Eric Schaeffer News

Virginia's Signature Theatre just announced the full cast for the world premiere of Diner, the musical adaptation of the landmark film with a book by the movie's Academy Award®-winning screenwriter and director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy, The Natural) and an original score by nine-time Grammy Award® winner Sheryl Crow. Directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award® Winner Kathleen Marshall (Broadway's Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It), the ensemble piece will feature Whitney Bashor (Barbara; Broadway's Bridges of Madison County and Signature's The Hollow), Bryan Fenkart (Modell; Broadway's Memphis), Aaron Finley (Billy; Broadway's Rock of Ages),Josh Grisetti (Shrevie; Off-Broadway's Enter Laughing), Erika Henningsen (Beth; Show Boat: Live from Lincoln Center with the NY Philharmonic), Derek Klena (Boogie; Broadway's Wicked, The Bridges of Madison County and Second Stage'sDogfight), Adam Kantor (Eddie; Broadway's Rent, Next to Normal and Second Stage's The Last Five Years), Tess Soltau(Elyse; Broadway's The Addams Family), Matthew James Thomas (Fenwick; Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,Pippin), and John Schiappa (Older Boogie; Broadway's Rocky, The Other Place, Wicked).

Before Victoria Clark returns to Broadway next season as 'Mamita Alvarez' in Gigi, she heads back to school as the artist in residence at Pace University. Clark directs The Light in the Piazza, the show for which she picked up a Tony Award in 2005, running through November 8 at the Loretto Theatre at The Sheen Center. The Light in the Piazza, by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, is based on the novella of the same name by Elizabeth Spencer. Taking place in Italy in the late summer of 1953, it is the story of an American woman Margaret Johnson, who travels to Florence with her daughter Clara, who falls in love with a young Florentine man. As details emerge about Clara's past, their trip turns out to be very much a romantic and psychological journey as Margaret must decide what is best for her daughter, her family, and for herself. The winner of six Tony Awards in 2005, The Light in the Piazza has become one of the great classics of the American Musical Theater, with its lush score and cliff-hanger story. Clark took the time out of her busy schedule to update BroadwayWorld on her adventures in directing, revisiting PIAZZA, preparing for GIGI and more. Check out the full interview below!

ELMER GANTRY is a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. Signature Theatre's presentation will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre now through November 9, Signature's production includes several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the production below!

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) announce recent recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions for Manhattan Theatre Club. The commissioned writers are Jeff Augustin (Little Children Dream of God), Courtney Baron (A Very Common Procedure) and Juliana Nash (Murder Ballad), Nell Benjamin (The Explorers Club), Madeline George (The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence), Tom Holloway (And No More Shall We Part), Nathan Jackson (Broke-ology), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon), Greg Pierce (Slowgirl), and Alexandra Wood (The Initiate).

On October 20, 2014, Florence Lacey (Broadway's Follies, Evita and Signature's Sunset Boulevard), Megan Lawrence (Broadway's Hair and Signature's Cabaret), Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (Broadway's Les Miserables and Signature's The Witches of Eastwick), Natascia Diaz (Broadway's Man of La Mancha and Signature's The Threepenny Opera) and Nick Blaemire (Broadway's Godspell and Signature's Glory Days) performed alongside 75 Signature Theatre artists and an 18-piece orchestra as Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre celebrated its 25th Anniversary. With performances from 27 shows over the last 25 years, including Sweeney Todd, The Rhythm Club, Urinetown, The Boy Detective Fails, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dreamgirls, Chess, and many more. Scroll down for photos!

