Matthew Scott and More Star in COMPANY at Signature Theatre, Now thru 6/30

Phone rings. Door chimes. In comes Company, one of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals, produced at Signature Theatre for the first time in twenty years and directed by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. The cast of fourteen, led by Matthew Scott (First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb; Side By Side By Sondheim) in the role of Bobby, features many of Signature's most well-known stars in an enchanting, deeply funny exploration of love and marriage.

On his 35th birthday, Bobby, a commitment-phobic bachelor, searches for the answers to love and life in New York City. While enjoying the company of some lovely ladies, he observes both the joys and pitfalls of marriage from his five quirky couple friends - but is he ready? Only Bobby can find the answer in this witty and piercing examination of matrimony. For how else can you treat marriage, but as a comedy?

Signature wil have three real-life married actor couples take on the roles of three onstage couples: Sherri Edelen (Xanadu) as Joanne and Thomas Adrian Simpson (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) as Larry, Tracy Lynn Olivera (Hello, Dolly!) as Sarah and Evan Casey (The Hollow) as Harry, and Erin Driscoll (Hairspray) as Jenny and James Gardiner (The Last Five Years) as David.

Other Signature favorites Sandy Bainum (Show Boat), as Susan, and Bobby Smith (See What I Wanna See), as Peter, join the party as well, as do Erin Weaver (The Last Five Years) as Amy, Paul Scanlan (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) as Paul, Madeline Botteri(Sunset Boulevard) as April, Rachel Zampelli (Dying City) as Marta, and Jamie Eacker (Chess) as Kathy.

The production, featuring an award-winning score that includes the songs "Being Alive," "Side By Side," "Little Things You Do Together," "Another Hundred People," and "Ladies Who Lunch," will run tonight, May 21 - June 30, 2013 in the MAX Theatre. Daniel Conway is scenic designer, joined by costume designer Frank Labovitz, lighting designer Chris Lee, and sound designer Matt Rowe.

Schaeffer, fresh from directing the critically-acclaimed production of Sondheim's Follies on Broadway, is excited to direct a Sondheim show at Signature again - something he hasn't done since Sweeney Todd in 2010. "To get the opportunity to visit Company again after twenty years is exciting," he said. "With all the national discussion recently of how marriage raises questions about freedom and happiness, I think the time for Company is right now."

"And with three married couples in the cast," Schaeffer added, "I think the show's ideas about finding the perfect soul mate will have an even deeper meaning."

COMPANY, with Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by George Furth, was originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Signature's production is directed by Eric Schaeffer with choreography by Matthew Gardiner and music direction by Jon Kalbfleisch. It runs tonight, May 21 - June 30, 2013.

Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday performances are at 7:30pm; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening performances are at 8:00pm; Sunday evening performances are at 7:00pm. Matinee performances are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm. Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now. Tickets are available by phone at 703 573 SEAT, online at signature-theatre.org, or in person at the Signature Box Office at 4200 Campbell Avenue in Shirlington.

Signature is also offering "$22 for Tuesdays," making available a limited number of $22 tickets to the first two public Tuesday performances on May 21 and June 4. A Pride performance is scheduled for June 7. Discussion performances are scheduled for June 12 and June 18.

For more information about the production, visit Company online HERE.

Recipient of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Signature Theatre is a non-profit professional theater company in Arlington, Virginiadedicated 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 38 world premiere productions and is renowned for combining Broadway-quality productions with intimate playing spaces.

In addition to hosting the finest talent from the DC metropolitan area and New York, Signature has been home to such theatre luminaries as Chita Rivera, George Hearn, Hunter Foster, 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 82 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 320 nominations.

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