Regional News3 Sondheim Revivals, D.C. Premiere of Which Way to the Stage, More in Signature Theatre's 2022-2023 Season
The D.C.-area theatre is honoring its long relationship with the late composer-lyricist with a season full of his musicals.
By
Logan Culwell-Block
May 24, 2022
Stephen Sondheim
Washington, D.C.'s Signature Theatre has revealed its upcoming 2022-2023 season, which honors the theatre's long connection with Stephen Sondheim with three new productions of the late composer-lyricist's musicals.
Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner will helm Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods at the MAX Theatre November 8–January 29, 2023. One of Sondheim's most loved and performed works, the musical combines the fairy-tale stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and more, going on to explore what happens after "ever after." A five-part behind-the-scenes seminar about the making of the production will be offered October 20–November 6; Signature Seminar: To Journey's End With Into the Woods will include talks with Gardiner and the production's creative team as they discuss everything from early designs to final dress rehearsals and opening night.
Associate Artistic Director Ethan Heard will helm Pacific Overtures, with a score by Sondheim and a book by John Weidman and additional material by Hugh Wheeler, March 7–April 9, 2023, in the MAX Theatre. The work centers on the 1853 opening of Japan to trade after 200 years of isolationism.
The theatre will also present a new take on Sondheim and Wheeler's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street May 16–July 9, 2023, directed by Sarna Lapine. Based on a play by Christopher Bond, the Victorian melodrama follows a vengeful barber who returns to London with a score to settle, ultimately aided by his meat pie-making neighbor and accomplice Mrs. Lovett.
“This past November, the world lost an icon," shares Gardiner in a statement. "The death of Stephen Sondheim was a blow to everyone in the theatre community. Signature Theatre would not be the same without Sondheim—he IS Signature’s ‘signature.’ This season, we are honoring the legend with the entire season in our MAX Theatre dedicated to his memory. These three shows represent the diversity and range of Sondheim."
The season will open with the D.C. premiere of Ethan Lipton's No Place to Go, which features music by Lipton, Eben Levy, Ian M. Riggs, and Vito Dieterie. Set to be directed by Gardiner, the production will star Bobby Smith as a part-timer who has to decide whether to move his entire family or embrace the unknown as his company decides to move its facilities to a much cheaper but also far more remote location.
Following Into the Woods, Signature will host the D.C. premiere of Ana Nogueria's Which Way to the Stage, currently having its world premiere Off-Broadway via MCC Theater. The work follows two Broadway superfans waiting at the stage door of If/Then to get autographs from Idina Menzel, only to have their decades-long friendship upended by a sexy stranger. Signature's production will be directed by Heard in his directorial debut with the company.
Next will be Sylvia Khoury's 2022 Pulitzer finalist Selling Kabul, running February 21–April 2, 2023, in the ARK Theatre. The play explores the toll of America’s war in Afghanistan and immigration policy from within a single family’s apartment as it unfolds in real-time. It was first seen at Williamstown Theatre Festival, which co-produced the New York engagement at Playwrights Horizons last winter. Shadi Ghaheri will direct Signature's production.
Following Pacific Overtures, the theatre will present Passing Strange, with a book and lyrics by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald. Raymond O. Caldwell will direct the 2008 Broadway musical about a young man who travels to Europe after discovering his musical calling, trading a comfortable, suburban life for sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Signature's Cabaret Series also makes a return this season, with Hotter Than July: Stevie Wonder set for July 5–17, Both Sides Now: Joni Mitchell November 1–13, First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald January 31–February 5, 2023, and Soul Divas Reprise June 27–July 9, 2023.
Among special events planned for the theatre are a concert presentation of We Shall Someday, with a book and lyrics by Harrison David Rivers and music and additional lyrics by Ted Shen, directed by Kelli Foster Warder June 30–July 2; and SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Reading Series, an initiative that highlights and supports the work of D.C.-local playwrights. Dates for the reading series will be announced in the coming weeks.
30 Times Stephen Sondheim Shows Played the Signature Theatre
30 Times Stephen Sondheim Shows Played the Signature Theatre
30 PHOTOS
“In 1991, we presented our first Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd in an 80 seat theater with a 16 person cast and 18 person orchestra. People still talk about the production to this day,” says artistic director Eric Schaeffer.
“Signature was one of the first theatres to present Assassins after its premiere at Playwright’s Horizons,” says Schaeffer. “We set it in an art gallery and used over 300 images projected throughout the show.”
“Company was the opening show in our new space—a converted auto bumper shop. I remember Marta made her entrance down a firepole from the ceiling and that there was a lot of polyester,” says Schaeffer.
“We converted the entire theatre into a forest for Into the Woods,” says Schaeffer. “We transformed the theatre into this environmental experience that was scary and beautiful.”
“Our production of Passion was such an intimate experience for the audience,” says Schaeffer. “We created an old Italian villa and let the audience become immersed in the story with the original full orchestration. It was a haunting experience.”
“We co-produced Sunday in the Park with George with Arena Stage to bring this amazing musical to Washington for its first professional production. It was magical when the white floor split apart to reveal the La Grande Jatte,” says Schaeffer.
