Signature Theatre

DC theater mourns the passing of Stephen Sondheim

A gathering of tributes shared on social media to a musical great who will live on — on our stages and in our hearts.

In tribute to Stephen Sondheim, on ‘Being Alive’

Here are ten top versions of one of the great songs he left us.

Welcome to the sound and sheer energy of ‘Rent’ at Signature Theatre

In these still difficult times, ‘Rent’ is a much-needed tonic for the soul.

GMCW’s ‘Holiday Show’ to ring in a season celebrating LGBTQ+ grit

Now in its 41st year, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington returns to live performance to sing of the community’s perseverence.

A Q&A with Matthew Gardiner on his new gig at Sig

“What is important in this moment for Signature,” says its new artistic director, “is how we are creating a culture of consent going forward.”

Signature Theatre and Wolf Trap pair perfectly on ‘Broadway in the Park’

A triumphant 90-minute concert headlined by Renée Elise Goldsberry and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

The art of making art: ‘Putting It Together’ by James Lapine (book review)

The making of ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ was not a walk in the park.

‘KPOP, The Musical’ dropped from Signature’s 2021/22 season

Due to ‘pandemic-related logistical challenges,’ the Broadway-bound show won’t stop at The Anthem.

Signature’s ‘Detroit ’67’ is a fiery history lesson that grooves and moves

Played out in a basement bunker, this uplifting virtual show spins on nostalgia and desire.

Signature Theatre picks Matthew Gardiner as AD, sets 2021/22 season

Coming soon to Shirlington: ‘RENT,’ ‘She Loves Me,’ ‘The Color Purple,’ two world premieres, a DC premiere—plus ‘KPOP’ musical at The Anthem.

Dominique Morisseau’s riveting ‘Detroit ’67’ to stream from Signature

A Black family’s simmering disagreements explode as their city erupts in riots.

Foursome to sing ‘Songs for a New World’ from Monumental

Jason Robert Brown’s powerhouse song cycle comes to a screen near you.

The fun begins ‘After Midnight’ in big band musical from Signature

The singing, dancing, and songs are all highpoints. The filming, editing, and lighting are all superb.

A feel-good podcast from theatermakers Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith

Do you have those friends who are so crazy talented, smart, and wonderful that you wonder how in the world you are lucky enough to have crossed paths with them? That’s Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory...

Olney’s outdoor summer programming to uphold its anti-racism pledge

Ten weeks of live performance—much of it free—curated by Olney Theatre Center’s new BIPOC artist advocate, Kevin McAllister.

Poignant memories of love in Signature’s vibrant ‘Midnight at The Never Get’

In the hidden back room of a 1960s Greenwich Village bar is the stage for a past, hidden love at the center of Midnight at The Never Get now streaming from Signature Theatre. Trevor, a colorful and...

In eye-opening ‘The Jam: Only Child,’ a son and grandson tells it like it was

In The Jam: Only Child — now streaming on demand from Signature Theatre — Tony Award nominee Daniel J. Watts recounts his life as the only child of a single mother: a latchkey kid who grows up with...

Signature Theatre’s lovely ‘Simply Sondheim’ feels like a live performance

Signature Theatre’s production of Simply Sondheim is a lovely tribute to one of America’s best composers and lyricists for the stage. Co-conceived by David Loud and Eric Schaeffer, and directed by...

Signature Theatre announces cast and dates for ‘Simply Sondheim’ review

Signature Theatre announces the full cast and streaming dates for Simply Sondheim, the first production in the Signature Features 2021 Season. Starring 12 singers and an orchestra of 16, Simply...

‘Signature Vinyl’ spins first-rate versions of turntable classics

Directed and conceived by Matthew Gardiner, Signature Vinyl delivers a filmed concert of songs performed by an excellent cast of singers and musicians, captured live at several DC-area outdoor...

Signature Theatre heralds five-show cinematic season

Signature Theatre has announced the full lineup for its 2021 Signature Features season, and it will be all online: five fully staged plays and musicals, made exclusively for the screen and...

Signature Theatre to stream concert of hits from days of ​vinyl

This week Signature Theatre releases a new cinematic concert, an inspired alternative to its pre-COVID cabarets. Titled Signature Vinyl, the fully produced, professionally filmed production features...

E. Faye Butler speaks out on playing Fannie Lou Hamer right now

“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” —Fannie Lou Hamer Anyone who has ever seen E. Faye Butler perform knows that they are witnessing something truly extraordinary. A two-time Helen Hayes Award...

Short plays by Lauren Yee, BD Wong, and more in ‘Days of Re-Creation’ streaming this week

As part of this month’s rolling world premiere, Philadelphia Theatre Company will stream its debut of Days of Re-Creation: A Virtual Play on Wednesday, September 30, at 7 pm. Conceived by Devenand...

Why I am an activist artist, by JChris

As a Latino gay millennial singer-songwriter, I believe I can make a difference. I’m here because I can become one of the reasons why things get better. We will fight and we won’t stop. The powers...

How the Signature board behaved badly, from a patron’s POV

By Dalissa Vargas As a lifelong live theater fan and a woman of Puerto Rican descent, I have spent the better portion of my adult life as an avid theatergoer wherever I have lived. On any given week I...

15 Questions in 15 Minutes with Lauren Marcus of ‘Be More Chill’ fame

Sheltering in place hasn’t kept actress/singer/songwriter Lauren Marcus from creating, performing, and entertaining audiences everywhere with her talent, passion, and commitment. Just in time for the...

