Sam Ludwig

BWW Review: Old School Musical Comedy SHE LOVES ME Mostly Charms at OC's South Coast Repertory

Though SCR's admirable new production of the 1963 Broadway musical SHE LOVES ME, for the most part, still has many charming, beautifully-staged, and well-sung moments, it also somehow feels like it is slightly reigned in, as if there was a purposeful attempt to downscale some of its built-in whimsy and spirited vivaciousness---particularly in the first act where emotional expressions all seem to sit in the same middle areaa?? never tipping over to too angry or too sad or too happy or too, well, anything. Now on stage in Costa Mesa through February 22, 2020, the production---directed by the theater's own artistic director David Ivers---is genuinely entertaining, but still needs a huge shot of joy, romance, and pep to make it feel complete.

Photo Flash: John Weidman Visits Signature Theatre's ASSASSINS

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). John Weidman stopped by the show recently and posed for a photo with the cast.

BWW Review: ASSASSINS at Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre and Stephen Sondheim have been a winning combination in the DC theatre scene since 1991when the company presented Sweeney Todd at Gunston. In 1992 it presented the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman collaboration known as Assassins. The show was produced again by Signature in 2006 in their garage space.

BWW Review: ASSASSINS at Signature Theatre - You Will Get Goose Bumps!

It is not often one opens a theater program and on page one sees a letter from composer Stephen Sondheim. I had the privilege of attending the joint Jason Robert Brown and Stephen Sondheim concert on June 24, 2019 at Town Hall in New York City to raise funds for 'Brady United Against Gun Violence' (see link below). It was a very moving evening of great theatrical music by two of this country's best composers.

Photo Flash: Signature Gets Deadly with ASSASSINS

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).

Signature Theatre Announces Casting And Creative Team For ASSASSINS

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for 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). Signature Theatre continues to be the largest single producer of the work of Stephen Sondheim and Assassins marks the 30th production of a Sondheim musical in Signature Theatre's history. Assassins will run from August 11 - September 29 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

Photo Coverage: Daisy Eagan Attends Closing Performance of 3D Theatricals' THE SECRET GARDEN

3-D Theatricals celebrates its 10th Anniversary season with a lavish new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, The Secret Garden, directed by 3-D Theatricals' producer and artistic director T.J. Dawson. The Secret Garden, featuring music by Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, and book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, will play a strictly limited engagement. Performances begin this Friday, May 3, and run through Sunday, May 19 only. Opening night is Saturday, May 4 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA).

VIDEO: First Look At 3-D Theatricals' THE SECRET GARDEN

3-D Theatricals celebrates its 10th Anniversary season with a lavish new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, The Secret Garden, directed by 3-D Theatricals' producer and artistic director T.J. Dawson. The Secret Garden, featuring music by Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, and book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, opened Saturday, May 4 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through May 19 only.

Photo Flash: First Look at 3-D Theatricals' THE SECRET GARDEN at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

3-D Theatricals celebrates its 10th Anniversary season with a lavish new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, The Secret Garden, directed by 3-D Theatricals' producer and artistic director T.J. Dawson. The Secret Garden, featuring music by Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, and book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, opens tonight, Saturday, May 4 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through May 19 only.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of 3-D Theatricals' THE SECRET GARDEN

3-D Theatricals celebrates its 10th Anniversary season with a lavish new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, The Secret Garden, directed by 3-D Theatricals' producer and artistic director T.J. Dawson. The Secret Garden, featuring music by Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, and book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, will play a strictly limited engagement. Performances begin this Friday, May 3, and run through Sunday, May 19 only. Opening night is Saturday, May 4 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA). Check out stunning portraits of the cast below!

VIDEO: First Look At 3-D Theatricals' THE SECRET GARDEN

3-D Theatricals celebrates its 10th Anniversary season with a lavish new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, The Secret Garden, directed by 3-D Theatricals' producer and artistic director T.J. Dawson. The Secret Garden, featuring music by Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, and book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, opened Saturday, May 4 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through May 19 only.

VIDEO: Sneak Peek at 'Animals, Animals' from New Musical 'ME... JANE' at The Kennedy Center

Click below to go inside rehearsals and see the company perform 'Animals, Animals' from the world premiere Kennedy Center commission, Me... Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, a new musical based on Patrick McDonnell's Caldecott Honor Book!

VIDEO: New Trailer for Signature Theatre's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Signature Theatre has just announced that A Little Night Music will play for an added ninth week - an addition of eight performances between October 10 and October 15. They also released a new trailer with footage from the show - check it out below!

VIDEO: Watch Highlights from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre presents A Little Night Music, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Gigi). A Little Night Music runs now through October 8 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at footage from the show below!

VIDEO: A Web of Love Affairs in New Trailer for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre will present A Little Night Music, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Gigi). Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning musical, set in 1900 Sweden, revolves around a tangled web of love affairs. A Little Night Music will run from August 15 - October 8 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre. Check out a new trailer for the show below!

Signature Theatre presents Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Signature Theatre Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Gypsy, The Flick). With a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, Evita) and Tim Rice (Evita, Chess), featuring 'I Don't Know How to Love Him' and 'Everything's Alright,' Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of Jesus' life in his final week. This epic story will come to life in an immersive new staging in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre and runs now through July 2, 2017. Watch highlights from the show in the new trailer below!

Below, check out an 'unplugged' rendition of 'Heaven on their Minds' from JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. In this special video, filmed at The Washington National Cathedral, hear Ari McKay Wilford's acoustic version of the classic song from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal musical!

Below, in the second of three Unplugged Sessions from Signature Theatre, watch Natascia Diaz sing Mary Magdalene's moving torch song 'I Don't Know How to Love Him,' filmed at the Washington National Cathedral! This epic story will come to life in an immersive new staging in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre and runs May 9 - July 2, 2017.

Below, check out Nicholas Edwards performing an unplugged version of the classic song 'Gethsemane,' filmed at The Washington National Cathedral!

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere production of Midwestern Gothic. Directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Jelly's Last Jam, West Side Story), this new musical thriller features music, lyrics and orchestrations by Josh Schmidt (Off-Broadway's Adding Machine) and book and lyrics by Royce Vavrek (Dog Days, 27). Click below to watch highlights from the show!