Natascia Diaz, Jessica Hershberg, Alex Brightman & Joshua Morgan Lead Premiere of SOON, Beginning Tonight at Signature Theatre

Virginia's Signature Theatre presents the world premiere production of Soon, a new musical by Nick Blaemire (Glory Days, A Little More Alive). Directed by Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Really Really), the ensemble piece will feature Alex Brightman (Jonah; Broadway's Matilda, Big Fish, Wicked), Natascia Diaz (Adrienne; Signature's The Threepenny Opera, Broadway's Man of La Mancha), Jessica Hershberg (Charlie; Broadway's Cinderella, Baby It's You), and Joshua Morgan (Steven; Woolly Mammoth's A Bright New Boise, Arena Stage's Fiddler on the Roof). Soon is produced in association with Tricia Small.

It is the hottest summer in human history and, in a few short months, all water on earth will evaporate. In response, twenty-something Charlie has taken to her couch with only her beloved possessions: peanut butter, Wolf Blitzer and Herschel, the fish. Her mother, roommate and sometimes-boyfriend all attempt to persuade her to leave her apartment and enjoy life. However, as Charlie's memories take over, more complicated reasons for her self-inflicted hibernation emerge as she confronts her deferred dreams and considers the possibility of life and love just outside her door.

The production begins performances at Signature Theatre's ARK Theatre tonight, March 10. It will play for seven weeks, through April 26.

Soon marks Nick Blaemire's second collaboration with Signature Theatre. Signature Theatre produced the world premiere production of Glory Days, which was declared as "fresh and vivacious" by The Washington Post and transferred to The Circle in the Square in the spring of 2008. Glory Days has since been produced across the United States and worldwide in Japan, Australia, Canada and England. Nick Blaemire's most recent musical A Little More Alive premiered at Kansas City Rep in 2014. The Kansas City Starsaid the piece was "an impressive new musical" and heralded Blaemire as "an inventive composer and skilled lyricist."

"Signature Theatre is a rare beast, in that they seem to thrive on taking chances. They took a chance on me right out of college, and it's an honor to be back seven years later to work on Soon," said creator Nick Blaemire. "This show has been scary to write - it's an intricate puzzle, and deals with themes that, when I first started, felt beyond my reach. But the comfort and safety I feel working with Matt and Eric again has allowed me to push myself to places I've never gone before as a writer. They wouldn't have it any other way. And it's made this process infinitely more exciting."

"Nick Blaemire's complex new musical is exactly the kind of writing I seek out as a director," stated director Matthew Gardiner. "This contemporary story poses the question 'how do we do anything worthwhile when the world is falling apart?' It's a complicated but funny story, and I'm so excited to share it with Signature audiences."

The creative team includes Music Direction by Darius Smith (Signature's Dreamgirls, Studio Theatre's Carrie: the musical); Orchestrations and Arrangements by Charlie Rosen (Broadway's Honeymoon in Vegas) and Additional Arrangements by Jess Vargas; Scenic Design by Dan Conway (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George); Costume Design by Frank Labovitz (Signature'sSunday in the Park with George, The Threepenny Opera); Lighting Design by Brian Tovar (Prospect Theatre Company's Tamar and the River); Video Design by Matthew Haber (59E59's Witnessed by the World); Sound Design by Lane Elms (Signature's Diner, Sunday in the Park with George); Production Dramaturgy by Max Spitulnik; Production Stage Manager John Keith Hall; Production Assistant Jessica Skelton; and New York Casting by Stephen Kopel, CSA.

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