Signature Theatre Announces Cast of THE MYSTERY OF LOVE AND SEX

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of The Mystery of Love & Sex directed by Stella Powell-Jones (Off-Broadway's 17 Orchard Point). Playwright Bathsheba Doran (Signature's Nest, Showtime's Masters of Sex) returns to Signature with an unexpected love story of evolving friendship, finding your own path and the value of family and was heralded as "perfectly wonderful" and "among the season's finest plays" by The New York Times. The Mystery of Love & Sex will receive its DC area premiere in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre, April 5 - May 8.

"We're thrilled to welcome Bathsheba back to Signature with her newest work The Mystery of Love & Sex," said Eric Schaeffer, Signature Theatre Artistic Director. "It's also a great pleasure to welcome Stella Powell-Jones to Signature to direct this premiere. I have always been a huge admirer of Bathsheba's work and I am glad Signature can bring her acclaimed new play to Washington in what promises to be a terrific production."

The production will star Shayna Blass (Signature's Cabaret, Studio Theatre's Tribes) as Charlotte, Xavier Scott Evans (The Shakespeare Forum's Henry V) as Jonny, David A. Schmidt (Classic Stage Company's The Homecoming) as Howard's Father, Jeff Still (Broadway's August: Osage County, Fish in the Dark) as Howard and Emily Townley (Studio Theatre's Between Riverside and Crazy, Woolly Mammoth's Totalitarians) as Lucinda.

The creative team includes Scenic Design by James Kronzer; Costume Design by Asta Hostetter; Lighting Design by Jesse Belsky; Sound Design by James Bigbee Garver; Production Stage Manager Kerry Epstein; and Production Assistant Cris Ruthenberg-Marshall.

Complete opposites, Charlotte and Jonny have been best friends since they were children. Now, as college students on the eve of graduation, they toy around with taking their friendship romantic. Or not. Why decide? After all, Charlotte isn't sure she is even attracted to Jonny (or anyone of the opposite sex). Meanwhile, Charlotte's parents, an unlikely couple themselves, push the kids for a definition even while their own relationship founders. Gradually, secrets and truths emerge as playing grown-up turns into actually growing up. Bathsheba Doran's newest play examines intimacy, identity and, of course, the many mysteries of love and sex.