Signature Theatre News

Signature Theatre presents Grand Hotel, the Musical directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, and Signature's Titanic) and choreographed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise (Signature's Light Years). Set in 1928 Berlin, a series of eclectic guests and staff including a fading ballerina, a destitute baron, a wannabe-starlet typist and an ailing bookkeeper collide at the bustling Grand Hotel. Grand Hotel the Musical runs through May 19, 2019 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

From the beginning strumming of the electric guitars (Manny Moreira, Jim Roberts and Paul Henry) from the fabulous Kennedy Center Orchestra's 8-piece orchestra (Joe Mowart on Drums, Geoffrey Pilkington on Horn, and on Keyboards Michael Gacetta, Anthony Nalker, and Alex Tang) I was hooked. I had a perpetual smile on my face watching this spectacular production under the Direction of Josh Rhodes who also did the superb Choreography.

California Shakespeare Theater opens its 2019 summer season with A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, playing May 22 through June 16, 2019 at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. The season launches with A Pay What You Can performance on Wednesday, May 22nd. Tickets will be available starting at 10am on the day of each show through TodayTix (todaytix.com) and the Cal Shakes Box Office (calshakes.org or 510.548.9666).

In the past few weeks, we've watched the nominations roll in. Today the final crop of nominees have been revealed, all leading to next week's ultimate announcement- the 2019 Tony nominations.

In the third concert of her More About The Melody series, cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf invites Tony Award-winning music director, Ted Sperling to host an evening celebrating the music of the three generations of the iconic Rodgers family: Richard Rodgers, Mary Rodgers, and Adam Guettel.

Blue by Charles Randolph-Wright with music by Nona Hendryx, will receive its Broadway premiere spring of 2020 at a theater to be announced, under the direction of Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad who starred in both the play's 2000 world premiere at Arena Stage and 2001 New York premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Jennifer Barnhart was such a hit in her first solo cabaret show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre this month that due to popular demand, she's been invited back for an encore performance of "It's About Time!" on Sunday, May 19th. Showtime is at 7pm. Click here for tickets.

The Signature Theatre production of Octet, a world premiere chamber choir musical by three-time Tony Award nominee Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812) and directed by Annie Tippe (Ghost Quartet), has been extended one week and will now play throughJune 16, 2019.

It's time to walk the line. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of Skeleton Crew, a compelling drama about a driven team of autoworkers trying to navigate a cutthroat industry. This searing new play is by Dominique Morisseau (Detroit '67 ), a 2018 recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellows Program (unofficially referred to as a Genius Grant). Skeleton Crew is the final installment of Morisseau's powerful Detroit Project, which was inspired by August Wilson's landmark Century Cycle. Playing April 13-May 11, 2019. Directed by Stori Ayers. Production Sponsor is The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.

A one-week extension has been announced today for the Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director; James Houghton, Founder) production of Curse of the Starving Class by Sam Shepard and directed by Tony Award nominee Terry Kinney. The production will now run April 23 to June 2, 2019 with a Monday, May 13 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

2019 MAC Award Nominees for Duo/Group Cheo Bourne and Lena Moy-Borgen are back with more cake! Moy-Borgen & Bourne's Office Party is coming to Don't Tell Mama on April 25th at 7pm. Watch them, your party planning committee, as they curate an awesome party for you - and this one is NSFW! Sylvia Feldman is our Employee of the Month and Emily Viega joins in as the new intern! Devon Perry music directs.

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

BroadwayWorld has learned that The Muny announced today 25 principal cast members for the first season of its second century. Complete company casting will be announced throughout April and May. The 101st season opens on a brand new, state-of-the-art stage with Muny favorite Guys and Dolls followed by the U.S. regional premiere of Kinky Boots. The season continues with 1776, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Footloose and a newly-reimagined Lerner and Loewe's Paint Your Wagon. Season 101 closes with the highly-anticipated Muny debut of Roald Dahl's Matilda.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the passing of veteran actor of stage and screen. Georgia Engel.

The third volume of the anthology will release on Monday, April 29th. The publication will be celebrated with a party at The Pershing Square Signature Center and will feature book signings at 6:30PM by various contributors in the volume, including composer-lyricist Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), director Stephen Brackett (Be More Chill), choreographer Raja Feather Kelly (A Strange Loop), composer-lyricist Peter Mills (The Hello Girls), and Cara Loelle Reichel (Producing Artistic Director, Prospect Theater Company).

Lively McCabe Entertainment Co-President Michael Barra proudly announces the expansion of their Columbus Circle office with the hiring of two key executives, Darnetha Lincoln M'Baye and Molly Israel Paul. Ms. M'Baye has joined the company as VP, Head of Music and will be responsible for managing the company's content partnerships with the major music publishers, as well as overseeing the packaging of all music intellectual property elements into the company's stage, film, and television development slates. Also joining Lively McCabe this month is Molly Israel Paul, who will serve as Creative Executive, focusing on the development of new plays adapted from existing IP for the company's exclusive HollyWay collection at Dramatists Play Service. Lively McCabe is also pleased to announce that Jen Bender and Allison Bressi will begin working with the company this month as Creative Development Consultants and will each oversee the development of select stage musicals on behalf of the company.

The Nominating Committee of the Off Broadway Alliance has announced important dates for the 9th Annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards:

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with Broadway alum Ilana Levine, who makes her entrance onto the podcast stage with her new show Little Known Facts. Ilana's unique brand of celebrity interview, 'Podcast Verite,' is unfiltered, raw, honest and uniquely funny.

Williamstown Theatre Festival (Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director) announced today additional casting for the 2019 summer season, including Ellen Barkin, Andre Braugher, Priscilla Lopez, Thomas Sadoski, Bernard White, JoBeth Williams, and many more. The 2019 season kicks off June 25, 2019 and runs through August 18, 2019.

Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland announce the full lineup for Signature Theatre's 2019/20 season.