From the Classroom: Actor

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Friday, February 13, 2015

15 Qs With Karl

11:46 AM Signature Education No comments

Get to know Karl, who joins the cast of Veni, Vidi, Vici in his fourth and final year with Signature in the Schools.

1. Name?

Karl

2. Age?

17, turning 18 on the February 20th!

3. School/Grade?

Wakefield, Senior

4. What activities are you involved in either in or outside of school?

Student Government Assoc. Exec. Treasurer, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Alfred Street Baptist Church's Teen Choir, the list goes on and on...

5. Favorite food?

I don't think it's possible for me just to pick one. However, right now I think a plate of my momma's short ribs would hit the spot.

6. Most played song on your iPod/MP3 Player?

Considering that I prefer Pandora and I haven't updated my phone with songs in forever, my most played song is "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill.

7. Favorite movie?

The Sound of Music is pretty good.

8. Favorite show to binge-watch?

Orange is the New Black!!!

9. Favorite musical and/or play?

Right now it's Smokey Joe's Cafe at Arena Stage.

10. Dream theatre role?

ANY role in The Lion King. I also think it would be really fun to play Donkey in Shrek The Musical. Oohh, and I've always wanted to be Seaweed in Hairspray..

11. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring?

An ice cold shirley temple, a fan, and a genie in a bottle.

12. How many years have you been involved in Signature in the Schools?

4 years.

13. Best part of Signature in the Schools?

The best part is definitely the bonds that are created with some of the most talented, nicest, and loving people in the world.

14. Favorite Signature in the Schools play?

It's a close tie between Revolution and Hero Worship. The rehearsal process and the overall whole experience of Revolution was amazing, and at the same time Hero Worship was just really relatable.

15. Advice for future Signature in the Schools students?

Make the most of it and cherish every moment. Try to soak in as much as you can, and have FUN!

Be sure to check back in the coming weeks to hear more from the amazing 20th Anniversary cast and crew of Signature in the Schools. For more information on the program be sure to check out our web page. Tickets for this year's production will be available soon through the Signature Theatre Box Office at 703 820 9771.

Abby - New to Some, Familiar to Others

11:44 AM Signature Education No comments

Abby and Kerry improvise a scene in rehearsal.

Let's jump back to the acting side of things of Veni, Vidi, Vici with Abby who joins the cast and crew of Signature in the Schools for the first time.

"In the past year, Signature in the Schools has become such an important part of my life. I met David (Director), Matt (Dramaturg) and Karl (actor) during Anne and Emmett in the fall and knew several of the cast from the Fine Arts Apprentice Program, but I was still a newcomer to this particular part of the program. It was a little intimidating. But, from day one, I realized I had found a place where I could feel safe. It is a program incredibly centered on trust, so even on the first day I felt comfortable and respected. Everyone was there to learn and have fun, and that was a really exciting environment to be in.

Karl and Abby in Anne and Emmett

One of the unique parts of the Signature in the Schools program is “Boot Camp”. Boot Camp is basically three weeks of extremely intense dramaturgy, acting technique, and bonding to train as an ensemble for the show we will put on in March. The tech and actors come for dramaturgy days and only actors go for the acting technique days.

This year the theme is Imperialism, which is essentially the history of the world. I have never really liked learning about history. And that’s what the dramaturgy days were—learning about history. But the subject matter (Imperialism) is taught in a way that personalizes the information. It helped me realize why knowing how people acted five thousand years ago may be relevant now. It’s crazy that after so many years of learning history in school, I finally have discovered how to become passionate about it.

Abby and Karl are back together in
Signature in the Schools

Acting days are less focused on Imperialism and more focused on basics of acting and trust as a group. Everyone takes the exercises we do very seriously (not to say they’re all serious, they range from intense to hysterical) which allows for some pretty incredible things to happen. It’s pretty amazing what a group of teenagers can do together if they listen to one another and focus. I remember saying that I wish every teenager could have the chance to do some of the exercises we do and have a place where they feel comfortable expressing their ideas and themselves because I have not just bettered my acting skills, but I have learned about myself and the world. You simply can’t find that kind of experience just anywhere.

