Guess Signature Theater's next season (Virgina)

[gschuber]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:09am

From their e-mail:

As always, we can’t tell you the whole season as it is still coming together, but we can drop a few hints:

2019/20 is Signature’s 30th Anniversary Season! It will have 8 shows:

Once again, we’ll kick off the season with Sondheim — this one is a Signature audience favorite we haven’t produced in more than 10 years. I’ll direct the show, which will feature some of the most beloved actors who have appeared on our stages over the years including: Tracy Lynn Olivera, Evan Casey, Nova Y. Payton, Bobby Smith, Maria Rizzo and Kevin McAllister.

We’re thrilled to let you know that for the holidays we will produce A Chorus Line. Matthew Gardiner (Billy Elliot, West Side Story) will direct with Denis Jones (Crazy for You) choreographing. The last major production of this show was a revival 10 years ago. You will be up close to the action as we reinvent this classic musical with a full cast and original orchestrations in our intimate MAX Theatre.

In the ARK we’ll present two funny, touching and thought-provoking plays written by women: a world premiere by a new voice, and the latest work by a well-known Olivier and Obie Award-winning writer.

The new musicals include a world premiere Signature has been developing for several years featuring the true life story of two outlaw sisters in the Old West; a musical about a French female sculptor working in the male dominated world at the turn of the 19th century; and a Canadian musical that The New York Times said is “delightfully weird and just plain delightful... [it] will provide the kind of thrills we look for in all musical comedies.”

To close the season, we’ll reimagine a ‘60s rock musical that broke the mold and inspired chart-topping hits.

[raddersons]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:22am

"A musical about a French female sculptor working in the male dominated world at the turn of the 19th century"

Is this Lempicka?

EDIT: The time period seems off, and she's not really a sculptor. Maybe not.

EDIT EDIT:  "Canadian musical that The New York Times said is “delightfully weird and just plain delightful... [it] will provide the kind of thrills we look for in all musical comedies.”"

A quick google search reveals this is Ride the Cyclone.

Updated On: 1/16/19 at 11:22 AM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:26am

I'm guessing the Sondheim is MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, last produced there in 2007.

How many female playwrights have won both an Obie and an Olivier? The name that comes to mind is Caryl Churchill.

The 60s rock musical is obviously HAIR.

 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:27am

raddersons said: ""A musical about a French female sculptor working in the male dominated world at the turn of the 19th century"

Is this Lempicka?

EDIT: The time period seems off, and she's not really a sculptor. Maybe not.

Tamara de Lempicka also wasn't French, although she lived in Paris for a period of time.

 

[gschuber]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:31am

I was thinking maybe Camile Claudel is the French female sculptor?  Could they be bringing back the one that Linda Eder did many years ago?  I saw it and like it a lot.  

 

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:33am

Into the Woods for the Sondheim? They did it last in '06. The list of actors doesn't feel right for Merrily.

"a 60s rock musical that broke the mold and inspired chart-topping hits" sounds like Hair, but that seems too obvious? Bye Bye Birdie is considered to be the first musical to utilize rock music, but it's not really a "rock musical."

Updated On: 1/16/19 at 11:33 AM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 11:41am

SomethingPeculiar said: "Into the Woodsfor the Sondheim? They did it last in '06. The list of actors doesn't feel right forMerrily.

"a 60s rock musical that broke the mold and inspired chart-topping hits" sounds like Hair, but that seems too obvious?Bye Bye Birdieis considered to be the first musical to utilize rock music, but it's not really a "rock musical.""

"Chart-topping hits" makes HAIR seem the obvious choice, as at least 5 songs from the show made it to the Billboard Top 10.

Updated On: 1/16/19 at 11:41 AM

[Broadwayloverdc12]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 1:02pm

Im guessing Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum as the Sondheim show. The actors identified would fit the show

[freewilma]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 4:23pm

SomethingPeculiar said: "Into the Woodsfor the Sondheim? They did it last in '06. The list of actors doesn't feel right forMerrily.

"a 60s rock musical that broke the mold and inspired chart-topping hits" sounds like Hair, but that seems too obvious?Bye Bye Birdieis considered to be the first musical to utilize rock music, but it's not really a "rock musical.""

Doubt it would be Into the Woods since Ford's is doing it this spring.  Granted, it wouldn't be at the same time....but the regionals don't usually do the same shows so close together.  

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 4:26pm

Didn't know about the Ford's production –– I would think that takes WOODS out of the running, then. The Fiasco production also played the KenCen for a month 2 years ago, so D.C. is probably WOODSed out.

[persephone88]

Posted: 1/16/19 at 5:02pm

Sweeney Todd for the Sondheim? I could see Tracy Lynn Olivera as Mrs. Lovett. I've been wanting to see Ride The Cyclone, so it would be great if they do that one,  but man, I hate the drive through DC to get to Signature....

 

[lachri5]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 11:39am

Just stumbled upon a casting call for the coming season. The answers are:
- Assassins
- A Chorus Line
- Escaped Alone (play by Caryl Churchill)
- Gun And Powder (musical by Ross Baum & Angelica Cheri)
- Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes (play by Dani Stoller)
- The Cake (play by Bekah Brunstetter)
- Camille Claudel (musical by Frank Wildhorn & Nan Knighton)
- Hair
A great season for musicals! I'm excited!

[brotherhoodofman]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 12:30pm

I'll have to see Hair since it's one of my very favorite musicals. Only saw one show at Signature, Dreamgirls, which was so bad I've never gone to another show there. Do have friends that really enjoy them though so maybe I'll give them another chance.

Updated On: 3/29/19 at 12:30 PM

[a12la]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 2:52pm

brotherhoodofman said: "I'll have to see Hair since it's one of my very favorite musicals. Only saw one show at Signature, Dreamgirls, which was so bad I've never gone to another show there. Do have friends that really enjoy them though so maybe I'll give them another chance."

I didn’t see their production of Dreamgirls so I can’t speak for it but I saw their productions of Cabaret and Passion and they were both Broadway caliber.

[a12la]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 2:52pm

brotherhoodofman said: "I'll have to see Hair since it's one of my very favorite musicals. Only saw one show at Signature, Dreamgirls, which was so bad I've never gone to another show there. Do have friends that really enjoy them though so maybe I'll give them another chance."

I didn’t see their production of Dreamgirls so I can’t speak for it but I saw their productions of Cabaret and Passion and they were both Broadway caliber.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 3:37pm

Nice to see Camille Claudel is getting another chance at life.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/29/19 at 4:24pm

I agree, their recent production of Passion was definitely Broadway caliber. 

[Ledaero]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 12:39am

If word on the street is still accurate, Sondheim will be a production of Assassins and Eric will rebuild Ford's Theatre inside of the Max. He keeps telling them to do it and they say no, say he's going to just do it anyways after years of recommending hehe

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/16/19 at 11:44am

Looking forward to Camille Claudel! I like the songs I've heard.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/16/19 at 12:00pm

Rebuild Ford’s theater?