Signature Theatre News

Tomorrow marks an exciting landmark for Million Dollar Quartet. The Chicago production is celebrating 2,000 performances. To mark the occasion, original MDQ cast member (now on the National Tour) Kelly Lamont will join the company for a 'Sitting in with the Band' appearance during the encore. The company will celebrate with a specially-designed cake, courtesy of The French Pastry School.

Love to sing? The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre is looking for the next 'Signature Idol,' as the wildly popular Signature Idol Competition returns for one day only during the theatre's annual Open House on August 3rd. Held in Signature's MAX Theatre, the competition enters its fourth year with a panel of three celebrity judges in search of the best undiscovered singers in the DC region.

Continuing to build on the enormous success of new play development at Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), Artistic Director Vivienne Benesch and Managing Director Sarah Clare Corporandy, announces casting for the Signature Staged Readings of Dark Radio by Colin McKenna to be presented today, July 11-13 on the Bratton Theater Mainstage.

Lincoln Center Theater Producing Artistic Director Andre Bishop and LCT3 Artistic Director Paige Evans have announced a slate of three new works to be produced by LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences, during the 2013-2014 season. First up will be the world premiere of LUCE, marking the professional debut of playwright JC Lee, directed by May Adrales (Saturday, October 5 through Sunday, November 17 - opening Monday, October 21). LUCE will be followed in January with a second world premiere, STOP HITTING YOURSELF, created by Rude Mechs (Monday, January 13 through Sunday, February 23, 2014 - opening Monday, January 27). The season will conclude with the New York premiere of 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Ayad Akhtar's new play THE WHO AND THE WHAT, directed by Kimberly Senior (Saturday, May 31 through Sunday, July 13, 2014 - opening Monday, June 16).

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS announced today that CHITA: A LEGENDARY CELEBRATION has found its Broadway home. The star-studded benefit concert celebrating and starring the legendary Chita Rivera will play the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52 Street, New York City) at 8 pm on Monday, October 7, 2013. The one-night only performance in honor of Rivera's 80th birthday will be produced by and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

No Rules Theatre Company will close at its first season in residence at Signature Theatre with 'The No Rules Show,' conceived by Co-Artistic Directors Joshua Morgan and Brian Sutow and hosted by Morgan, today, July 10 - 21.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the San Diego Premiere of the crime classic Double Indemnity, adapted by David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright from the novel by James M. Cain. Directed by John Gould Rubin, Double Indemnity will run July 27 - August 25, 2013 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run July 27 - July 31. Opening night is Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Continuing to build on the enormous success of new play development at Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), Artistic Director Vivienne Benesch and Managing Director Sarah Clare Corporandy, announces casting for the Signature Staged Readings of Dark Radio by Colin McKenna to be presented July 11-13 on the Bratton Theater Mainstage.

Performances of the New York premiere of Roger Bean's ("The Marvelous Wonderettes") new musical LIFE COULD BE A DREAM - winner of the LA Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly Theatre and Backstage Garland Awards for Outstanding Musical - begin tonight (Monday, July 8th) at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the New York premiere of Roger Bean's ('The Marvelous Wonderettes') new musical LIFE COULD BE A DREAM - winner of the LA Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly Theatre and Backstage Garland Awards for Outstanding Musical. LIFE COULD BE A DREAM is an official selection of the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival and will play at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan beginning tonight, July 8th, 2013 for 6 performances only!

To conclude its 45th season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back a pair of acclaimed collaborators: Sarah Ruhl and Les Waters, the creators of Eurydice, Three Sisters, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), return to Berkeley Rep with another tale of love and longing in Dear Elizabeth.

A new staging of the Emmy-winning composer Gerald Fried's jazz-flavored oratorio "Omnia Ad Dei Gloriam, or Les the Least Straightens the Lord," will be performed as part of this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival.

How does a state contend with a barbarous ruler who is perceived to be appointed by God? King Richard II, portrayed by three-time OBIE Award winner Rocco Sisto, has designed the murder of his uncle, wasted public funds, and used the influence of his crown to misrule a nation. When Richard banishes Henry Bolingbroke (played by Tom O'Keefe, The Taster 2010), he unwittingly fashions an enemy who is intent on orchestrating the King's demise.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University has announced the five-play repertory for its 23rd season of producing and developing new American theater. The four-week festival, consisting of 94 performances and other programming, will be held July 5 - 28 on the Shepherd University campus in Shepherdstown, WV.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free Shakespeare performances to the general public for the past 22 years. This year the beloved tradition launches the Company's 2013-2014 Season by reviving Much Ado About Nothing, initially presented during the 2011-2012 Season with original direction by Ethan McSweeny. Much Ado About Nothing will run at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from August 20-September 1, 2013. Resident Assistant Director Jenny Lord will direct this delightful summer comedy for residents and visitors to D.C.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR, the state-of-the-art venue of the nation's most listened-to news/talk and classical public radio stations, will make history this fall when it creates, for the first time, exclusive recordings of all 10 of August Wilson's American Century Cycle Plays.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced on June 28 the nine musicals selected to be part of the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the nationally renowned summer arts day camp, will feature several acclaimed artists teaching master classes and guest-teaching at classes for the 2013 season.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Boston Landmarks Orchestra will present a concert version of Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate with Broadway's Marc Kudisch* as Fred Graham/Patruchio and Kerry O'Malley* as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine. Steven Maler, Founding Artistic Director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Associate Artistic Director, Adam Sanders, will direct with Boston Landmark Orchestra's Music Director Christopher Wilkins, conducting. The free event will be held on Thursday August 21st at 7:00PM at DCR's Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. Security entrances will open to the public at 5 pm. The rain location is The Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkley Street in Boston. To learn more, visit www.commshakes.org or www.landmarksorchestra.org. For weather alerts: Call 617-987-2000 or Text Landmarks to 27138.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the nationally renowned summer arts day camp, will feature several acclaimed artists teaching master classes and guest-teaching at classes for the 2013 season.