Scott Suchman News

Theatre's First Attempt at a Musical is a Huge Success

Signature Theatre presents the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard running through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production is Broadway's Florence Lacey Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond, complemented by D.B. Bonds The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit as Joe, Susan Derry Wonderful Town as Betty, and Ed Dixon The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

Signature Theatre presents the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard running through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production is Broadway's Florence Lacey Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond, complemented by D.B. Bonds The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit as Joe, Susan Derry Wonderful Town as Betty, and Ed Dixon The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre begins its run of the legendary Hollywood musical Sunset Boulevard this evening, December 7th - and runs through February 13, 2011. Headlining the production - the area's first staging of the Tony Award-winning musical - is Broadway's Florence Lacey (Evita; Hello Dolly!; Signature's Follies) as the tragic silent film star Norma Desmond. Ms. Lacey is complemented by D.B. Bonds (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Signature's The Visit) as Joe, Susan Derry (Wonderful Town) as Betty, and Ed Dixon (The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers) as Max von Mayerling. Three time Helen Hayes Award winner J. Fred Shiffman is Sheldrake and Washington favorite Harry A. Winter is Cecil B. DeMille.

Happy Holidays everyone! Come visit our Nation's Capital during the holiday season. It's such a beautiful time of the year here, with so many lights shimmering on the monuments, The Mall, and on The White House. As we await the first snow flakes, DC area theatres are chocked full of productions for the whole family filled with elves, reindeers, Santas, and Scrooges.

Broadway San Jose will present the South Bay debut of THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose), November 23-28, 2010 for 8 performances only. For season ticket information, the public may call (866) 395-2929 or visit www.broadwaysanjose.com. Single tickets (starting at $20) will go on sale October 10, 2010 and can be purchased by calling (415) 792-4111 or visiting the website.

Broadway San Jose will present the South Bay debut of THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose), November 23-28, 2010 for 8 performances only. For season ticket information, the public may call (866) 395-2929 or visit www.broadwaysanjose.com. Single tickets (starting at $20) will go on sale October 10, 2010 and can be purchased by calling (415) 792-4111 or visiting the website.

As the leaves are turning into a rainbow of colors, and we await the first snowflakes to fall, DC theatergoers are anticipating Arena Stage's first two productions in their new Mead Center, while Harry Connick, Jr. introduces children to a friendly elf, and Snow White and a red rose and a guy named Fred make a stop at The Kennedy Center. That red-haired orphan brings Sandy and a bitchy Ms. Hannigan and a pooch named Sandy to Olney, MD. Synetic Theater Artistic Director and his wife/choreographer reunite on the stage, a Ziegfeld Folly stars in a one-woman show, and doughnuts are served at The Studio Theatre.

The Ford's Theatre 2010-2011 season opens with 'Sabrina Fair' by Samuel A. Taylor, October 1-24, 2010. Stephen Rayne ('The Heavens Are Hung In Black') returns to directs this delightful modern twist on the Cinderella story. The production features Susan Heyward as Sabrina with Todd Gearhart and Tom Story as the charming Larrabee brothers. Additional casting includes John Dow as Linus Larrabee, Sr., Helen Hedman as Maude Larrabee, Kimberly Schraf as Julia, and Craig Wallace as Fairchild.

Signature Theatre's hit production of the rock musical Chess will close Sunday, October 3.

Broadway San Jose will present the South Bay debut of THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose), November 23-28, 2010 for 8 performances only. For season ticket information, the public may call (866) 395-2929 or visit www.broadwaysanjose.com. Single tickets (starting at $20) will go on sale October 10, 2010 and can be purchased by calling (415) 792-4111 or visiting the website.

The Ford's Theatre 2010-2011 season opens with 'Sabrina Fair' by Samuel A. Taylor, October 1-24, 2010. Stephen Rayne ('The Heavens Are Hung In Black') returns to directs this delightful modern twist on the Cinderella story. The production features Susan Heyward as Sabrina with Todd Gearhart and Tom Story as the charming Larrabee brothers. Additional casting includes John Dow as Linus Larrabee, Sr., Helen Hedman as Maude Larrabee, Kimberly Schraf as Julia, and Craig Wallace as Fairchild.

The Ford's Theatre 2010-2011 season opens with 'Sabrina Fair' by Samuel A. Taylor, October 1-24, 2010. Stephen Rayne ('The Heavens Are Hung In Black') returns to directs this delightful modern twist on the Cinderella story. The production features Susan Heyward as Sabrina with Todd Gearhart and Tom Story as the charming Larrabee brothers. Additional casting includes John Dow as Linus Larrabee, Sr., Helen Hedman as Maude Larrabee, Kimberly Schraf as Julia, and Craig Wallace as Fairchild.

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

Signature Theatre today announced that the run of its hit production of the rock musical Chess will be extended for one week through Sunday, October 3.

In September, DC area theatres are filled with almost a dozen musical productions opening -- classics, family shows, and many wonderful plays being performed on our over 200 theatre venues. The humidity is finally melting away, and it's a perfect time to welcome the cooler weather and the colors of the Fall by making a trip to the Nation's Capital and catching a show or two or three. There are family shows with canines and rabbits, a Labor Day weekend theatre festival that's FREE, a new jazz musical with some of the area's most talented singers, and bugs and ants that swing on trapezes. Mr. Ripley is finally coming to town, while I'm hoping that all will be well at Shakespeare Theatre. Someone is trying to deal with a very troubling inch, a Bar-Mitzvah boy has to deal with his crazy family, spelling champions battle it out, and a beagle pilot takes flight. There's so much to choose from, so read on and see what's playing in September in this monumental town. Happy New Year to all my fellow Jewish lovers of the 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's Jill 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. The first official production shots have been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a very first look below!

The world of Cold War intrigue, forbidden love, and 1980s rock rules when the legendary musical Chess, by the composers of Mamma Mia!, opens at Signature Theatre tomorrow, August 10. The production will run through September 26. The first major American production in almost 20 years - and the Washington region's very first professional production - stars Broadway's Jill 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. In anticipation of this exciting opening, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production with never-before-seen dress rehearsal shots! Check back tomorrow for official opening night photo coverage and video!

Is there any better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than the Nation's Capital? If you're in town for the fireworks and concert on the Mall, consider popping into one of our local theatres. This month's MUST-SEES include The Capital Fringe Festival and Hip-Hop Festival, pirates, a high-flying nanny, a supreme trio, a boar with a flapjack, a crazy one-man Lord of the Rings, those loveable Tony Award-winning puppets, lots of plaid, a household of singing sisters, Stew's 'strange' score, and a concert version of a Rodgers and Hart classic musical. There's something for everyone in July on our DC area stages.

It is always so exciting going to see a World Premiere of a musical. This happens often at the Signature Theatre thanks to the their 'American Musical Voices Project' (the largest single musical theater commissioning and producing initiative of any U.S. theater) sponsored by the Shen Family Foundation.