Eric Schaeffer News

Signature Theatre is proud to present the DC premiere of Girlfriend. Take a peek at the production with this new trailer!

On March 19, 2018, Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored legendary Broadway composer John Kander with the company's ninth Stephen Sondheim Award. The Stephen Sondheim Award was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy and will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community programs.

Washington DC entrepreneur Andrew A Isen joins forces with the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre to present The Andrew A. Isen Young Artist Gifts. Each year, Signature Theatre will award $2,500 to a college student from Overtures: The Musical Theater Institute and a Arlington high school student from the Signature in the Schoolsprogram who have demonstrated excellence in their work.

Signature Theatre announces the full cast and creative team for the DC premiere of Annie Baker's John, directed by Signature Theatre Director of New Work Joe Calarco (Signature's The Gulf, Jesus Christ Superstar). Elias and Jenny, a young Brooklyn couple, escape on a much-needed getaway to a cozy bed-and-breakfast in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. However, under the watchful eye of the cheery, if slightly off, innkeeper, a ghost seems to haunt their crumbling relationship. Annie Baker's John was called "so good on so many levels that it casts a unique and brilliant light' by The New Yorker. John will run April 3 - April 29 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

Signature Theatre is proud to announce the full cast and creative team for the DC premiere of Girlfriend. Directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Crazy for You, Jelly's Last Jam), this coming of age musical features a book by Todd Almondand featuring the music and lyrics of Matthew Sweet.

LIGHT YEARS, a world premiere musical at Signature Theatre, is a moving performance with a beautiful score and an introduction to touching and endearing characters. LIGHT YEARS is a deeply personal story of son and father attempting to understand each other. The relationship is firmly grounded in love and respect. Yet the two have profoundly different ideas about pursuing artistic passion versus creating a stable and consistent life. LIGHT YEARS is a production of great heart and promise that deserves to continue to evolve. It is exciting to be privy to new work in creation.

Signature Theatre is proud to present the world premiere production of Light Years. Directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer(Broadway's Follies, Gigi, Million Dollar Quartet), this new musical features music, lyrics and book by Robbie Schaefer of the band Eddie from Ohio. Robbie journeys from his childhood in India to the joys and struggles of growing up, pursuing his passion and raising a family. Entwined throughout is his cherished relationship with his father-and his father's haunted past. Light Years runs now thru March 4 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

The nominees for the 2018 Helen Hayes Awards were announced on February 5, 2018. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery set the scene for the announcement of nominees in 47 categories for artistic excellence, and the theatre companies eligible for the 2017 John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company. The recipient of the 2018 Helen Hayes Tribute will be announced shortly.

Signature Theatre has announced the world premiere production of the new musical August Rush. The musical, adapted from the Oscar and GRAMMY Award-nominated film, features music and lyrics by Mark Mancina, book and lyrics by Glen Berger, and orchestrations and additional music by David Metzger. This premiere production will be directed by John Doyle. August Rush will run from February 5, 2019 - March 3, 2019 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre. The production will then transfer to Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Illinois and will run from April 24, 2019 - June 2, 2019.

Savannah Frazier joins Women of the Wings: A Celebration of Female Musical Theatre Writers at Feinstein's/54 Below on March 2nd. Savannah is a graduate of AMDA NYC. Favorite credits include: Sophie/Mary Catlett understudy (AMAZING GRACE, tour and Broadway), Eve (et al) (THE APPLE TREE, Theatre Row), Laurey (OKLAHOMA!, Lyric Stage of Dallas), Alta (FROM THE FIRE by acclaimed Liz Swados, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), and Marc Antony (JULIUS CAESAR, Theatre 54).

Signature Theatre is proud to announce the full cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Light Years. Directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Gigi, Million Dollar Quartet), this new musical features music, lyrics and book by Robbie Schaefer of the band Eddie from Ohio. Robbie journeys from his childhood in India to the joys and struggles of growing up, pursuing his passion and raising a family. Entwined throughout is his cherished relationship with his father and his father's haunted past. Light Years will run February 6 March 4 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

This January Signature Theatre will acquire the website EverythingSondheim.org and begin publishing new articles and content this winter. Everything Sondheim is a print publication and website created by Rick Pender featuring extensive international coverage of the most influential composer and lyricist of contemporary musical theater, Stephen Sondheim.

The votes have been counted... Check out the fill list of winners for the 2017 BWW Regional Awards!

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Signature Theatre is excited to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of 4,380 Nights by DC playwright Annalisa Dias. The production will be directed by Kathleen Akerley (Artistic Director of Longacre Lea) and will feature Ahmad Kamal (Woolly Mammoth's KISS) as Malik Essaid/El Hadj El Kaim, Michael John Casey (Shakespeare Theatre's Othello, Folger Theatre's Henry V) as Bud Abramson/Man, Rex Daugherty (Signature'sShakespeare's R&J) as Luke/Colonel Pelissier, and Lynette Rathnam (Ford Theatre's Death of a Salesman) as Woman (complete cast and creative team bios are below). 4,380 Nights will run from January 16 through February 18 in Signature Theatre's ARK Theatre. 4,380 Nights is Signature's submission to the 2018 Women's Voices Theater Festival.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Written as a 'narrative for voices' by Alan Ayckbourn and brought to The Old Vic stage by Old Vic Baylis Director Annabel Bolton following its premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, The Divide unfolds in a dystopian society of repression and seething insurrection.

On March 19, 2018, Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor legendary Broadway composer John Kander with the company's ninth Stephen Sondheim Award.

China Broadway Entertainment announces its latest original global musical: Road to Heaven: The Jonathan Lee Musical. Adapted from the novel by internationally acclaimed author Li Xiuwen, the original musical will feature music by one of China's most iconic singer-songwriters Jonathan Lee.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.