Ed Dixon, Christopher Bloch, Erin Driscoll and More Star in Signature Theatre's CLOAK AND DAGGER World Premiere, Now thru 7/6

Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre closes out its 2013/2014 season with the world premiere musical Cloak and Dagger, directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). From Helen Hayes Award Winner Ed Dixon (Signature's Sunset Boulevard) comes this screwball musical comedy send-up of the 1950s film noir.

Third-rate detective Nick Cutter is down on his luck when a beautiful blonde bombshell tosses a very intriguing case (and herself) into his lap. For the next 90 minutes, Nick races through every New York neighborhood in this zany, mile-a-minute whodunit. With four actors playing nearly 20 roles, Cloak and Dagger spoofs erstwhile mysteries with speed and wit. "It's going to be a joy working with Ed on his new musical. It's a perfect summer treat as the crazy antics and search for the Golden Venus statue unfold," said Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer who will direct the world premiere. "Ed was terrific in our production of Sunset Boulevard and it will be great to have him on our stage again playing over a dozen madcap characters in this zany new show."

"I'm so thrilled to be returning to Signature Theatre for the first time since Sunset Boulevard and with my own show to boot," said Ed Dixon. "I have a long and wonderful relationship with Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, going all the way back to our national tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Ann-Margret. I'm too excited for words about Cloak and Dagger - the cast, the design, the orchestrations - and I cannot wait to be back in Shirlington."

Ed Dixon (Character Man One) stars alongside fellow Helen Hayes Award winners Christopher Bloch (Character Man Two; Signature's Chess, LES MISERABLES), Erin Driscoll (Helena Troy; Signature's The Threepenny Opera, Urinetown) and Signature Theatre newcomer Doug Carpenter (Nick Cutter; Papermill Playhouse's South Pacific).

The creative team includes Orchestrations by Jordan Ross Weinhold; Musical Direction by Jenny Cartney; Scenic Design by Daniel Conway; Costume Design by Kathleen Geldard; Lighting Design by Colin K. Bills; Sound Design by Lane Elms; and Production Stage Manager Julie Meyer.

Cloak and Dagger begins performances tonight, June 12 and runs for 3.5 weeks through July 6, 2014 in Signature's MAX Theatre. All tickets are now on sale. More information is at signature-theatre.org.

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $40. Single tickets are available in person at the Signature Box Office at 4200 Campbell Avenue in Shirlington, by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT and online at www.signature-theatre.org.

There will be no performance on the evening of Tuesday, June 17. This production's Pride performance is scheduled for Friday June 20. Discussion performances are scheduled for Wednesday June 25 and Tuesday July 1.

CAST BIOS

Christopher Bloch (Character Man Two) SIGNATURE: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Chess, LES MISERABLES (Helen Hayes Award), Kiss of the Spider Woman, Merrily We Roll Along, Urinetown (Helen Hayes nomination), Twentieth Century, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. NATIONAL TOUR: The Buddy Holly Story. Ford's Theatre: 1776, State of the Union, Meet John Doe, Shenandoah, Big River, Christmas Carol. Arena Stage: Christmas Carol 1941 (Helen Hayes nomination), Damn Yankees, Black No More. Everyman: God of Carnage, ART, Uncle Vanya, Jaques Brel..., Light Up the Sky; Olney Theatre: Cinderella, Carousel. REGIONAL: Lyric Theater, Guthrie Theatre, Virginia Stage, ACT (Seattle), Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Indiana Rep., Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre, 2012 Lunt Fontanne Fellowship. FILM/TV: West Wing (Final Episode), Butler MN, Dakota Conflict & Great Northfield Raid (PBS), Fast Food Films (FX), Damascus Road, WCBDC!, Star Wars audio (Lucas Productions).

Doug Carpenter (Nick Cutter) NEW YORK: NYMF: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy); Life Could Be A Dream (Skip, LADCC Winner). REGIONAL: Papermill Playhouse: South Pacific (Cable); Goodspeed: Most Happy Fella (Joey); Dallas Lyric; Pasadena Playhouse: Camelot (Lancelot); Pennsylvania Shakespeare: Oklahoma (Curly); FCLO: West Side Story(Tony) ; Blank Theatre: See What I Wanna See (Thief); CLOSBC: Cinderella (Prince); Moonlight Amphitheater: Miss Saigon(Chris); Ogunquit: Summer of Love (Curtis). AWARDS: American Traditions Competition (2011), Lotte Lenya Competition (2013). EDUCATION: UNLV, 2007, BM Voice; UCLA, 2009, MM Voice.

Ed Dixon (Character Man One) SIGNATURE: Sunset Boulevard (Helen Hayes Award), Saving Aimee (Helen Hayes nomination). BROADWAY: Anything Goes; Mary Poppins; Sunday in the Park with George; How The Grinch Stole Christmas; Gore Vidal's The Best Man; The Iceman Cometh; The Scarlet Pimpernel; LES MISERABLES; Cyrano; The Three Musketeers; King Of Schnorrers; No, No, Nanette; Leonard Bernstein's Mass. NATIONAL TOURS: Sunset Boulevard, Pippin, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. OFF-BROADWAY: By Bernstein, Here Lies Jenny, Shylock (Drama Desk nomination). www.eddixon.biz.

Erin Driscoll (Helena Troy) SIGNATURE: The Threepenny Opera, Miss Saigon, Spin, Company, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Brother Russia, Hairspray (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Ensemble), [title of show], Sweeney Todd, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Witches of Eastwick, Into the Woods, Assassins (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Resident Musical), Urinetown (2006 Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Actress). DC AREA: Arena Stage: My Fair Lady; Ford's Theatre: Violet, Our Town, Parade, A Christmas Carol; Olney Theatre: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cinderella, Anything Goes; Round House Theatre: A Year with Frog and Toad; Kennedy Center: Regina (w/ Patti LuPone, Alexandra Cover). REGIONAL: Arden Theatre: A Year with Frog and Toad, Candide; John W. Engeman Theatre, Long Island: Jekyll and Hyde. EDUCATION: James Madison University, BM. AWARDS: 2006 Roger Sturtevant Award.

ABOUT SIGNATURE THEATRE: Recipient of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Signature Theatre is a non-profit professional theater company in Arlington, Virginia dedicated to producing contemporary musicals and plays, reinventing classic musicals, and developing new work. Under the leadership of co-founder and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, Signature has presented 42 world premiere productions, is renowned for combining Broadway-quality productions with intimate playing spaces, and is home to the largest musical theater commissioning program in the United States.

In addition to hosting the finest talent from the DC metropolitan area and New York, Signature has been home to such theater luminaries as Chita Rivera, George Hearn, Hunter Foster, Emily Skinner, Ann Reinking, Marc Kudisch, Judy Kuhn, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Cameron Mackintosh, Terrence McNally, and the company's signature composer, Stephen Sondheim. Since its founding in 1989, Signature has won 90 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 340 nominations.

DIRECTIONS: Signature Theatre is located at 4200 Campbell Avenue (22206) off I-395 at the Shirlington exit (#6). After the exit, blue Signature signs mark the way to the Theatre. Free parking is available in two adjacent public garages. For directions visit http://www.signature-theatre.org/getting-here.

Pictured: Erin Driscoll as Helena Troy in Signature Theatre's Cloak and Dagger. Photo by Christopher Mueller.