Virginia's Signature Theatre opens its doors for its annual Open House on Sunday, August 2, for an all-day extravaganza full of live performances and arts events across five different stages. Free and open to the public, this special summer event runs from noon until 8:30pm, with numerous performances throughout the Signature complex starting every fifteen minutes, as well as a one-day-only discounted ticket sale at the Box Office for select performances of mainstage shows in Signature's 2015/16 season.
The Open House offers something for everyone: live performances, demonstrations, master classes, exclusive conversations with artists, the debut of the Signature Voice Competition, a special Cake Off - Cake Decorating Competition, a Broadway on the Plaza grand finale, and much more. Events are held throughout the building as well as outdoors on the Shirlington Plaza, where families will find a moon bounce, popcorn, snow cones, crafts, and more - all for free.
Inside, the Season Highlights Concert will feature exclusive sneak-peek performances from Signature's upcoming 2015/16 season including performances from West Side Story and La Cage Aux Folles. The Signature Voice Competition boasts a celebrity panel of judges including Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, NBC4 News Anchor Wendy Reiger and Signature favorite Nova Y. Payton. The winning contestant will perform in the Broadway on the Plaza finale concert later in the evening.
During the Open House patrons can also purchase discounted tickets for select performances of mainstage shows throughout the season. These special ticket prices are only available on the day of Open House. The Box Office will be open from noon until 8:30pm. Subscription discounts on packages of 3 shows or more will also be offered throughout the day. For more information on discounted performances and packages, visit www.sigtheatre.org.
Featured artists who will be performing throughout the day include Mark Evans (The Book of Mormon, First National Tour) from the cast of Signature's upcoming production of The Fix, Desi Oakley (Broadway's Wicked), Helen Hayes Award-winning Signature ladies Natascia Diaz, Sherri Edelen, Tracy Lynn Olivera and Nova Y. Payton, the infectious New Orleans-style band Junkyard Saints, the gypsy swing ensemble The Bitter Dose Combo, The Army Chorus and more.SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
12PM - In the MAX
SIGNATURE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS CONCERT
Highlights from the new season featuring songs from the Signature's 2015/16 season including The Fix, Cake Off, Girlstar, West Side Story, Road Show and La Cage Aux Folles- plus a taste of The Flick and Mystery of Love and Sex. The Season Highlights Concert will feature many of this season's Signature stars.
FREE tickets available at 11AM at Ticket Booth ONE
12:15PM - In the ARK
OVERTURES ON STAGE
Students from Signature's intensive summer musical theater institute perform their favorite songs. Be the first to see the stars of tomorrow!
FREE tickets available at 11:15AM at Ticket Booth TWO
12:30PM - In the Lobby
SONDHEIM SONGBOOK
Listen to a cabaret performance by DC actors singing songs by Signature's favorite composer. From West Side Story to Sweeney Todd, Sondheim is Signature's Signature!
No tickets required
12:45PM - In the Shen, 4th floor
CAKE OFF - CAKE DECORATING CONTEST
Star of Signature Theatre's world premiere musical Cake Off, Sherri Edelen, will lead a Cake Decorating competition. Judges will include the creative team behind Signature's world premiere musical.
No tickets required. Sign up to compete begins at 2:30pm in front of the Shen. All decorating supplies provided. There will be 8 teams. Each team can include no more than 2 people. Contestants will be given a theme at the start of the competition.
1:00PM - On the Plaza Stage
JUNKYARD SAINTS
Junkyard Saints is a DC/Baltimore based seven-piece band with full horn section performing its own brand of New Orleans-style party music by blending Funk, Swing, Latin and R&B - with a splash of Zydeco to round out the mix.
No tickets required
1:15PM - In the MAX
FAMILY CABARET
The perfect cabaret for everyone in the family! From Disney show tunes to the latest kid-friendly radio hits, this cabaret is guaranteed to get your young ones hooked on show business.
