Eric Schaeffer News

BroadwayWorld has learned that with almost 3,000 performances and now in its eighth year in Chicago, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Chicago's longest-running Broadway musical, is set to close on January 17, 2016.

Norfolk, VA will again host a Who's Who of the theatre world, including Broadway power couple Terrence Mann (Pippin, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Cats) and Charlotte d'Amboise (Pippin, Chicago, Sweet Charity); Actors Equity President, author, former Miss America and leading lady Kate Shindle (Cabaret, Wonderland, Legally Blonde); and many others, when Virginia Theatre Association (VTA) returns to Norfolk for its Virginia Theatre Matters Conference, October 22-25, 2015, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel.

Signature Theatre presents GIRLSTAR, directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring book and lyrics by Anton Dudley (Second Stage's Getting Home) and music by Brian Feinstein (New World Stages' Mimi Le Duck), this world premiere musical fairytale runs in the MAX Theatre now through November 15. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Signature Theatre presents GIRLSTAR, directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring book and lyrics by Anton Dudley (Second Stage's Getting Home) and music by Brian Feinstein (New World Stages' Mimi Le Duck), this world premiere musical fairytale runs in the MAX Theatre tonight, October 13, through November 15. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere production of Georgie: The Life and Death of George Rose written and performed by Broadway veteran Ed Dixon (Broadway's Anything Goes, Signature's Sunset Boulevard). Directed by Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, and Million Dollar Quartet), this one-man play chronicles Dixon's relationship with his friend and mentor, the Tony-award winning character actor George Rose (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, My Fair Lady, Pirates of Penzance). Georgie: The Life and Death of George Rose will play in Signature's ARK Theatre from January 8 - February 7, 2016.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre & Children's Theatre is kicking off its holiday season with a live stage production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The special holiday Dessert Theatre presentation will have an extremely limited run of three performances only beginning on November 13th and running through November 15th.

Signature Theatre presents GIRLSTAR, directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring book and lyrics by Anton Dudley (Second Stage's Getting Home) and music by Brian Feinstein (New World Stages' Mimi Le Duck), this world premiere musical fairytale runs in the MAX Theatre October 13 - November 15. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Signature Theatre is presenting the world premiere production of Cake Off, a new musical by Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam Gwon (Signature's The Boy Detective Fails). Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's Gypsy, Shakespeare's R&J) this hilarious new musical is a battle-of-the-sexes set at the 50th Annual Millberry Cake-Off competition. Cake Off runs September 29- November 22 in the ARK Theatre. Check out photos from the show below!

The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre continues its commitment to new work by launching the SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab, a new developmental workshop for musical theater writers.

As Stages Theatre Company (STC) unveils our 32nd season, we continue our commitment providing high-quality, accessible theatre for young audiences.

Signature Theatre is excited to announce the cast of Girlstar directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring book and lyrics by Anton Dudley (Second Stage's Getting Home) and music by Brian Feinstein (New World Stages' Mimi Le Duck), this world premiere musical fairytale runs in the MAX Theatre October 13 - November 15.

Don't get creative people angry; it just makes them more creative.

Broadway In Chicago and Emerald City Theatre have announced individual tickets for A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS by Charles M. Schulz go on sale to the public on Friday, September 11. A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS will play the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) November 14, 2015 through January 3, 2016. Based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson and adapted for the stage by Eric Schaeffer by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson,  A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS will be directed by Emerald City Theatre Artistic Director Ernie Nolan.

Signature Theatre opened The Fix directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring a book by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe (the creators of Brother Russia and The Witches of Eastwick).  The show quickly became a favorite among Signature's artistic team during its U.S. premiere at the Theatre in 1998, cementing a longstanding relationship with Dempsey and Rowe. Running in the MAX Theatre August 11 - September 20,the inside-politics musical satire is the first production of Signature Theatre's 2015/2016 season. 

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Cake Off, a new musical by Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam Gwon (Signature's The Boy Detective Fails). Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's Gypsy, Shakespeare's R&J) this hilarious new musical is a battle-of-the-sexes set at the 50th Annual Millberry Cake-Off competition. Cake Off runs September 29 - November 22 in the ARK Theatre.

Signature Theatre presents THE FIX, directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring a book by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe (the creators of Brother Russia and The Witches of Eastwick), the show quickly became a favorite among Signature's artistic team during its U.S. premiere at the Theatre in 1998, cementing a longstanding relationship with Dempsey and Rowe. Running in the MAX Theatre now through September 20, the inside-politics musical satire is the first production of Signature Theatre's 2015/2016 season. Check out a first look at the opening night shots below!

The Fix has exactly what it takes to be a smashing production! Clever, dazzling and perfect for a Washington audience, The Fix is a must see at Signature.

Tony Award-winning playwright Lisa Kron will be a featured guest and participant at the launch party of the Women's Voices Theater Festival on September 8 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The invitation-only event kicks off the beginning of the Festival, an unprecedented collaboration among professional theater companies that includes the presentation of more than 50 world-premiere productions of work by female playwrights, taking place this September and October in the nation's capital region. The launch party features a creative conversation between Kron and National Public Radio's Special Correspondent Susan Stamberg focused on gender parity in the arts in the Museum's Performance Hall, followed by a celebratory party and toast to officially declare the start of the Festival.

Last night, the fourth annual Summer Hummer added $30,000 to theatreWashington's Taking Care of Our Own emergency fund for artists in need, exceeding last year's total by $12,000.

THE FIXSignature Theatre presents THE FIX, directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Featuring a book by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe (the creators of Brother Russia and The Witches of Eastwick), the show quickly became a favorite among Signature's artistic team during its U.S. premiere at the Theatre in 1998, cementing a longstanding relationship with Dempsey and Rowe. Running in the MAX Theatre now through September 20, the inside-politics musical satire is the first production of Signature Theatre's 2015/2016 season. Click below to watch highlights from the show!