Signature Theatre to Host Free 25th Anniversary Open House, 8/2

Signature's Open House will celebrate the very best in theatre, music and fun on Saturday, August 2nd from noon to 10:00pm. Free and open to the public, this special event is an entire day full of exciting performances, demonstrations, master classes, exhibits, a concert on the plaza, and kids' activities offered both inside and outside the Signature Theatre complex. The entire schedule and list of performers can be viewed by visiting our website at http://www.signature-theatre.org/open-house-2014

Originally envisioned in 2009 as a one-off tour of Signature's brand-new theatre facility in Shirlington Village, Signature's first Open House generated such attention, big crowds, and good fun that the theatre has turned the event into a summer tradition. Eric Schaeffer, Signature's Artistic Director, describes the Open House as "an all-day extravaganza celebrating our community."

This year's Open House will include a Signature Season Highlights Concert, a huge Broadway on the Plaza concert, and a special Family Cabaret featuring Disney show tunes and other kid-friendly radio hits. Performers will include Wesley Taylor (from the NBC hit "Smash"), Claybourne Elder, Brynn O'Malley, Mary Kate Morrissey, Nick Blaemire, Helen Hayes Award Winners Nova Y. Payton, Erin Driscoll, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Natascia Diaz, Donna Migliaccio, Will Gartshore, John Leslie Wolfe, Bobby Smith and an array of other Signature favorites. Plaza activities for kids include a moon bounce, hat making, color your own postcards, balloon twisters, sno cones and cotton candy. Guests can take selfies with stand-up cut-outs from Sunday in the Park with George, and favorite Signature moments from our past 25 years. A highlight of the day is the Signature Idol competition, where the winner gets to take the stage for their big debut at the blow out end of the night Broadway on the Plaza concert.

Recipient of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Signature Theatre is a non-profit professional theater company in Arlington, Virginia dedicated to producing contemporary musicals and plays, reinventing classic musicals, and developing new work. Since its founding in 1989, Signature has won 90 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 360 nominations.

Photo by Brianne Bland