The Eric Schaeffer Miracle at the Signature Theatre

I am so pleased I was able to attend productions at the "old" Signature Theatre in a refurbished auto-shop so I can really appreciate the "Miracle on Campbell Avenue".

 

The current Kander and Ebb Celebration is in full gear and tickets are going fast. Part I of the celebration now running until April 20, is the wonderful musical Kiss of the Spiderwoman.  I was completely enthralled at this dazzling production which stars Will Chase as Valentin, Natascia Diaz as the Spider Woman, and Hunter Foster as Molina. Diaz has the unfortunate task to step into the shoes of the iconic Chita Rivera who I can still visualize spinning her web on Broadway. Chase and Foster are terrific in two complex and difficult roles and they truly mesh as if they have acted for years together. Shaping this terrific cast into a blockbuster which I feel merits a move to Broadway, is Director Eric Schaeffer. He is ably assisted by some of the most stunning theatrical lighting one will ever see by Chris Lee. The ten piece orchestra sounds terrific under the baton of Jenny Cartney.

 

Part II of the K&E Celebration is the rarely performed 1968 musical The Happy Time which run until June 1 in the intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre. This musical made it to Broadway in 1968 directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and starred Robert Goulet.  Headlining this rarely produced musical are three Broadway veterans, Michael Minarik, David Margulies (so terrific in The Murder of Isaac at Center Stage) and George Dvorsky.

 

Part III will in fact feature two-time Tony winners and Broadway legends George Hearn and the former Spider Woman herself, Chita Rivera in The Visit which will be directed by Frank Galati with choreography by Ann Reinking. This musical will run May 13-June 22.

 

And there's more. On May 12 there is "One on One with John Kander" where Schaeffer will join Kander in an evening of conversation. Tickets are $50.

 

"Kander and Ebb Overtures" features graduates of the Signature's Overtures Musical Theater Institute performing in a cabaret setting the repertoire of the composers for four nights only, June 4-7.

 

The Bowen McCauley Dance Company will put their contemporary style and spin on Kander & Ebb standards from June 12-15.

 

There's a film series of Kander & Ebb musicals: Funny Lady on April 14, Cabaret on June 2 and Chicago on June 16.

 

To climax this celebration on May 17 will be "The Kander & Ebb Gala", a festive black-tie event which will include a special performance of The Visit followed by dinner and dancing.

 

An example of the Schaeffer magic is the fact that the first D.C. area regional premiere to move to Broadway in nearly twenty years is the Signature Theatre's Glory Days which played to sold-out audiences in Arlington in January and February. I noticed a terrific full page ad for the musical in last Sunday's New York Times. Glory Days will run at the Circle in the Square Theatre with previews beginning on April 22. Visit www.GloryDaysBroadway.com or call 212-239-6200.

 

And then there's NEXT season. The Signature just announced its line-up: ACE, a Broadway-bound musical premiere, the Washington premiere of Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore, the Washington premiere of The Little Dog Laughed, the World Premiere of John LaChiusa's Giant, and the Washington premiere of another LaChiusa musical See What I Wanna See.

 

There will also be for one night only (October 6, 2008) a presentation of Sondheim's Anyone Can Whistle.

 

There is something quite unusual about attending a production at the Signature. Where else can you find such an acclaimed theater with free parking and 15 bars and restaurants across the street. Did I mention the library, a place to do your grocery shopping (Harris Teeter), and a book store also in the neighborhood?  All that is missing is the Metro and who knows. It wouldn't surprise me if Schaeffer used his magic wand to get an extension to come to Campbell Avenue in Arlington, Virginia.

 

For more information, visit www.signature-theatre.org or call 703-820-9771.

 

 

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