Eric Schaeffer News

Originally scheduled for a special performance on September 24th with the cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, it's been announced that Lesley Gore must now postpone that appearance. Gore will reschedule her appearance with MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET for a date in October. An exact date will be announced shortly.

Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre today announced that, due to popular demand, the world premiere comedy, starring Helen Hayes Award winners Sherri L. Edelen (Signature's Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables) and Nancy Robinette, written and directed by Helen Hayes Awardee Joe Calarco (Signature's Side Show and Assassins), will now run from October 26 through December 26, 2010.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new hit musical, is pleased to announce that Lesley Gore will join the cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical for a special performance during the finale of the Friday evening, September 24 performance at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).

A signature event with three days of free theater - mark your calendars for Sept. 3-5, 2011

Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre today announced the full casting for A Fox on the Fairway, the world premiere comedy by DC playwright and Broadway favorite Ken Ludwig (Crazy for You and Lend Me a Tenor), running October 12 through November 14, 2010. Headlining the production are Broadway's Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown, Side Show, and The Pirate Queen), and local favorites and Helen Hayes Award winners Holly Twyford (Signature's The Little Dog Laughed and Twentieth Century, and Studio Theatre's The Shape of Things) and Andrew Long (Signature's I Am My Own Wife and My Fair Lady, and Studio Theatre's Frozen).

Casting has been announced for the Washington-area premiere of the award-winning new gospel musical comedy Sanctified, playing the historic Lincoln Theatre for a limited engagement, October 21 through November 14.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new musical sensation, is thrilled to announce that music legend Jerry Lee Lewis, the last surviving member of the real ‘Million Dollar Quartet,' will join the cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical for a special encore during the Friday evening, September 10 performance.

As BroadwayWorld had previously reported, the UK is abuzz with talks of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET making its way across the pond. The show's official UK website seems to validate the rumors, as casting calls for the roles of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley have been announced in Glasgow, London, Liverpool, Bristol, and Dublin. No word as to whether or not the show is West End-bound specifically or if any of the original Broadway cast members will be making the move.

UK Theatre Site WhatsOnStage.com is reporting the buzz that MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET might be headed to the West End in 2011 with talks underway. There's no word at the current time on potential opening dates or whether or on what cast members might be headed over.

On Friday, September 3, the cast of Broadway's MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, will perform on FOX News' 'Fox & Friends' (6:00AM-9:00AM EST on Channel 44 in New York. Check local listings).

Director Eric Schaeffer's restaging is first major American production in 20 years.

Signature Theatre today announced that the run of its hit production of the rock musical Chess will be extended for one week through Sunday, October 3.

Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre today announced the full casting for its new production of the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard running December 7, 2010 through February 13, 2011.

On Friday, September 3, the cast of Broadway's MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, will perform on FOX News' 'Fox & Friends' (6:00AM-9:00AM EST on Channel 44 in New York. Check local listings).

The cast of the long-running, smash hit Million Dollar Quartet, Chicago's beloved musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock ‘n' roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, and throngs of excited music-lovers will rock the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park with a free concert on Tuesday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. The hour-long performance is open to the public and will feature classic, crowd-pleasing rock ‘n' roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from the musical, including 'Blue Suede Shoes,' 'Great Balls of Fire,' 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On,' among others.

The production of Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Tim Rice's CHESS at the Signature Theatre opened August 10 and will run through September 26. Broadway's Jill Paice (Curtains, The 39 Steps), Euan Morton (Boy George in Taboo, Sondheim on Sondheim), and Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Rent) star in the rock musical Chess, which was directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. Written by Mamma Mia! composers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson with Evita and Lion King lyricist Tim Rice, the 1984 cult musical of Cold War competition in love and chess is being given its first major Washington area production. Chess will be performed in the fabulous intimacy of the 276-seat MAX Theatre through September 26, 2010.

CHESS opened at the Signature Theatre on August 10 and will run through September 26. The cast is lead by Jill Paice (Curtains, The 39 Steps) as Florence Vassy, Euan Morton (Boy George in Taboo, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Anatoly Sergievsky and Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Rent) as Freddie Trumper. The rock musical is directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. Written by Mamma Mia! composers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson with Evita and Lion King lyricist Tim Rice, the 1984 cult musical of Cold War competition in love and chess is being given its first major Washington area production. Chess is being performed in the fabulous intimacy of the 276-seat MAX Theatre.

The cast of the long-running, smash hit Million Dollar Quartet, Chicago's beloved musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock ‘n' roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, and throngs of excited music-lovers will rock the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park with a free concert on Tuesday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. The hour-long performance is open to the public and will feature classic, crowd-pleasing rock ‘n' roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from the musical, including 'Blue Suede Shoes,' 'Great Balls of Fire,' 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On,' among others.

Signature Theatre, currently producing Chess, the legendary rock musical of love and espionage, is holding a Cold War themed scavenger hunt in association with the International Spy Museum and promotional partner PostPoints on Saturday, August 28 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm throughout Washington, DC. The event will occur rain or shine.

The production of Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Tim Rice's CHESS at the Signature Theatre opened August 10 and will run through September 26.