“A Stephen Sondheim Evening was first a one night concert at the Shubert Theatre in 1973. We presented the same show in our intimate theatre as we reinvented some Sondheim classics and introduced lesser-known songs,” says Schaeffer.
“A Little Night Music featured a new orchestration by John Owen Edwards made up of three string quartets, with the orchestra featured on the environmental set of the classic show,” says Schaeffer.
“As part of our 10th anniversary we brought back our first big Sondheim hit Sweeney Todd that featured Norm Lewis along with Signature co-founder Donna Lilliard Migliaccio,” says Schaeffer.
“Baayork Lee directed Gypsy featuring Donna Migliaccio as Mamma Rose and frequent choreographer Karma Camp as Mazeppa playing the famous trumpet,” says Schaeffer.
“Having just directed Putting it Together on Broadway with Carol Burnett, I brought the show to Signature for its Washington debut featuring a company of Signature actors,” says Schaeffer.
“Follies probably pushed more boundaries than any Sondheim musical,” says Schaeffer. “We had 136 seats, a cast over 35 and an orchestra of 16—over a third of the audience was either on stage or off. We created dressing rooms to fit the massive cast in any free space we could find in order to bring D.C. it’s first professional production of the masterpiece. It was pure magic, with the cast featuring Florence Lacey and Judy McLane.”
“With A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum we payed homage to the garage with the opening number, containing tires rolling across the stage, and featured the Shakespeare comic Floyd King directed by Gary Griffin,” says Schaeffer.
“Pacific Overtures was presented in a chamber version featuring ten actors on an all-natural wood setting to evoke modern Japanese design,” says Schaeffer.
“Assassins was presented in a special production where the audience mirrored the set,” says Schaeffer. “A huge American flag dropped and you instantly felt that you were watching yourself.”
“Into the Woods opened Signature’s new theatre in Shirlington that featured the voice of Angela Lansbury as the Giant,” says Schaeffer. “The show featured the original orchestration, and leaves and debris fell over the audience as things came apart in Act 2 to create a truly immersive experience.”
“Signature produced Merrily We Roll Along in a stylish design and onstage orchestra that featured Will Gartshore, Tracy Olivera, Erik Liberman, and Tory Ross,” says Schaeffer.
“We hosted a special concert presentation of Anyone Can Whistle, featuring the full original orchestrations at Schlessinger Hall,” says Schaeffer.
“For our 20th anniversary season, audiences attended the tale Sweeney Todd once more in a production that featured bodies dropping from body bags over the audience,” says Schaeffer. “Ed Gero and Sherri Edelen starred in the production.”
“The revue Side by Side by Sondheim made its debut featuring Nancy Anderson and countless sheets of Sondheim’s sheet music that made up the set design,” says Schaeffer.
A special concert presentation of Saturday Night was held in 2012 in the Max Theatre starring Geoff Packard and Susan Derry.
“Matthew Scott starred in the new presentation of Company that featured all contemporary video throughout the production,” says Schaeffer.
“Gypsy starring Sherri Edelen and Maria Rizzo brought down the house every night in this sold-out run,” says Schaeffer.
“Claybourne Elder and Brynn O’Malley starred in this new production of Sunday directed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner that took place in Seurat’s studio and proved to be an audience favorite,” says Schaeffer.
“Simply Sondheim was a special evening that we got special permission from Sondheim to create and celebrate our 25-year anniversary with an evening of his songs with special vocal arrangements by David Loud,” says Schaeffer.
“West Side Story featured an orchestra of 17 along with a cast of 24 where the audience was five rows deep from all the action and dancing in this thrilling experience directed by Matthew Gardiner,” says Schaeffer.
“Gray Griffin recreated his brilliant staging of Road Show for Washington, D.C., audiences featuring Josh Lamon and Noah Racey,” says Schaeffer.
“A Little Night Music featured Holly Twyford, Bobby Smith and Florence Lacey in this magical sold-out musical comedy,” says Schaeffer.
“Passion, starring Claybourne Elder, Natacia Diaz and Steffiane Leigh, featured an entire ceiling of flowers cascading over the audience to create the world of northern Italy,” says Schaeffer.
“I’m now in the middle of directing our third production of Assassins and our 30th Sondheim production overall featuring a cast of Signature favorites,” says Schaeffer.
The work follows South Korean adoptee Amanda Newton, who returns to her childhood home after her father’s death and discovers that his memories have been digitized.
The Minnesota theatre will also present Lauren M. Gunderson's new version of Little Women, Eboni Booth's Primary Trust, and more in its upcoming season.
Featuring co-creator Steven Sater reflecting on the original production and how Likes' Arizona revival reimagines its contents, the film will premiere next month.
As the National Endowment for the Arts restricts funding for organizations that fund DEI programs, the theatres reaffirm their commitment to diversity while the ACLU files a lawsuit.
A performance featuring the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. has also been removed from the organization's schedule, with both productions citing financial circumstances.
Jeremy-Daniel.jpeg)
-Rebecca-J-Michelson.jpg)