Abby was a student of Signature's 2014 Stage One program
this past summer.

Last Monday, the day we got our script, my cast mate Brandi and I were texting each other the entire day at school counting down the minutes until we would get to Signature. That sums up my feeling every day now. I always want to be there. And since everyone, actors and tech, learn and grow together, as an ensemble, Boot Camp has made me positive we will all work our butts off to produce an awesome show!"

Julia - A New Actor Appears

2:32 PM Signature Education No comments

Julia instructs and molds fellow actors from afar in a boot camp exercise.

Up next from the Veni, Vidi, Vici team we hear from one of our newest members, Julia. A very talented and brilliant young actor, Julia talks to us about her experience with Signature in the Schools so far and what excites her about the future of this world premiere project.

"When I found out that I was accepted to be an actress in the Signature in the Schools program I was thrilled. I could not wait to start working with everybody! But I was also a little intimidated. I had heard such wonderful things about the program, like how professional the environment was and how much the actors grew as performers, and I was nervous about how I would fit into everything.

Julia looks on as fellow actor Max discusses the exercise.

Flash forward to boot camp (a three week intensive before the first read through of the script where cast and crew work on connecting to the theme of the show and becoming an ensemble) and all of my doubts are erased. Everyone is not only incredibly talented but also warm and welcoming. The professional atmosphere is not intimidating at all but energizing and empowering. The focused, passionate energy radiating inside of the rehearsal room is contagious. I find myself impatiently counting down the hours during the school day until I can go back to Signature."

Stage One - Make 'Em Laugh

11:07 AM Signature Education No comments

Evan Casey gets to the point of comedy.

Signature Theatre's Stage One 2014 Workshop got off to a quick start yesterday as our 15 students met one another and their instructors for the first time. With acting, dancing, and vocal training crammed into every days schedule, these bright and talented young people will be working very hard over the course of the next two weeks. We can't wait to see what kind of steps they take on their artistic journies as we work with them this summer.

One of changes to this year's format with the Stage One is the inclusion of daily master classes taught by DC area theatre practitioners. These master classes will vary greatly in terms of topic and structure as the instructors come from very different parts of the performance world. ( Be sure to stay tuned to the Education Blog to get the inside scoop on who and what the Stage One students are working with and on.)

Stage One students listen as
Evan tells them the ins and outs
of comedy.

To get the master class ball rolling, we thought it might be a great idea to start things off on a lighter note with one of our favorite performers, Evan Casey. Evan is a DC area actor and teacher and has appeared at Signature Theatre in Company, Really Really, The Hollow, The Boy Detective Fails, Urinetown, Ten Unknowns and Allegro. Evan has performed heavily in the Washington DC area at such theatres as The Kennedy Center, Ford's Theatre, Olney Theatre, Studio Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre, Round House Theatre, Rep Stage and Theatre of the First Amendment among many others. Evan trained at Catholic University and the London Dramatic Academy and has taught extensively throughout the area.

Evan takes a moment to field a few questions.

One of the many areas in which Evan excells is comedy (This man knows how to make an audience laugh.) Throughout his master class Evan discussed and explored the concepts of comedy with the Stage One students and what differentiates comedy from a straight drama. In comedy, the stakes are higher than drama. This is because emotions are elevated and the shifts in emotions more drastic. This often leads to comedic moments because the needs of the character are great and others responses to their actions are larger than life at times.

