Harold Wolpert News

Harold Wolpert, a three-time Tony Award­­–winning arts executive with more than 30 years of experience, and longtime leader and producer at some of the nation's most prestigious not-for-profit theater companies, announces the launch of My Purple Crayon Consulting.

American Repertory Theater at Harvard University announced that 1,500 tickets priced at $5 and 1,000 free tickets for public high school students will be available across the upcoming 29 performances of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992.

Signature Theatre today announced that its Executive Director, Harold Wolpert, will depart the institution on June 30, having helped to steer it through the COVID-19 pandemic. He has decided to leave to pursue change in the field more broadly, from outside of an institution for the first time in his three-decade career to date.

Iyvon Edebiri is the new Director of Artistic Programs at Signature Theatre the company announced today. Ms. Edebiri comes to Signature Theatre from The Parsnip Ship, where she has led the radio-play platform for more than six years.

Christopher Rungoo has become the Director of Human Resources at Signature Theatre, the company announced today. Mr. Rungoo joined Signature Theatre on January 11. Chris served as the Director of Human Resources at the Vilcek Foundation for the last 10 years.

Signature Theatre has announced today that their 2021-22 Season will feature five works by five Resident Playwrights, including a production by Signature's Residency 1 playwright Anna Deavere Smith, world premiere plays from Residency 5 playwrights Annie Baker, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Samuel D. Hunter & a New York premiere by Dominique Morisseau.

The Signature Theatre has announced that Octet, the critically acclaimed world premiere musical by Residency 5 playwright Dave Malloy, will make its west coast premiere during Berkeley Repertory Theatrea??s Spring 2021 season. Directed by Annie Tippe, Octet was the first musical commissioned and produced in the theatrea??s history.

Signature Theatre today announced that the cast recording of its production of their acclaimed production of Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band, featuring songs by Dengue Fever, will be released on May 8 by Yellow Sound Label. The album will be produced by Michael Croiter and Matthias Winter.

Signature Theatre today announced a new program, SigSpace, which will bring artistically-anchored programming to the unique Signature Theatre lobby space, with the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Signature Theatre has announced postponement of its spring productions, including Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Residency 1 playwright Anna Deavere Smith, and Confederates by Residency 5 playwright Dominique Morisseau.

This week, I asked representatives from ten theatrical nonprofits in New York to speak with me. Most said yes, but many asked to speak off-the-record because the situation is changing so rapidly they didn't want to be quoted on something that would be incorrect by the time the piece ran. Unlike my usual in the weeds piece, this is purposely a more reflective one.

Cambodian Rock Band began performances on February 4 and opened just last night, February 24 on the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The production is a limited engagement through March 15, 2020.

Rochelle Torres is the new Director of Marketing, Communications & Engagement at Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director), the company announced today. Torres comes to Signature from Playwrights Horizons, where she worked for more than seven years.

Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director) will celebrate the release of the Original Cast Recording of Octet, the critically acclaimed world premiere musical by Residency 5 playwright Dave Malloy, with a special celebration on Monday, January 27th at 6:00pm in The Pershing Square Signature Center Lobby. The event will include a special performance and CD signing by the Octet cast and creatives. The event is free and open to the public. An RSVP is required - click here for more information on how to RSVP.

Casting is confirmed for the Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director) world premiere of The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. The production will play from February 11 to March 22, 2020 with opening night set for March 1 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

Tickets are now on sale for the Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director) world premiere of The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. The production will also be extended one week and will play from February 11 to March 22, 2020 with opening night set for March 1 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Click here for more information.

Casting is confirmed and tickets are now on sale for the Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director) New York premiere of Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee, directed by Chay Yew, featuring songs by Dengue Fever. The production will play from February 4 to March 8, 2020 with opening night set for February 24, 2020 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Click here for more information.

Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director) has announced that its sold-out production of Fires in the Mirror, written by MacArthur fellow Anna Deavere Smith, directed by Saheem Ali, and featuring Michael Benjamin Washington, has been extended again and will now play through December 22, 2019.

Signature Theatre presents Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith featuring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by Saheem Ali. The production opened just last night, November 11th in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

Signature Theatre announces additions to Signature's Board of Trustees.