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Photo Coverage: Signature Theatre's Press Conference

At a press conference on June 13th, Signature Theatre Company - led by artistic director�James�Houghton�- announced the next four years of programming as well as the unprecedented Signature Ticket Initiative, made possible by the lead sponsorship of Time Warner, Inc.� In attendance in the conference were, among others Edward Norton, Bill Irwin, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Tina Landau, as well as featured Signature playwrights�Edward Albee, Charles Mee and�Tony Kushner.

The next four seasons at Signature promise a remarkable journey, and we are thrilled to be working with this extraordinary roster of playwrights," said James Houghton, Signature Theatre Company's Founding Artistic Director.� "Chuck Mee, Edward Albee, and the artists of the Negro Ensemble Company are esteemed writers who represent the vanguard of theatrical innovation, while Suzan-Lori Parks and Tony Kushner have pioneered the next generation, who champion the theatre as they continue to bring exciting and vital advancements to it. And, to be able to offer their work at an affordable ticket price throughout the four seasons is a wonderful privilege for Signature."

The upcoming 2007-2008 season will feature Playwright-in-Residence Charles Mee, described as "one of the nation's most original and innovative playwrights."� The season will launch in August with the New York premiere of Iphigenia 2.0,�directed by Landau,�followed by the world premiere of Queens Boulevard (the musical), directed by Davis McCallum, and the world premiere of Paradise Park, directed by�Daniel Fish.�The season will conclude with a Legacy Production of Edward Albee's Occupant.� A Legacy Production is part of the Signature Series where former Playwrights-in-Residence return to Signature to revisit their landmark works.�

The 2008-2009 season will be an examination of a body of work from The Negro Ensemble Company's collective of writers, whose contributions have helped shape America's theatrical heritage.� Santiago-Hudson will be the Associate Artist for the season. Pulitzer Prize-winner Parks (Venus, Topdog/Underdog), who turns American history on its head with her bold and lyrical riffs on race, literature and politics, will be the Playwright-in-Residence for the 2009-2010 season.� Signature's 20th Anniversary season (2010-2011) will conclude with Pulitzer Prize winner Kushner (Angels in America; Caroline, or Change), one of the most celebrated and renowned contemporary writers of his generation.

Visit www.signaturetheatre.org for tickets and subscription information, and for more on upcoming seasons.

Edward Albee