Christiane Noll, Christine Pedi, Mitchell Jarvis & More Among Signature's 2015 Sizzlin' Summer Lineup, Launching Today

Virginia's Signature Theatre opens its air-conditioned doors once again for the annual Sizzlin' Summer Nights Series. Two and a half weeks of live music and performances by Signature favorites, DC area stars, and some of New York's most exciting Broadway performers. The cabaret series runs tonight, July 8, through July 25, with a different performance each night.

Tony Award nominee and Broadway veteran Christiane Noll (Signature's Kid Victory, Broadway's Ragtime) brings her solo cabaret about growing up in a musical family. Sirius XM ON BROADWAY radio host, Christine Pedi, returns to Signature with a new show featuring songs from her newly released studio album Good to Mama. Signature favorite Sherri L. Edelen (Signature's Gypsy, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) brings her first solo cabaret to Signature Theatre with The Men I Love, and Mitchell Jarvis (Signature's The Threepenny Opera, Broadway's Rock of Ages) explores the mind of legendary songwriter and poet Jacques Brel. The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC kicks off the series, which also includes cabarets by Helen Hayes Award Winners Natascia Diaz (Signature's Soon, The Threepenny Opera) and Will Gartshore (Signature's Show Boat, Merrily We Roll Along).

Other performances include Erin Perkins (Ford's Theatre's 1776), Bob McDonald (Putting it Together), Kevin McAllister (Show Boat), Ashley Ware (Songs in the Key of...), Sandy Bainum (Company), Ines Nassara (Crossing), and Urban Arias.

Then on July 25, Revenge of the Understudies returns by popular demand as the series finale, offering a wide variety of songs performed by some of the talented performers who have understudied at Signature this past season.

Complete schedule and descriptions of all performers' cabarets appear below.

Individual tickets to cabarets in the series are just $25 each and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at sigtheatre.org, in person at the Box Office, or by calling 703 820 9771.

All-Access passes are available for $150, and can only be purchased through the Box Office by phone or in person. The All-Access Pass allows patrons to choose any (or all) of the Cabarets for one low price.

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SHOWS/SCHEDULE:

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC: Love Stinks

Wednesday, July 8 at 8PM

We've all kissed a few frogs in our time -- right? Join the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC for a funny cabaret where soloists from the Chorus will sing songs and share stories form the crazy world of love and dating.

Erin Perkins: One Stoplight

Thursday, July 9 at 8PM

Music has carried Erin Perkins (Ford Theatre's 1776) from one stoplight to millions. From Sterling, Kansas to Oklahoma City, New York City, Tokyo and now the nation's capital -- music has been her common note. She samples a little bit of everything from her journey: musical theater, country, jazz and a little rock.

Bob McDonald: My Way: Sinatra at 100

Friday, July 10 at 7PM & 9PM

Bob McDonald channels Frank Sinatra in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the crooner's birth. Join Bob and his band for an evening of Sinatra classics worthy of any rat pack.

Christine Pedi: Good to Mama

Saturday, July 11 at 7PM & 9PM
Christine Pedi (Sirius XM) returns to Signature with some sassy, sweet and silly musical musings about how to treat a lady. Featuring many songs from her newly released studio CD Good to Mama.

Christiane Noll: Gifts

Monday, July 13 at 8PM

An evening of song inspired by the memories of growing up in a musical family and the growth and influence it had on a child's journey into adulthood.

Signature's Summer Bash

Tuesday, July 14 at 8PM

A cast of Signature favorites heats up the stage with the sounds of summer, featuring pop and Broadway's hottest tunes. Get ready because we are having a "Heat Wave!"

Ines Nassara: It's a Lush Life

Wednesday, July 15 at 8PM

Inspired by the jazz tune "Lush Life" by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, Ines Nassara (Crossing) and her band fuses jazz, pop, soul and indie folk and layers it with killer harmonies. A rocking night filled with both original songs and covers of the greats.

Urban Arias: Craigslist Cabaret

Thursday, July 16 at 8PM

A contemporary opera company with a flair for crossover, Urban Arias presents Gabriel Kahane's Craigslistlieder, 8 hilarious real Craigslist ads set to music. Three opera singers take the stage to extol the virtue and vices of the virtual community among other musical selections.

Natascia Diaz featuring David Cole

Friday, July 17 at 7PM & Saturday, July 18, 7PM

In her quest to present new sounds and styles in concert, DC favorite Natascia Diaz (Soon, The Threepenny Opera) covers songs from Nat King Cole, to Stevie Wonder, to Sting and more in an eclectic soulful set. She's joined by the masterful multi-stylings of David Cole on guitar.

Kevin McAllister: Songs of L.O.V.E. (Likes, Obsessions, Vows and Evacuations)

Friday, July 17 at 9PM

We all love in different kinds of ways and each phase comes with its own music. A song for the first date. A heartbreak anthem. Our song. L.O.V.E. weaves a collection of personal stories about love and heartbreak with an eclectic selection of songs from Stevie Wonder, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barbra Streisand and Rick Astley.

Ashley Ware: Ware's the Disconnect? ... a cabaret

Saturday, July 18 at 9PM

We all have a few hundred characters living inside us. Ashley brings out her myriad of personalities through a musical exploration of our connection to the world and which circumstances bring out which diva.

Sandy Bainum: It Might Be Fun

Tuesday, July 21 at 8PM

Sandy returns with songs from her latest album It Might Be Fun, featuring all original songs written by Grammy nominated producer, Bruce Kimmel, and orchestrations and arrangements by award winning musical director, Lanny Meyers. With a bonus song by Richard M. Sherman (Disney's Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book), it's an evening of original entertainment.

Sherri L. Edelen: The Men I Love

Wednesday, July 22 at 8PM & Thursday, July 23 at 8PM

Sherri (Gypsy, Company) sings poignant and relevant songs connected to each man she loved on her life's journey while weaving tales of love and courtship. Featuring old standards, pop, and of course, a few show tunes.

Mitchell Jarvis: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living Everywhere

Friday, July 24 at 7PM

Mitchell Jarvis (The Threepenny Opera) takes an existential journey through the mind of legendary song writer and poet, Jacques Brel. This cabaret weaves together Brel's interview quotes through a collection of his haunting music.

Will Gartshore featuring Stephanie Waters and Christopher Wingert: Isn't it Romantic?

Friday, July 24 at 9PM & Saturday, July 25 at 7PM

Will Gartshore sings a songbook of classic and contemporary tunes on love, romance and their unintended consequences. With Christopher Wingert on piano and Stephanie Waters at his side, expect a program of songs that runs the gamut from Rodgers and Hart to Stephen Sondheim to Jason Robert Brown (with a splash of soft rock thrown in for good measure).

Revenge of the Understudies

Saturday, July 25 at 9PM

The understudies are back! Finally taking center stage, this season's backstage divas steal their moment in the spotlight for a cabaret of their favorite songs.

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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 luminaries as Chita Rivera, Sheryl Crow, Barry Levinson, George Hearn, 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 368 nominations.

Signature is partially supported by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts and by a gift from the Arlington Cultural Affairs Division of Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Commission for the Arts.

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 www.signature-theatre.org/getting-here.