Nova Y. Payton News

Famed orchestrator honored at fund-raiser at the Embassy of Italy.

Broadway stars Heidi Blickenstaff, Pamela Myers, and John Leslie Wolfe performed alongside an 18-piece orchestra as Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored renowned orchestrator and longtime Stephen Sondheim collaborator, Jonathan Tunick on April 7 - check out a look back below!

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

On April 7, 2014, Broadway stars Heidi Blickenstaff, Pamela Myers, and Ron Raines will perform alongside an 18-piece orchestra as Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre honors renowned orchestrator and longtime Stephen Sondheim collaborator, Jonathan Tunick.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Tony winning composer performs and conducts SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD with the Young Artists of America.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

This musical features bluegrass, gospel, country, and rock music. It's like the tomato sauce Prego...'It's all in there.'

Tony Award winner Ron Rifkin (Alias, Broadway's Cabaret) and Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas (The Waltons) will star in the world premiere historical drama Camp David at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater as Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Jimmy Carter, respectively. Penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright and under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith, Camp David runs March 21-May 4, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater.

The Ford's Theatre 2013-2014 season continues with the musical Violet, directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies), now through February 23, 2014. Violet features a dynamic score of bluegrass, gospel, country and rock music by four-time Tony Award-nominated composerJeanine Tesori (the recent Fun Home; Broadway's Caroline, or Change;Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek the Musical). The Ford's production stars a first-class Washington cast led by Erin Driscoll in the title role. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces a rare opportunity for D.C.-area theatergoers to hear groups of distinguished actors, directors, playwrights and artistic directors discuss their work and the myriad challenges facing their art form, in a special series of three Monday evening panels entitled The Summit. Organized and moderated by The Washington Post Theater Critic Peter Marks, the three free installments will gather some of the region's most accomplished theater professionals to talk about everything from their passion for their craft to the problems of trying to lure new audiences to live theater.

The Ford's Theatre 2013-2014 season continues with the musical Violet, directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun (Broadway'sNewsies), January 24-February 23, 2014. Violet features a dynamic score of bluegrass, gospel, country and rock music by four-time Tony Award-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (the recent Fun Home; Broadway's Caroline, or Change;Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek the Musical). The Ford's production stars a first-class Washington cast led by Erin Driscoll in the title role.

Another world premiere musical by the talented pair of Matt Connor and Grace Barnes is directed by Eric Schaeffer.

This season, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of the new musical CROSSING with a book by Grace Barnes, music and lyrics by Matt Conner, with Barnes also contributing additional lyrics. CROSSING, currently in previews, runs through Nov. 24. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast on stage!

Two area favorites E. Faye Butler and Nova Y. Payton will unite to star in Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Songs of Leiber and Stoller in Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's 2013/14 season.

Signature's Sondheim Award Gala was presented to honor those who have contributed to the works of legendary composer, Stephen Sondheim, and the canon of American theater. Check out the photos from this year's event.

theatreWashington just announced the 29th Helen Hayes Awards nominees today, January 28th, 2013 in The National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery. This year, for the first time, theatre lovers in Washington and around the world were able to watch the nomination announcements live via webcast at theatrewashington.org, Facebook, or on the Livestream. Rebecca Sheir of WAMU's Metro Connection and WTOP's Bob Madigan hosted. Scroll below for the full list of the 2013 nominees!

theatreWashington just announced the 29th Helen Hayes Awards nominees today, January 28th, 2013 in The National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery. This year, for the first time, theatre lovers in Washington and around the world were able to watch the nomination announcements live via webcast at theatrewashington.org, Facebook, or on the Livestream. Rebecca Sheir of WAMU's Metro Connection and WTOP's Bob Madigan hosted. Scroll below for the full list of the 2013 nominees!

Get ready for another roundup of regional theater news with today's 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'. Click below for the most-read theater stories for the week of December 31!

Signature Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls, playing in the MAX Theatre now running through January 13, 2013. Directed and choreographed by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Xanadu, Really Really), this much-loved show captures the heart and hopes of a soulful female singing trio as they rise to international fame. BroadwayWorld has a first look at scenes from the production below.