Frank Labovitz News

Natsu Onoda Power is one of the most creative forces in DC theatre. With such credits as Yellow Face at Theater J and Astro Boy and the God of Comics at Studio Theatre, Power's productions are always visually stunning and very clear in the way she tells a story. This review starts as it does because I want it to be perfectly clear that I am a big admirer of Power's work upfront. Unfortunately, her latest endeavor goes against everything I just said.

Audrey Cefaly's new play THE GULF is an exciting premiere to say the least. As funny as it is powerful, as tender as it is passionate, THE GULF reveals a pair of volatile lovers whose relationship is as sharp as a fishing knife - pointed and dangerous. As directed by Joe Calarco, the play is also a duo-de-force for the actresses who bring the love, sex and honky tonk to a small fishing boat floating aimlessly in the Gulf of Mexico. IT is also a tour de force for two actresses: Rachel Zampelli and Maria Rizzo light up the stage with fire and gritty realism.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of The Gulf by DC playwright Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature Theatre's The Flick, Gypsy), The Gulf continues Signature Theatre's commitment to producing regional and local premieres of important new plays. The production stars Maria Rizzo (Signature's Gypsy, West Side Story) and Rachel Zampelli (Signature's The Fix, Dying City), and runs September 13 - November 6 in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of The Gulf by DC playwright Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature Theatre's The Flick, Gypsy), The Gulf continues Signature Theatre's commitment to producing regional and local premieres of important new plays. The production stars Maria Rizzo (Signature's Gypsy, West Side Story) and Rachel Zampelli (Signature's The Fix, Dying City), and runs September 13 - November 6 in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre. Click below to watch highlights from the production!

If Studio Theatre has a go-to playwright, it's been Caryl Churchill, the award-winning British innovator and provocateur, whose season-opening 'Cloud 9' at the theater is as brash and challenging as anything on area stages, and yet was first written over 30 years ago.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play!, based on Mo Willems' award-winning and beloved book series beginning September 13.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of The Gulf by DC playwright Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature Theatre's The Flick, Gypsy), The Gulfcontinues Signature Theatre's commitment to producing regional and local premieres of important new plays.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play!, based on Mo Willems' award-winning and beloved book series beginning September 13.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of The Gulf by DC playwright Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature Theatre's The Flick, Gypsy), The Gulfcontinues Signature Theatre's commitment to producing regional and local premieres of important new plays. The production stars Maria Rizzo (Signature's Gypsy, West Side Story) and Rachel Zampelli (Signature's The Fix, Dying City), and runs September 13 - November 6 in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre.

'Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say, 'Hey world, I am what I am!' In a world where so many are still struggling to be who they are, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, as well as its iconic anthem of authenticity 'I Am What I Am,' is as relevant today as it was on Broadway in 1983. It's a gift that Matthew Gardiner is directing Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman's award-winning musical as Signature Theatre's season finale.

Signature Theatre presents La Cage aux Folles, directed and choreographed by Signature Associate Artistic DirectorMatthew Gardiner (Signature's West Side Story, Sunday in the Park with George). With an iconic score by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly; Mame), featuring "I Am What I Am" and "The Best of Times," and a book by Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots, Newsies), this musical comedy runs through July 10 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre. Watch highlights below!

Signature Theatre presents La Cage aux Folles, directed and choreographed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's West Side Story, Sunday in the Park with George). With an iconic score by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly; Mame), featuring 'I Am What I Am' and 'The Best of Times,' and a book by Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots, Newsies), this musical comedy runs through July 10 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre. Check out a first look below!

Signature Theatre will soon stage La Cage aux Folles, directed and choreographed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. With an iconic score by Jerry Herman(Hello, Dolly; Mame), featuring 'I Am What I Am' and 'The Best of Times,' and a book by Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots, Newsies), this musical comedy will run from May 31 - July 10 inSignature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of La Cage aux Folles directed and choreographed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner.

Due to popular demand Virginia's Signature Theatre announces that Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Flick is now extended through April 24, 2016. The Flick follows the story of three minimum wage employees at a crumbling Massachusetts movie theatre and was called "the best argument anyone has yet made for the continued necessity, and profound uniqueness, of theater' by New York Magazine. Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, directed by Joe Calarco, runs in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre, March 1 - April 24.

Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THE FLICK is making its DC area premiere in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre, March 1 - April 17. Signature Theatre recently released a video for the production - watch it below!

Signature Theatre presents THE FLICK, directed by Joe Calarco (Signature's Cake Off, Shakespeare's R&J). THE FLICK follows the story of three employees at a crumbling Massachusetts movie theatre. Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is receiving its DC area premiere in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre, now through April 17, 2016. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Signature Theatre presents THE FLICK, directed by Joe Calarco (Signature's Cake Off, Shakespeare's R&J). THE FLICK follows the story of three employees at a crumbling Massachusetts movie theatre. Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is receiving its DC area premiere in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre, now through April 17, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Watching Guards at the Taj, you can't help but notice that the philosophical debate between the two guards is still ongoing in various facets of society - that of the idealist versus the realist, struggling to find common ground. That's what makes this a thought-provoking production and Joseph's words incredibly powerful.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of The Flick directed by Joe Calarco (Signature's Cake Off, Shakespeare's R&J). The Flick follows the story of three employees at a crumbling Massachusetts movie theatre and was called "the best argument anyone has yet made for the continued necessity, and profound uniqueness, of theater' by New York Magazine. Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play will receive its DC area premiere in Signature Theatre's intimate ARK Theatre, March 1 - April 17.