Complete principal casting has been announced for the new Broadway production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical, Gigi. Victoria Clark, who won a Tony Award for her luminous performance in The Light in the Piazza and was also Tony-nominated for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella and Sister Act, will star as Mamita Alvarez. Dee Hoty, who has starred on Broadway in City of Angels, Me and My Girl and Mamma Mia! and is a three-time Tony Award nominee for The Will Rogers Follies, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and Footloose, will star as Aunt Alicia. Gigi also stars Vanessa Hudgens in the title role, two-time Tony Award-nominee Howard McGillin (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, The Phantom of the Opera) as Honore Lachaille, Corey Cott (Newsies) as Gaston Lachaille and Steffanie Leigh (Mary Poppins) as Liane d'Exelmans.

As previously reported, Vanessa Hudgens will soon hit Broadway in the revamped revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical, GIGI.

ELMER GANTRY is a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic DirectorEric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. Signature Theatre's presentation will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre now through November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006. Go inside opening night, below!

ELMER GANTRY is a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. Signature Theatre's presentation will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre now through November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

One constant in Washington-area theater for which we should all be grateful, is that the wonderful creative minds and souls at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, can be counted on to bring us fresh, innovative and carefully crafted productions of shows that may be new to many of us. This season, Signature is giving us three world premier productions of new musicals (Sheryl Crow's Diner; John Kander's Kid Victory and DC-native Nick Blaemire's Soon), but also a revival of a musical version of the story of Elmer Gantry, a traveling salesman turned preacher, who brings a religious revival a possibly dangerous spark in his pursuit of love. Almost 90 years ago, Sinclair Lewis brought Elmer Gantry to the page and Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, is bringing him to the Signature stage for 2014 audiences.

Signature Theatre presents Elmer Gantry, a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. This will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre today, October 7 - November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006.

Signature Theatre just released two ELMER GANTRY music videos: Elmer Gantry grows Sister Sharon's ministry into the hottest show on the road by adding the gospel voices of the Washington family, whose matriarch Mary (Nova Y. Payton, HAIRSPRAY, DREAMGIRLS) leads the choir in the praise-worthy 'On the Road', and Elmer Gantry (Charlie Pollock, Broadway's VIOLET) finds himself at a crossroads, ready to take on the next adventure, but only the Lord knows where he'll end up next - Sharon Falconer's tent revival - in 'Between Trains.' Check out both videos below!

Additional casting has been announced for the new Broadway production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical, Gigi. Joining the previously announced Vanessa Hudgens in the title role will be two-time Tony Award-nominee Howard McGillin (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, The Phantom of the Opera) as Honore Lachaille, Corey Cott (Newsies) as Gaston Lachaille and Steffanie Leigh(Mary Poppins) as Liane d'Exelmans. Casting for the roles of Madame Alvarez and Aunt Alicia will be announced soon.

Signature Theatre presents Elmer Gantry, a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. This will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre October 7 - November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Million Dollar Quartet, the longest-running Broadway musical production in Chicago's history, will celebrate its 2500th performance in Chicago on Saturday, September 20. To mark the occasion, the cast will play a free outdoor concert in Daley Plaza during the Farmer's Market on Thursday, September 18 at noon.

Virginia's Signature Theatre has appointed Joe Calarco to the new position of Resident Director/Director of New Works. In this position, Calarco will continue to strengthen Signature's commitment to new work by shepherding the development of new musicals and plays and actively seeking the work of original and diverse voices. Calarco will also direct 1-2 shows per season and will continue his work with Signature in The Schools, Signature's flagship education program.

Tony Award-winning regional theatre, Signature Theatre, has added a seasoned director to their staff. According to the Washington Post, director/playwright Joe Calarco, who directed Signature's successful productions of GYPSY, ASSASSINS, and URINETOWN, in addition to some of his original works, will join the Signature team as resident director and director of new works on December 1, 2014.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of Elmer Gantry, a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. This will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre October 7 - November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006.

Vanessa Hudgens will play the title role in the new Broadway production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical, GIGI.

The soul of an artist is on full display in Signature Theatre's 14-15 season-opening production of Sunday in the Park with George, and you'll find the artist's soul behind the scenes in Matthew Gardiner, Associate Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, and the show's director.