FREE tickets available at 12:15PM at Ticket Booth ONE
1:30PM - In the Ark
ADAM GWON IN CONCERT
Composer of Signature's upcoming world premiere of Cake Off as well as The Boy Detective Fails and Ordinary Days, Adam Gwon invites some of his favorite Signature artists to sing a cabaret filled with his music.
FREE tickets available at 12:30PM at Ticket Booth TWO
1:45PM - In the Lobby
JERRY HERMAN SONGBOOK
Listen to a cabaret performance of songs by the man who wrote Hello Dolly, Mame, and La Cage Aux Folles. Featuring some of DC's finest talent, you won't want to miss "The Best of Times"
No tickets required
2PM - In the Shen, 4th floor
ACTING A SONG MASTER CLASS: JOE CALARCO
Signature's Director of New Works/Resident Director Joe Calarco leads a master class for pre-selected students on acting a song. A question-and-answer period will follow.
No tickets required
2:15PM - On the Plaza Stage
INES NASSARA
Ines Nassara (Crossing) and her band fuse jazz, pop, soul and indie folk and layers it with killer harmonies. Filled with both original songs and covers of the greats.
No tickets required
2:30PM - In the MAX
SIGNATURE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS CONCERT
Highlights from the new season featuring songs from the Signature's 2014/15 season including The Fix, Cake Off, Girlstar, West Side Story, Road Show and La Cage Aux Folles- plus a taste of The Flick and Mystery of Love and Sex. The Season Highlights Concert will feature many of this season's Signature stars.
FREE tickets available at 1:30PM at Ticket Booth ONE
2:45PM - In the ARK
SIGNATURE'S LEADING MEN
DC's most talented musical theater men take the stage in a concert to blow the roof off! Featuring Will Gartshore, Kevin McAllister, Christopher Mueller, Paul Scanlan, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Bobby Smith, Stephen Gregory Smith and John Leslie Wolfe.
FREE tickets available at 1:45PM at Ticket Booth TWO
3PM - In the Lobby
CONTEMPORARY BROADWAY SONGBOOK
Listen to a cabaret performance of songs by the exciting new composers writing for Broadway. From Jason Robert Brown to Adam Guettel, some of our favorite performers will give you a taste of Broadway's new sound.
No tickets required
3:15PM - In the Shen, 4th floor
DANCE MASTER CLASS: NATASCIA DIAZ
Star of Signature Theatre's upcoming production of West Side Story- will lead a master class to learn Jerome Robbins' original choreography from West Side Story.
No tickets required
3:30 PM - On the Plaza Stage
THE U.S. ARMY CHORUS
The Army Chorus performs frequently at the White House, the Vice President's Residence, the US Capitol and all over the world. Now join one of America's most renowned choruses on the Plaza Stage.
No tickets required
3:45PM - In the MAX
SIGNATURE VOICE COMPETITION
The tension builds as five finalists get narrowed down to the one winner who will perform in the Broadway on the Plaza concert. Our celebrity panel of judges includes Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, NBC's Wendy Rieger and Signature favorite Nova Payton. Who will be this year's Signature Idol?
FREE tickets available at 2:30PM at Ticket Booth ONE
4PM - In the ARK
SIGNATURE DIVAS
DC's most talented musical theater actresses take the stage in a concert to blow the roof off! Featuring Jessica Ball, Shayna Blass, Susan Derry, Erin Driscoll, Jamie Eacker, Maria Egler, Ines Nassara, Maria Rizzo, and Bayla Whitten.
FREE tickets available at 3PM at Ticket Booth TWO
4:15PM - In the Lobby
CLASSIC BROADWAY SONGBOOK
Listen to a cabaret performance by DC actors singing some of their favorite songs from the Golden Age of Broadway. From Rodgers & Hammerstein to Irving Berlin, this is your chance to take in some of those great tunes from days gone by.
