Jon Kalbfleisch News

Sometimes a young artist makes a big impression on an ornery arts reviewer first time out of the box. Today’s subject Adelina Mitchell did just that to me and my wife a few years ago. More on that later on in the column. Now you can see her incredible talents for yourselves from the comfort of your own home Constellation Theatre Company’s streaming presentation of The Last Five Years. The production is available from June 22nd through July 11th.

 Due to popular demand, Signature Theatre extends Simply Sondheim, the first production in the Signature Features 2021 Season, for three weeks, until April 16 on Marquee TV.

We all remember back in the day (meaning before mid-March 2020) when we would gather in a theatre, wait for the house lights to dim and hear the first notes from a live orchestra played. Since that time, theatre companies have found some very inventive ways to present plays in the new medium of streaming pandemic theatre. Presenting musicals however are always more of a challenge because of the number of people allowed in a space at any one time due to COVID-19 restrictions. Signature Theatre has solved that problem and is now presenting Simply Sondheim the first in their five show Signature Features subscription series.

Today, Signature Theatre releases Simply Sondheim, the first production in the Signature Features 2021 Season. Starring 12 singers and an orchestra of 16, Simply Sondheim includes over 30 songs from the composer's canon, and was filmed over the course of three days in Signature's MAX Theatre with multiple safety protocols in place.

Signature Theatre's Simply Sondheim, the first production in the Signature Features 2021 Season, takes place next month. Get a sneak peek at the show, featuring Awa Sal Secka perform 'Now You Know'! 

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and streaming dates for Simply Sondheim, the first production in the Signature Features 2021 Season. Starring 12 singers and an orchestra of 16, Simply Sondheim includes over 30 songs from the composer’s canon, and was filmed over the course of three days.

To kick off its 2021 season, Signature presents a new production of Simply Sondheim directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. Get a sneak peek at the concert with Norm Lewis performing 'Being Alive' from Company.

Signature Theatre has announced the first seven masterclasses of 2021 in its popular Thursday evening virtual masterclass series. Sessions include a wide range of subjects taught by leaders in the industry including Tony Award winner Jonathan Tunick, Rachel Leigh Dolan, Dani Ebbin, Anne Nesmith, Nova Y. Payton and Dana P. Rowe.

Signature Theatre has announced the full lineup for Signature Theatre’s 2021 Signature Features season, five fully-staged plays and musicals, made exclusively for the screen and professionally filmed in HD on set (multiple safety protocols were employed to ensure artists’ and crew’s safety).

Tonight, at a celebration honoring theatre excellence on stages across the Washington area, theatre artists, administrators, patrons, and special guests gathered in the National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery for theatreWashington's announcement of nominees for the 36th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, which will be presented on Monday, May 18 at an event at the Anthem.

I am often asked what my all time favorite Broadway musical is. I always reply A Chorus Line. I consider it to be a perfect musical in every way. The show's original director/choreographer Michael Bennett captured the heart and soul of the dancer so beautifully in what I consider to be his masterwork. Marvin Hamlisch's music and Edward Kleban's lyrics were and still are one of the most inventive theatre scores ever written. James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante's book (based off of taped interviews of Broadway dancers conducted by Bennett) frame the songs to sheer perfection. Paul's monologue in the show is actually based on Dante's true story.

Do not miss this superb rendition of a classic musical.

BroadwayWorld has your first look at Signature Theatre's A Chorus Line! Check out the photos and video!

BroadwayWorld has a first look at Signature Theatre's rehearsals for A Chorus Line with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban and book by James Kirkwood Jr. & Nicholas Dante. A Chorus Line will run from October 29, 2019 - January 5, 2020 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre and will be directed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Passion, Billy Elliot) and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Denis Jones (Broadway's Tootsie, Signature's Crazy for You).

Signature Theatre announced today the full cast and creative team for A Chorus Line with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban and book by James Kirkwood Jr. & Nicholas Dante. A Chorus Line will run from October 29, 2019 - January 5, 2020 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre and will be directed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Passion, Billy Elliot) and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Denis Jones (Broadway's Tootsie, Signature's Crazy for You).

Signature Theatre presents Assassins with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies). John Weidman stopped by the show recently and posed for a photo with the cast.

Signature Theatre and Stephen Sondheim have been a winning combination in the DC theatre scene since 1991when the company presented Sweeney Todd at Gunston. In 1992 it presented the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman collaboration known as Assassins. The show was produced again by Signature in 2006 in their garage space.

It is not often one opens a theater program and on page one sees a letter from composer Stephen Sondheim. I had the privilege of attending the joint Jason Robert Brown and Stephen Sondheim concert on June 24, 2019 at Town Hall in New York City to raise funds for 'Brady United Against Gun Violence' (see link below). It was a very moving evening of great theatrical music by two of this country's best composers.

Signature Theatre presents Assassins with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies).

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for Assassins with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman and directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies). Signature Theatre continues to be the largest single producer of the work of Stephen Sondheim and Assassins marks the 30th production of a Sondheim musical in Signature Theatre's history. Assassins will run from August 11 - September 29 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.