Signature Theatre Announces The Cast And Creative Team For LIGHT YEARS

Signature Theatre is proud to announce the full cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Light Years. Directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Gigi, Million Dollar Quartet), this new musical features music, lyrics and book by Robbie Schaefer of the band Eddie from Ohio. Robbie journeys from his childhood in India to the joys and struggles of growing up, pursuing his passion and raising a family. Entwined throughout is his cherished relationship with his father-and his father's haunted past. Light Years will run February 6 - March 4 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

The production will star Robbie Schaefer as Robbie, Bobby Smith (Signature's Crazy for You, A Little Night Music) as Konnie, Natascia Diaz (Signature's Crazy for You, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Chantelle/Annie, Luke Smith (Broadway's Significant Other, Peter and the Starcatcher National Tour) as Middle Robbie, John Sygar (1st Stage's Floyd Collins) as Young Robbie, and Kara-Tameika Watkins (Signature's Jesus Christ Superstar, Jelly's Last Jam) as Soma/Amelia.

"I'm thrilled to be directing this world premiere with a terrific cast. Signature Theatre has been developing Light Years over the past two years and it's exciting that it will now have its world premiere on our stage," said Eric Schaeffer. "I've been a fan of Robbie Schaefer's music over the years from his band Eddie from Ohio. For Light Years, he's written an original, heartfelt musical for our times about a father and son and the space between them. His special theatrical voice promises to bring a unique experience to our audiences in this groundbreaking new work. Sometimes it's great to break the mold - and with this new show, Signature and Robbie are definitely doing that."

"Developing Light Years with Eric Schaeffer and Signature Theatre has been such an enlivening and deeply gratifying experience," said Robbie Schaefer. "Their trust in my artistry and vision has emboldened me and allowed Light Years to bloom into something I barely imagined when I began writing it over two years ago. All art worth creating requires an unwavering commitment to risk and vulnerability. Thank goodness there are people like Eric and theatres like Signature who are still unabashedly devoted to such things."

The creative team includes Musical Direction by David Holcenberg (Broadway's Groundhog Day), Choreography by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise (NextStop Theatre Company's Urinetown), Scenic Design by Eric Schaeffer, Lighting Design by Chris Lee (Signature's Elmer Gantry), Costume Design by Kathleen Geldard (Signature's Kid Victory), Sound Design by Ryan Hickey (Signature's Crazy for You), Video Design by Mark Costello, Production Stage Manager Kerry Epstein, Assistant Stage Manager Bekah Wachenfeld, Production Assistant Joey Blakely.

Founded in 1989, Signature Theatre is a Tony Award-winning regional theater that broadens and brightens the region's cultural landscape with its bold productions of challenging new and established works and engaging education and outreach programs. Under the leadership of co-founder and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, musical theater has become Signature's "signature," and the Theatre is renowned for its definitive Sondheim productions, inventive adaptations of overlooked or forgotten works, and investment in fresh new projects. Called a "musical theater powerhouse" by The Washington Post, Signature combines Broadway-caliber productions with intimate playing spaces and aims to be a leading force in U.S. musical theater. Since its inception, the Theatre has produced 58 world premiere works-including 19 new musical commissions-and is home to the single largest musical theater commissioning project in the United States, The American Music Voices Project. Attracting talent from the DC metropolitan region and New York, Signature has grown to reach more than 100,000 people annually from the Washington, DC region and beyond. Signature has won 103 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 411 nominations.

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