Eric Schaeffer News

Signature Theatre presents the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard running through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production is Broadway's Florence Lacey Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond, complemented by D.B. Bonds The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit as Joe, Susan Derry Wonderful Town as Betty, and Ed Dixon The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

In this exclusive interview with BroadwayWorld, Raul Esparza takes a comprehensive look back at his spectacular rise to fame from this time ten years ago in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW on Broadway, his first New York stage role, to now, with career-defining reviews for the out-of-town tryout of the new Alan Menken musical LEAP OF FAITH - as well as his sold-out American Songbook concerts early next year in New York. What does the future hold for Raul Esparza onscreen and onstage? Will it be Shakespeare or Sondheim or something completely new? Mamet or MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG? You may very well find your answer here.

Stephen Sondheim to Jerry Herman to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael John LaChiusa to Kander & Ebb to Dempsey & Rowe, PUTTING IT TOGETHER to MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET on Broadway - the phenomenally gifted co-founder of the Signature Theater is one of the brightest lights in directing today - whether in regional theatre or on Broadway or the West End - and a mere glance at his resume reveals many of the reasons why. Discussing the current production of SUNSET BOULEVARD opening later this month at the Signature, plus a complete rundown of the upcoming Kennedy Center production of FOLLIES, in this, his most comprehensive interview to date, Eric Schaeffer bares all and reveals what makes his productions shine so bright on Broadway and beyond.

Beginning January 3, Million Dollar Quartet will alter it's performance schedule to play Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.

Signature Theatre presents the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard running through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production is Broadway's Florence Lacey Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond, complemented by D.B. Bonds The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit as Joe, Susan Derry Wonderful Town as Betty, and Ed Dixon The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

Yesterday evening, Love took the stage of the Nederlander Theatre to join the cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET in the special encore. Love has been hailed as one of the greatest singers in pop music starting with her first number one recording, 'He's A Rebel,' through her string of label hits with legendary producer Phil Spector, including 'Da Doo Ron Ron,' 'He's Sure The Boy I'm Gonna Marry,' and 'Christmas Baby Please Come Home.' Love was recently nominated for the third time to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new hit musical, welcomes Darlene Love to the cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical for a special performance during the finale of the Thursday evening, December 9 performance at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).

Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre begins its run of the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard this evening, December 7th - and runs through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production - the area's first staging of the Tony Award-winning musical - is Broadway's Florence Lacey (Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies) as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond. Ms. Lacey is complemented by D.B. Bonds (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit) as Joe, Susan Derry (Wonderful Town) as Betty, and Ed Dixon (The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers) as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

Signature Theatre presents the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard running December 7, 2010 through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production is Broadway's Florence Lacey (Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies) as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond, complemented by D.B. Bonds (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit) as Joe, Susan Derry (Wonderful Town) as Betty, and Ed Dixon (The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers) as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the award-winning new musical that tells the electrifying story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together to make music and ended up making history, will open at London's Noel Coward Theatre on 28 February 2011 with previews from 8 February 2011.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the award-winning new musical that tells the electrifying story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together to make music and ended up making history, will open at London's Noel Coward Theatre on 28 February 2011 with previews from 8 February 2011.

Happy Holidays everyone! Come visit our Nation's Capital during the holiday season. It's such a beautiful time of the year here, with so many lights shimmering on the monuments, The Mall, and on The White House. As we await the first snow flakes, DC area theatres are chocked full of productions for the whole family filled with elves, reindeers, Santas, and Scrooges.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new hit musical, is pleased to announce that Darlene Love will join the cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical for a special performance during the finale of the Thursday evening, December 9 performance at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new hit musical, is pleased to announce that Darlene Love will join the cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical for a special performance during the finale of the Thursday evening, December 9 performance at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).

In celebration of the Washington premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical sensation Sunset Boulevard about faded silent film legend Norma Desmond, Signature Theatre is holding the "With One Look" silent film competition open to anyone and everyone who loves the golden age of Hollywood.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the award?winning new musical that tells the electrifying story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together to make music and ended up making history, will open at London's Noel Coward Theatre on 28 February 2011 with previews from 8 February 2011. The full cast will be announced shortly.

Yesterday evening, Benson took the stage of the Nederlander Theatre to join the cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET in the special encore.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new hit musical, welcomes Ray Benson, front man for the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel and nine-time GRAMMYTM Award winner, for a special performance during the finale of the Tuesday evening, November 16 performance at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).

Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre is hosting a CD signing and release party for WINTER, a new holiday CD from Signature American Musical Voices Project commissioned composer Matt Conner (Nevermore, The Hollow and Partial Eclipse) on Monday, November 15th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in Signature Theatre's Mead Lobby.

Gospel recording artists VaShawn Mitchell and Zacardi Cortez will each make a special guest appearance at select performances of the Washington-area premiere of the award-winning new gospel musical comedy Sanctified, playing the historic Lincoln Theatre now through November 14.