No tickets required
4:30PM - In the Shen, 4th floor
SIGNATURE SING-ALONG
Join Signature favorites Maria Egler and Stephen Gregory Smith for a sing-along of songs from musicals like West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles, and much more. Whether you are a karaoke fiend or just in the shower, bring your singing voice and belt with the best to the tunes of Sondheim, Jerry Herman and everything in between.
No tickets required
4:45PM -On the Plaza Stage
INES NASSARA
Ines Nassara (Crossing) and her band fuse jazz, pop, soul and indie folk and layers it with killer harmonies. Filled with both original songs and covers of the greats.
No tickets required
4:45PM - In the MAX
SIGNATURE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS CONCERT
Highlights from the new season featuring songs from the Signature's 2014/15 season including The Fix, Cake Off, Girlstar, West Side Story, Road Show and La Cage Aux Folles- plus a taste of The Flick and Mystery of Love and Sex. The Season Highlights Concert will feature many of this season's Signature stars.
FREE tickets available at 3:45PM at Ticket Booth ONE
5:15PM - In the ARK
SIGNATURE'S LEADING MEN
DC's most talented musical theater men take the stage in a concert to blow the roof off! Featuring Will Gartshore, Kevin McAllister, Christopher Mueller, Paul Scanlan, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Bobby Smith, Stephen Gregory Smith and John Leslie Wolfe.
FREE tickets available at 4:15PM at Ticket Booth TWO
5:30PM - In the Lobby
BROADWAY TOP 40 SONGBOOK
Listen to a cabaret performance by DC actors singing some of their favorite songs from Broadway's latest hit shows.
No tickets required
5:45PM - In the Shen, 4th floor
SIGNATURE TRIVIA
Join Signature favorites for a chance to win tickets to upcoming Signature Shows and much more.
No tickets required
5:45 - On the Plaza Stage
THE BITTER DOSE COMBO
The Bitter Dose Combo is the District's premiere gypsy swing ensemble featuring accordion, clarinet, bass and several guitars. Their vibrant, yearning impressions of jazz manouche and 40s era swing will quench your summer thirst for rhythm.
No tickets required
6:00PM - In the MAX
THE FABULOUS FOUR
Helen Hayes Award Winners Natascia Diaz, Sherri Edelen, Tracy Lynn Olivera and Nova Y. Payton
showcase their powerhouse vocals that brought the house down in Signature shows like Threepenny Opera, Dreamgirls, Gypsy and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
FREE tickets available at 5:00PM at Ticket Booth ONE
6:15PM - In the ARK
SIGNATURE DIVAS
DC's most talented musical theater actresses take the stage in a concert to blow the roof off! Featuring Jessica Ball, Shayna Blass, Susan Derry, Erin Driscoll, Jamie Eacker, Maria Egler, Ines Nassara, Maria Rizzo, and Bayla Whitten.
FREE tickets available at 5:30PM at Ticket Booth TWO
7:00PM - On the Plaza Stage
BROADWAY ON THE PLAZA - GRAND FINALE
A special finale concert that features Signature's favorite performers celebrating the astounding music of Broadway and Signature!
No tickets required
ONGOING OPEN HOUSE EVENTS
SIGNATURE STREET - On the Plaza
Get a taste for what Signature's upcoming season has to offer while your kids jump around in our moon bounce, get wonderfully designed temporary tattoos, or get a variety of balloon animals Grab popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy - all for FREE.
Also, if you missed your chance to grab any of our merchandise like a Cabaret key chain or a Diner T-shirt, take advantage of our special Signature Sale and preview what's coming next.
ALI'S BAR
Food and drink specials available for purchase all day long including hamburgers and hotdogs (with all the fixin's!), amish macaroni salad, fruit kabobs, smoked caprese salad, and three types of margaritas.
ALL PERFORMANCES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
FREE tickets for performances in the MAX and ARK will be distributed one hour prior to show times at the Ticket Booths in front of Harris Teeter. Tickets do not guarantee admission.
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