Marc Kudisch to Star in Signature's Witches of Eastwick

Marc Kudisch has been cast as smooth-talking Darryl Van Horne in Signature Theatre's American Premiere production of the musical The Witches from Eastwick.

The Witches of Eastwick, directed by Eric Schaeffer, will run June 5 – July 15, 2007 in The MAX, the 299-seat double-height black box space located in Signature's new two-theater complex in Arlington, VA, which opened in January.

Schaeffer originally developed The Witches of Eastwick, based on the novel by John Updike and the Warner Bros. motion picture, with book writer and lyricist John Dempsey, composer Dana P. Rowe, and producer Cameron Mackintosh — the same creative team behind the American premiere of The Fix presented at Signature in 1998.  Schaeffer directed The Witches of Eastwick world premiere in London's West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Prince of Wales theatres to great critical acclaim.

"In the tiny New England town of Eastwick, Rhode Island, three unhappy women innocently plot and conjure for their perfect man over a heady brew oF Brownies and weak martinis.  When their longings are made flesh in the arrival of one Darryl Van Horne, all hell breaks loose.  Quite literally.  The devilishly good Witches of Eastwick flies into Signature for its American premiere courtesy of the same creative team who brought us The Fix," state press materials.

The production will Mark Kudisch's second appearance at Signature -- his first was as Vincent van Gogh in the World Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's The Highest Yellow.  The actor received a 2005 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  Other Broadway credits include Assassins, Thoroughly Modern Millie (for which he received a Tony nomination), Bells Are Ringing, The Wild Party, The Scarlet Pimpernel, High Society, Beauty and the Beast, and Joseph…Dreamcoat.   He currently stars on Broadway in the revival of The Apple Tree, and will play the Pirate King in the New York City Opera's The Pirates of Penzance this spring.

More casting will be announced shortly.

Now in its 17th season under Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, Signature has been nominated for 209 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the professional theater (18 nominations in 2006) and has been honored with 50 Helen Hayes Awards.

Show times are:  Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $37 to $63 and are sold through Tickets.com (800) 955-5566 and online at www.signature-theatre.org starting October 31, 2007.  Discounts are available for students, seniors (60+), military and groups of ten or more.  The Signature Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and during performances.

Photo of Marc Kudisch by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.