Eric Schaeffer News

The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award on April 16, 2012. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos of the emotional presentation below!

The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award on April 16, 2012. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. BroadwayWorld was there for the reception and brings you photo coverage below!

Tomorrow, April 18, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the hit musical now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), will celebrate the beginning of its 3rd electrifying year in New York and the 300th performance of the show at New World Stages. Following tomorrow's matinee performance, the cast will celebrate the landmark with four students representing the Education Through Music Foundation.

The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre last night honored esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit last night, April 16, 2012 at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. Check out these photographs of the presentation.

The national tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Tony Award®-winning new musical inspired by the true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, will make its Sacramento premiere April 17 - 22 at Community Center Theater as part of the Broadway Sacramento series. Tickets for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET are available now by calling (916) 557-1999 or (916) 808-5181, or online at Tickets.com. Tickets are also available at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office,1419 H Street, Sacramento, and at the Convention Center Box Office, 1301 L Street, Sacramento. Tickets start at $19. Evening performances are Tuesday, April 17 through Saturday, April 21, at 8 p.m.; matinee performances are Thursday, April 19, Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Broadway Sacramento is presented by California Musical Theatre and sponsored by Wells Fargo.

The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit on April 16, 2012 at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer said, 'I am thrilled that Patti LuPone will be this year's recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award. With her wonderful performances in Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Company, Passion, and more - she has had an amazing connection to Steve's words and music. It's wonderful to add her name to the distinguished honorees Angela Lansbury and Bernadette Peters. We look forward to saluting Patti and her extraordinary talents in April.'

Signature Theatre closes out its 2011/12 season sporting funky legwarmers and wielding neon glow sticks with the Washington premiere of the musical comedy hit Xanadu. Beginning performances on May 6th, Xanadu will be transforming Signature's MAX Theatre into one big disco-ball heaven - complete with satin shorts and roller skates! Nominated for four Tony Awards® (including "Best Musical"), the musical features a Book by Douglas Carter Beane, with Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Xanadu will play at Signature from May 6, 2012 through July 1, 2012. Tickets are now on sale.

The national tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Tony Award®-winning new musical inspired by the true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, will make its Sacramento premiere April 17 - 22 at Community Center Theater as part of the Broadway Sacramento series. Tickets for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET are available now by calling (916) 557-1999 or (916) 808-5181, or online at Tickets.com. Tickets are also available at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office,1419 H Street, Sacramento, and at the Convention Center Box Office, 1301 L Street, Sacramento. Tickets start at $19. Evening performances are Tuesday, April 17 through Saturday, April 21, at 8 p.m.; matinee performances are Thursday, April 19, Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Broadway Sacramento is presented by California Musical Theatre and sponsored by Wells Fargo.

Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, makes its Minnesota debut at Hennepin Theatre Trust's State Theatre, through April 1, 2012.

Today we are talking to the composing half of one of the most talented and consistently exciting songwriting teams in musical theatre, Dempsey/Rowe - the force behind ZOMBIE PROM, THE FIX, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and, now, the brand new rock musical at Washington, D.C.'s lauded and progressive Signature Theatre, BROTHER RUSSIA - Dana Rowe. Discussing the finer details of his previous collaborations with John Dempsey on the West End iterations of THE FIX and THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, as well as their subsequent American premieres at the Signature, Rowe and I dissect his career thus far, with a particular focus on his edgy new hard rock theatre piece, BROTHER RUSSIA, directed by frequent Dempsey/Rowe director, previous InDepth InterView participant Eric Schaeffer. In addition to all about the boundary-breaking and genre-spanning BROTHER RUSSIA and his other notable musicals, Rowe and I also outline his influences and his own personal favorite scores, as well as shine a light on his enthusiasm for the musical genre at large and what makes his exceedingly complimentary partnership with Dempsey so elemental to the success of their risky and rewarding shows, ZOMBIE PROM until now. All of that and much, much more!

On April 16, 2012, Signature Theatre will honor the celebrated Tony Award-winning actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy.

Just as the 2012 presidential race heats up,International City Theatre (ICT) presents the West Coast premiere of a hard-boiled, darkly comic, Olivier Award-nominated rock musical about the American political machine. With book and lyrics by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe, The Fix begins a four-week run on April 27 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Randy Brenner is at the helm, with musical direction by Darryl Archibald, choreography by Heather Castillo, and Sal Mistretta reprising his Helen Hayes Award-winning role as Uncle Grahame. Low-priced previews take place on April 24, 25 and 26.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb in the Eisenhower Theater June 8 to July 1, 2012.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb in the Eisenhower Theater June 8 to July 1, 2012. The musical revue will star Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Alan H. Green, Leslie Kritzer, Patina Miller, and Matthew Scott. Originally produced at Signature Theatre in Virginia and co-conceived by David Loud and Eric Schaeffer, the production features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and will be directed by Eric Schaeffer. Jon Kalbfleisch will conduct the 22-piece Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Press opening night is Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, makes its Minnesota debut at Hennepin Theatre Trust's State Theatre, March 27-April 1, 2012.

Signature Theatre will present the world premiere of Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo.

Broadway San Jose announces tickets for the national tour of the Broadway musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, inspired by the true story, are now on sale. Ticket prices range from $20 to $75 and will be available at the SJTIX box office, by visiting www.broadwaysanjose.com or by calling 408-792-4111. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 408-792-4131.

Signature Theatre once again mounts a World Premiere musical with success. You'll have a rockin' good time.

Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre announced today that Really Really, the 'Generation Me' tragic comedy, has become the biggest selling world premiere play in the Theatre's 22-year history.

Last season, Signature Theatre brought the comedy Art to the stage. Now, the Tony Award-winning Theatre is home to the Washington premiere of another comedy from the incisive mind of Yasmina Reza, as God of Carnage begins performances on April 10th, and runs through June 24th. Directed by Helen Hayes award-winner Joe Calarco (Urinetown, Assassins, and Side Show at Signature), God of Carnage is described as 'a scathing dark comedy that gleefully flouts the perception of human 'civility.'