Other major concepts that Evan discussed with the students were the importance of specificty, clarity, and hyper awareness in comedy. The jokes and lines are written on the page in a certain way for a certain reason. A comma or period is placed in a sentence to break up a moment or insert a pause so a joke has time to land or to misdirect an audience. Evan highlighted these concepts by showing clips of Abbott & Costello's "Who's On First?", Seinfeld's "Marine Biologist" and Sweeney Todd's "A Little Priest". These clips all demonstrate these important tennants of comedy and how they are indespensible when it comes to making an audience laugh. We were so lucky to have Evan join us for the afternoon and cannot wait to see what some of the other instructors have in store for us over the coming two weeks.

On Twitter? Follow Stage One at #SigStageOne.

Alicia: Heart to Hartz

12:18 PM Signature Education No comments

For the next several weeks, different cast and crew members of our talented Signature in the Schools program will be taking over our blog. Check back for frequent updates to get an inside track on their process and mindset with our latest production, Hero Worship.

This time around we sat down for a video chat with one of our senior cast members Alicia to talk about some of the successes, challenges, and questions that Hero Worship brings forth.

Hero Worship performs March 10th and March 17th at 8:00 PM. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. To reserve seats, call 703-820-9771. Reservations are available beginning February 10th.

Usman: Why I Came Here

1:00 PM Signature Education No comments

Today we will be hearing from Usman, one of the actors in Hero Worship. It is Usman's first year with Signature in the Schools and we thought it would be fun to hear a little bit about why he decided to join us.

Usman, hard at work, studying lines during a rehearsal for Hero Worship.

1. How did you find out about Signature in the Schools?

I saw last years Signature in the Schools production, Revolution, with my former high school Washington-Lee. I was very impressed and told myself that I would audition for the program next year. I was sadly too late to audition for the fine arts program that would allow me to audition for Signature in Schools so I thought I just had to wait till next year. Luckily, I made some new friends, met some amazing teachers over the summer and decided to transfer to Wakefield High School. Then, with some additional luck I got into Signature in the Schools.

2. Why did you want to join Signature in the Schools?

I have always loved theater and performing in shows with my school. However, I wanted and needed to branch out to other theaters to experience more of what the area might have to offer me in terms of theatrical education and training. After I saw the previous Signature in the Schools show I knew where to start.

3. What was you favorite part of our first few weeks of “boot camp” rehearsal?

My favorite part was the improvisational exercises we did throughout the first few weeks. Improv has always been my favorite type of performance. Performing with a group of other talented young actors made it even better and has allowed me to explore and create so much more both on and off the stage.

4. What do you hope to learn / accomplish by the end of the Signature in the Schools program?

I feel that with every role you play you always end up taking something away from it. If the character is romantic you become a little more suave. If the character is evil you become a little more devious. I hope that by the end of Signature in the Schools I can take something great away from my character, "Dominic" and I hope everyone can take something great away from me.

Hero Worship performs March 10th and March 17th at 8:00 PM. Tickets are free but reservations are required. To reserve seats, call 703-820-9771. Reservations are available beginning February 10th.

Page to Stage Recap: Sequins, the Season and the Art of Critiquing (Part I)

4:38 PM Signature Education 3 comments

Our June Page to Stage had some very special guests.

It might even have been one of the best Page to Stage events we’ve ever had (sorry if you missed it). Luckily we’ve got this two-part blog series to get you all caught up!

What was meant to be simply a look at the past and the upcoming seasons turned into a fascinating discussion of marketing, social media and the role of the theatre critic. For today you’ll get a quick introduction to our two guests and a summary of their remarks about the 2012-13 season, which is drawing to a close, and the 2013-14 season, which will begin in just a couple months.

Maggie Boland, Managing Director

Maggie Boland (on left), Signature Theatre's Managing Director

Maggie Boland didn’t necessarily take the standard route to becoming one of a handful of female managing directors of regional theatre companies. Hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania, she headed to Boston for school where she majored in English. After graduation it was off to New York City where she temped at a fashion design firm and Bechtel Corporation (the company that built the Hoover Dam). Somehow she ended up working at Roundabout Theatre in New York and eventually landed at Arena Stage in DC where she worked for ten years in a wide range of areas including marketing, finance, and development before coming to Signature as Managing Director five years ago.

