIVEby Stage Tube - Jun 17, 2020
Signature Theatre has released the latest episode in its Signature Strong Live series!
VIDEO: Watch John Dempsey, Dana Rowe, and More in Episode 9 of SIGNATURE STRONG LIVEby Stage Tube - May 27, 2020
Signature Theatre has released its 9th episode of Signature Strong Live, featuring John Dempsey, Dana Rowe, and more!
VIDEO: Bobby Smith, Maria Rizzo, Tracy Lynn Olivera, and Nova Y. Payton Chat on SIGNATURE STRONG LIVE!by Stage Tube - May 13, 2020
Signature Theatre has released the 7th episode in its Signature Strong Live! series.
VIDEO: Robbie Schaefer and Angelica Chéri Discuss Writing Musicals on SIGNATURE STRONG LIVE!by Stage Tube - Apr 29, 2020
In the 5th episode of Signature Strong Live!, Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer will discuss what it takes to write a new musical.
VIDEO: Claybourne Elder, Donna Migliaccio, and Christopher Michael Richardson Chat Sondheim on SIGNATURE STRONG LIVE!by Stage Tube - Apr 15, 2020
In the third episode of Signature Strong Live!, Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer chats with stars about Signature's special relationship with Stephen Sondheim.
VIDEO: Signature Theatre Favorites Maria Rizzo, Bobby Smith, Nova Y. Payton and Tracy Lynn Olivera Chat For SIGNATURE STRONG LIVE!by Stage Tube - Apr 1, 2020
Signature Theatre has launched Signature Strong Live!, bringing live conversations to YouTube.
VIDEO: Solea Pfeiffer and Emmy Raver-Lampman Sing 'Freedom' From GUN & POWDERby Stage Tube - Jan 20, 2020
Solea Pfeiffer and Emmy Raver-Lampman are set to star as the Clarke sisters, Mary and Martha, in Signature Theatre's world premiere production of Gun & Powder with book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri and music by Ross Baum. Gun & Powder will run from January 28 a?' February 23, 2020 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre and will be directed by Robert O'Hara (Broadway's Slave Play).
VIDEO: Get a Look Inside Signature's ASSASSINSby Stage Tube - Aug 20, 2019
Signature Theatre presents Assassins with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies).