Signature Theatre postpones ‘Mamma Mia!’ at The Anthem until 2021

Mamma Mia! at The Anthem DC will not run June 25 – July 5, 2020 as previously scheduled. Signature Theatre has worked with our sponsors Amazon and Max Productions and our partners at The Anthem and...

Announcing the winners of the 35th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Off-Broadway

Winners of the 35th annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were announced tonight in a virtual ceremony beginning at 7 pm. Produced by the League of Off-Broadway...

Nominations for the 2020 Off Broadway Alliance Awards

The Off Broadway Alliance (OBA) – an organization comprised of Off-Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing professionals, with annual awards honoring the best in...

Nominations are announced for the 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards

Nominations for the 65th annual Drama Desk Awards, founded in 1955 to celebrate outstanding achievements in on, off, and off-off Broadway theater, were announced this afternoon by hosts Seth Rudetsky...

Nominations are in for the 35th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Lucille Lortel Awards, founded by the eponymous actress and producer in 1986, to recognize excellence in New York’s Off-Broadway theater. Nominations for...

Signature Theatre’s ‘Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes’ now available for streaming

Beginning Monday, March 30, 2020, Signature Theatre patrons will have the ability to watch the world premiere production of Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes by DC playwright Dani Stoller from their...

“I want to make space for women who make mistakes”: A Q&A with Dani Stoller, author of ‘Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes’ at Signature Theatre

Dani Stoller’s world-premiere comedy Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes is funny and witty and in its own quirky way quite deep. Plus it puts the screw in screwball. Discovered in the SigWorks...

All under one roof in Signature Theatre’s ‘Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes’

Marian’s cheery Florida home – an over-decorated retirement nest she shares with second hubby Richard – has become a tropical haven for two adolescents in crisis. Richard’s pregnant niece Kitty, whose...

‘The Boy Detective Fails’ is a charming success at American University

“I’m good at finding out the truth,” says Billy Argo (Spencer Coben), the boy-prodigy detective, near the beginning of this clever, quirky, and quite touching musical. So observant of clues is Billy...

Who is Black? Signature Theatre’s ‘Gun & Powder’ hits a national nerve

It may surprise you (as it did me) that the title of this melodic world-premiere musical does not refer to gunpowder. The word gun means there’s a pistol (which gets dramatically deployed). But the...

Signature Theatre’s commanding ‘Gun & Powder’ pulls no punches

Raw one moment, richly comic the next. Subtle in one scene, directly challenging the audience the next. The world premiere musical Gun & Powder at Signature Theatre is strikingly effective...

2020 Helen Hayes nominations are announced

At a February 3, 2020 celebration honoring theatre excellence on stages across the Washington area, theatre artists, administrators, patrons, and special guests gathered in the National Theatre’s...

Director Stevie Zimmerman on the rewards of going outside of comfort zone

Professional theaters in the DMV have been at the forefront of making diversity a critical watchword and action step. During the past several years, the DMV has hosted two Women’s Voices Theater...

‘A Motown Christmas’ at the Signature Theatre brings soulful cheer

The scene was a cozy cabaret at Signature Theatre. The enthralled patrons sat at small, circular, red tables and swayed to “Give Love on Christmas Day” performed by The Motown Three, which consisted...

Signature’s ‘A Chorus Line’ proves musicals can evolve in the right creative hands

“A Chorus Line is still one of those musicals you will sing about to your grandchildren,” wrote theater and dance critic Clive Barnes in his 1975 New York Times review for A Chorus Line. Barnes had an...

Signature Theatre’s “A Chorus Line” is a singular sensation

In the theater world, a performer who is a true triple threat – one with the ability to perform at the highest levels as an actor, singer, and dancer all at the same time – is rare. Luckily, Signature...

Local Playwright Audrey Cefaly’s ‘Alabaster’ to receive record breaking ten-city rolling world premiere

National New Play Network, the country’s alliance of nonprofit theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays, announces its 91st Rolling World...

Signature Theatre to present ‘Mamma Mia!’ at DC’s Anthem

Signature Theatre announced today that it will produce Mamma Mia! this summer at The Wharf, Washington, DC’s newest concert venue. Mamma Mia! will run for two weeks from June 25 to July 5, 2020. With...

A theater buff auditions the GalaPro app (updated)

How does that new GalaPro app work? How well does it work? And what’s it like to watch a show with it? This inquiring theatergoer wanted to know. Many Deaf and hard of hearing people are already...

A Personal View of the Coming Apocalypse: Caryl Churchill’s ‘Escaped Alone’

What a play! Escaped Alone is full of dramatic presentations announcing a coming apocalypse; an end of days. The production at Signature Theatre is receiving rightful praise (read my colleague Barbara...

Review: ‘Escaped Alone’ at Signature Theatre

British playwright Caryl Churchill is a revolutionary playwright. In her career, she has upset theatrical expectations many times over. She plays with gender and fools with time. She invents unusual...

Review: A Simmering Production of ‘The Gulf’ at Peter’s Alley

Silences speak loudly in the first Maryland production of The Gulf by Audrey Cefaly at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda. This professional production by Peter’s Alley Theatre group, features two...

Signature Theatre Announces Plays Selected for SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Reading Series

Signature Theatre continues its commitment to new work and developing local talent by presenting the fifth season of SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Reading Series. This season Signature is proud to...