Cast Announced for Concert of New Musical WE SHALL SOMEDAY at Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre has announced the cast for the concert presentation of We Shall Someday, a timely new musical written by Harrison David Rivers and Ted Shen. Seamlessly weaving story and song, We Shall Someday chronicles three generations of a Southern Black family as they trace the effects of racism, activism and legacy from the Civil Rights Movement to the present. Directed by Kelli Foster Warder, the concert will star Benjamin H. Moore (National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's Harmony: A New Musical), Nova Y. Payton (Signature's After Midnight), Emmanuel Elliot Key (Signature's She Loves Me), and Drake Leach (Signature's She Loves Me).

"We are so honored to continue the development of our new musical here at Signature Theatre through this concert presentation of We Shall Someday," said writers Harrison David Rivers and Ted Shen. "Signature has always championed new musicals, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present our work to the insightful audiences here at Signature. We look forward to taking the insights we learn from this process at Signature to the world premiere production of We Shall Someday at Theatre Latté Da in 2023."

"We Shall Someday is a moving and unflinching look at resistance and resilience traced over three generations of a Black American family. Through the very personal story of one family, this new musical, by Ted Shen and Harrison David Rivers, asks us to recognize the cycle of racism in this country and challenges us commit to change," said Signature's Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. "Development of new work is a core mission of Signature Theatre, and we look forward to continuing that commitment in this exciting concert presentation of We Shall Someday, featuring a remarkable creative team led by director Kelli Foster Warder and company of artists and musicians."

Written by Harrison David Rivers and Ted Shen and Directed by Kelli Foster Warder, We Shall Someday features Music Direction by Deborah Abramson, Orchestration by Michael Starobin, Lighting Design by Jonathan Maag, Sound Design by Ryan Hickey, and Casting by Jorge Acevedo. Kerry Epstein is the Production Stage Manager, Bailey Howard is the Assistant Stage Manager, and Angie Benson is the Associate Music Director.

ABOUT SIGNATURE

Signature Theatre is a Tony Award®-winning regional theater that broadens and brightens the region's cultural landscape with its bold productions of challenging new and established works and engaging education and outreach programs. Founded in 1989 by Eric Schaeffer and Donna Migliaccio, and currently under the leadership of Managing Director Maggie Boland and Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, musical theater is Signature's "signature," and the Theatre is renowned for its definitive Sondheim productions, inventive adaptations of overlooked or forgotten works, and investment in fresh new projects. Signature combines Broadway-caliber productions with intimate playing spaces and aims to be a leading force in U.S. musical theater. 

Since its inception, the Theatre has produced 60 world premiere works-including 19 new musical commissions. Signature opens its doors to more than 100,000 people annually from the Washington, DC region and beyond and reaches more than 10,000 students every year through its innovative education programs, including the award-winning initiative Signature in the Schools. Signature has won 134 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 452 nominations.