James Gardiner News

Richard Pepenella presents Red Hot & New: A Songwriters' and Singers' Soiree, the newest weekly party to hit the theater and cabaret scene, at Ido Sushi in New York on Thursday, November 4th at 8:30PM.

GLORY DAYS, a new rock musical, with music & lyrics by Nick Blaemire and book by James Gardiner will get its West Coast premiere on October 15th through November 7th, 2010.

Jerica Productions/The Royal Underground Theatre Company presents GLORY DAYS, a new rock musical Music & Lyrics by Nick Blaemire, Book by James Gardiner West Coast Premiere

GLORY DAYS, a new rock musical, with music & lyrics by Nick Blaemire and book by James Gardiner will get its West Coast premiere on October 15th through November 7th, 2010.

Jerica Productions/The Royal Underground Theatre Company presents GLORY DAYS, a new rock musical Music & Lyrics by Nick Blaemire, Book by James Gardiner West Coast Premiere

A signature event with three days of free theater - mark your calendars for Sept. 3-5, 2011

Director Eric Schaeffer's restaging is first major American production in 20 years.

CHESS opened at the Signature Theatre on August 10 and will run through September 26. The cast is lead by Jill Paice (Curtains, The 39 Steps) as Florence Vassy, Euan Morton (Boy George in Taboo, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Anatoly Sergievsky and Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Rent) as Freddie Trumper. The rock musical is directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. Written by Mamma Mia! composers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson with Evita and Lion King lyricist Tim Rice, the 1984 cult musical of Cold War competition in love and chess is being given its first major Washington area production. Chess is being performed in the fabulous intimacy of the 276-seat MAX Theatre.

Chess, the rock musical by the composers of Mamma Mia!, opened at Signature Theatre on August 10, 2010 and plays a limited run through September 26. The first major American production in almost 20 years-and the Washington region's very first professional production-stars Broadway'sJill Paice (Curtains), Euan Morton (Boy George in Taboo), and Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose) in the Russian/American conflict made new again. Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet) and his creative team capture the gritty, sexy world of Chess' 1985 radio hit 'One Night in Bangkok' in the amazing intimacy of Signature's 276-seat MAX Theatre. The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre has a national reputation for its work with musicals - polishing underappreciated gems, as well as producing world premieres and reinventing classics.

Now that The Capital Fringe Festival has finally packed up its tent, (read all 132 reviews of the Fringe reviews and reflections here), DC theatergoers are being offered some musical offerings this month including new productions of the popular musicals Chess, Nunsense, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, The Fantasticks and Side Show.

Signature Theatre, winner of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents the Washington premiere of the hit musical comedy [title of show], winner of three Obie Awards and a Tony nomination.

On Tuesday, June 22, Signature Theatre will host the writers and original Broadway stars of its current musical [title of show] in a free 'Talk Back' discussion with the audience following the 7:30 pm performance. Writer/actors Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell will have the mind-bending opportunity to watch themselves played by Washington actors, Sam Ludwig and James Gardiner, at the performance then discuss the show afterwards in Signature's remarkably intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre. [title of show], winner of three Obie Awards and a Tony nomination, is a zany take on two friends' decision to write a musical, running through June 27.

On Tuesday, June 22, Signature Theatre will host the writers and original Broadway stars of its current musical [title of show] in a free 'Talk Back' discussion with the audience following the 7:30 pm performance. Writer/actors Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell will have the mind-bending opportunity to watch themselves played by Washington actors, Sam Ludwig and James Gardiner, at the performance then discuss the show afterwards in Signature's remarkably intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre. [title of show], winner of three Obie Awards and a Tony nomination, is a zany take on two friends' decision to write a musical, running through June 27.

Complete casting has been announced for the Signature Theatre's staging of CHESS, joining the previously announced Jill Paice, Jeremy Kushnier and Euan Morton will be Eleasha Gamble, Russell, Sunday. Chris Sizemore, Christopher Bloch, Jamie Eacker, Christopher Mueller, Gregory Maheu, Rachel Zampelli, Jonathan Atkinson, James Gardiner, Katie McManus and Bayla Whitten.

Signature Theatre, winner of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents the Washington premiere of the hit musical comedy [title of show], winner of three Obie Awards and a Tony nomination. A zany take on two friends' decision to write a musical, [title of show] runs through June 27 in Signature's remarkably intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre.

The F.U.D.G.E. (FRIENDS UNITED DEVELOPING GENUINE ENTERTAINMENT) Theatre Company will GIVE BROADWAY'S 'GLORY DAYS' a second chance when it presents the musical's New England Premiere on FRIDAY, APRIL 30th at The Arsenal Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre (321 Arsenal Street) where it will play a limited engagement through Saturday, May 8.

Just two decades ago, Washington, DC's theater scene was dominated by large venues that presented mostly traditional plays. Few theaters dared to take the risk of producing new work, and even fewer produced lesser-known or new musicals.

Just two decades ago, Washington, DC's theater scene was dominated by large venues that presented mostly traditional plays. Few theaters dared to take the risk of producing new work, and even fewer produced lesser-known or new musicals.

The F.U.D.G.E. (FRIENDS UNITED DEVELOPING GENUINE ENTERTAINMENT) Theatre Company will GIVE BROADWAY'S 'GLORY DAYS' a second chance when it presents the musical's New England Premiere on FRIDAY, APRIL 30th at The Arsenal Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre (321 Arsenal Street) where it will play a limited engagement through Saturday, May 8.

Just two decades ago, Washington, DC's theater scene was dominated by large venues that presented mostly traditional plays. Few theaters dared to take the risk of producing new work, and even fewer produced lesser-known or new musicals.