Christopher Mueller News

Credit Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer for this season on a high.

Signature Theatre concludes its 29th season with a World Premiere musical written by, in my opinion, one of the most underrated writing teams working in musical theatre today. Blackbeard written by John Dempsey (Book & Lyrics) and Dana P. Rowe (Music) has everything you could ever want in a musical. It features a high quality score, a great cast, excellent production values, and swordplay. What more do 1you need?

Signature Theatre presents Blackbeard, a world premiere musical commissioned by Signature Theatre with book & lyrics by John Dempsey (Signature's The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix), music by Dana P. Rowe (Signature's The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix), and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer(Broadway's Gigi, Follies, and Signature's Titanic). Blackbeard will run from June 18 through July 14 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

Signature Theatre presents Blackbeard, a world premiere musical commissioned by Signature Theatre with book & lyrics by John Dempsey (Signature's The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix), music by Dana P. Rowe (Signature's The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix), and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer(Broadway's Gigi, Follies, and Signature's Titanic). Blackbeard will run from June 18 through July 14 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

Today's subject KenYatta Rogers is currently living his theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre playing Folk Man 3 in Spunk. The production directed by the esteemed Timothy Douglas runs through June 23rd in Signature's ARK space. The show is KenYatta's Signature Theatre debut.

I've never been disappointed by a show at Signature Theatre. Even their ongoing Grand Hotel, which is working with some less-than-stellar source material, is elevated by the wonderful craftsmanship and talented artists this theater welcomes. The same can unfortunately not be said of the disappointing Spunk, which opened in Signature's more intimate ARK theater on Friday. Zora Neale Hurston's masterful prose falls flat in a production that feels like it opened too soon, resulting in an evening lacking in the gumption this show tries to champion.

Signature Theatre presents Spunk based on three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God) and adapted by acclaimed writer and director George C. Wolfe (Jelly's Last Jam, Shuffle Along).

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for Blackbeard with book & lyrics by John Dempsey (Signature's The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix) and music by Dana P. Rowe (Signature's The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix) and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, and Signature's Titanic). The world premiere musical commissioned by Signature Theatre sets sail with the most infamous pirate of all time. After learning he's a wanted man by the British army, Blackbeard and his merry crew of maritime marauders embark on a fantastical journey across the globe to raise an undead pirate army from the depths of the sea. Blackbeard will run from June 18 - July 14, 2019 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

Peter Flynn tackles Sondheim's darkly imagined INTO THE WOODS at Ford's Theatre and the result is sensational. Flynn leads an exceptional cast and, with support from Michael Bobbitt's choreography, Milagros Ponce Leon's set design, and Wade Laboissonniere's costume design, has a hit on his hands.

Ford's Theatre Society presents Into the Woods, directed by Peter Flynn and choreographed by Michael Bobbitt.

It's hard to believe that it's been over 40 years now since a little revue that started at New York's Manhattan Theatre Club took Broadway by storm. The show was Ain't Misbehavin' and if you didn't know who composer Thomas “Fats” Waller was before, you did after seeing this show. It also made Nell Carter a star and garnered her a television series called Gimme a Break. Besides Carter the cast was comprised of Charlaine Woodard, Armelia McQueen, Andre De Shields, and Ken Page. When the original cast returned for a Broadway revival of the show in the 80's, Nell Carter received star billing even though the show is truly an ensemble piece. Ah, the power of television.

Signature Theatre presents Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show directed by Signature Theatre's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's The Scottsboro Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar) and choreographed by Jared Grimes (Signature's The Scottsboro Boys, Jelly's Last Jam). Signature's MAX Theatre will be converted into a 1930s Harlem night club for this tribute to the music of Thomas 'Fats' Waller. This Tony Award®-winning musical includes the beloved tunes 'The Joint is Jumpin',' 'Honeysuckle Rose,' 'Handful of Keys' and more. Ain't Misbehavin'runs from January 23 - March 10, 2019.

Signature Theatre announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by DC playwright Heather McDonald

For something completely different this holiday season, you might want to consider Signature Theatre's latest offering. Billy Elliot the Musical is not your standard holiday fare by any means. Sure, there are big production numbers, but the story features important underlying themes of labor tensions, economic inequality, and acceptance. In other words, this show follows my philosophy that theater is meant to educate as well as entertain. The production also features some pretty incredible ballet and tap choreography with a cast that performs it beautifully.

Signature Theatre is proud to present Billy Elliot the Musical directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Passion, West Side Story). Based on the powerful and acclaimed film, all 11-year-old Billy wants to do is dance. Initially facing opposition from society and his father, Billy's passion instead unites the community and changes his life in extraordinary ways. The original production with book and lyrics by Lee Hall and music by Tony, Grammy and Academy Award® winner Elton John was universally lauded, sweeping the Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. Billy Elliot the Musical runs now thru January 6, 2019 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

Today's subject, Nancy Anderson, has been living her theater life on Broadway and in regional theaters for many years now. You can currently see her as the tight-fisted, but caring dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot at Signature Theatre. The production plays through January 6, 2019 in the MAX space. Directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, it very well may be the largest production the company has presented to date.

Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault announced that acclaimed Washington actor Craig Wallace will return to Ford's to perform the role of Ebenezer Scrooge for the company's holiday production of A Christmas Carol. Performances of the classic Charles Dickens story begin November 15 and continue for a six-and-a-half-week engagement through December 30, 2018. This "musically high-spirited" and "infectiously jolly" (The Washington Post) production is adapted by Michael Wilson and directed by Michael Baron.

Signature's 29th season begins with record-breaking 29th Sondheim production!

Signature's production celebrates the complexities of love with a production filled with a career-defining performance by leading lady Natascia Diaz and the type of mature, sleek, and sexy direction rarely seen in Washington.

Natascia Diaz, Claybourne Elder, and Steffanie Leigh are starring in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Passion at Signature Theatre. This new production is directed by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner(Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, West Side Story). Passion runs through September 23, 2018 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre. Get an exclusive first look at the company in action in the photos below!