As Managing Director, Maggie works hand-in-hand with our Artistic Director, Eric Schaeffer, overseeing the business side of things to ensure that Signature continues to run smoothly (a job which she does very well). If you asked the staff of Signature what they love most about Maggie they would probably say her hearty laugh, her get-stuff-done attitude and that sometimes she brings Dunkin' Donuts to the office.

Hunter Styles, Public and Community Relations Manager

Hunter Styles, Signature's Public and
Community Relations Manager

It turns out Hunter is a bit of a jack of all trades. You may have seen him around town managing the box office at Studio Theatre, heading up Artist’s Bloc, writing or directing plays for the Capital Fringe Festival or writing features for the American Theatre Magazine. He admits that he has a tendency to say “yes” to everything, but in doing so is learning what to say “no” to.

Hunter only recently began working at Signature – he started in September of last year – but since his arrival, he has become a unique asset to the Signature staff, contributing public relations expertise, fresh ideas and a very sharp sense of humor. His position covers press relations, outreach, developing relationships with businesses, the county, etc and talking on the phone. A lot. When we asked Maggie what she loves about Hunter, she commented that she loves that he thinks like a journalist and pitches projects like a writer.

23^rd SEASON: HIGHLIGHTS

This past season was pretty stellar and it took Maggie and Hunter a moment to sift through all of the good things that happened at Signature to select these highlights:

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls
Photo: Chris Mueller

Not only was Dreamgirls a financial and artistic success, but it also “solidified that Matthew Gardiner is a rock star.” Maggie was beaming with pride as she talked about how Dreamgirls helped to make Matthew a sought-after and accomplished DC director. Dreamgirls was also one of Signature’s biggest and most technically-complicated shows to-date (many who saw the show were dazzled by the spectacle of light, sound and sequins the show offered). Hats off to all who made Dreamgirls a show to remember.

Hello, Dolly!

As Signature continued to stabilize operations in their new Shirlington space, Hello, Dolly! (a co-production with Ford’s Theatre) provided the Signature staff with some much-needed breathing room. Not only was Signature able to reevaluate certain programs like the cabaret series, but it also put Signature’s work in front of new audiences.

Other Items of Note

Signature’s production of Shakespeare's R&J was the first show ever to be performed in-the-round in the MAX theatre (and a pat on the back to director Joe Calarco who made great use of the space).

This season was also the first year in No Rules Theatre Company’s residency at Signature Theatre. Keep an eye out for their upcoming No Rules Show which brings their 2012-13 season to a close.

24^th SEASON: INSIDER INFORMATION

Signature’s 24^th Season is shaping up to be pretty exciting. In fact, when the season announcement came out we saw tweets like “the 2013/2014 season looks great. i'm excited & can't wait to see everything -- especially the world premieres. break legs!” and "13/14 season is most definitely squeeeeeeeeeeeee-worthy. Wow," not to mention a great article from Washington Post critic Peter Marks. Hopefully the insider information below will get you hyped up as well!

SPIN (July 9, 2013 - July 27, 2013)

Note: Spin is a SigLab production and therefore not really part of either season, but it hasn’t happened yet so we’re throwing it in with the rest of the upcoming shows.

It turns out that musical theatre is a big deal in

South Korea

, as is the producer Mr. Shin. Eric, who has earned an international renown as a director, was sought out by the producers of Spin to work on this unique project. Spin is a new musical based on a Korean filmed, Speedy Scandal, which will, following development at Signature, be translated into Korean and performed in South Korea. This summer you can check out the funny, family friendly SigLab production for only $30! Bonus? You might even see some of the cast members from Company on stage again.

MISS SAIGON (August 15, 2013 - September 22, 2013)

To open our 24^th Season, Signature will be presenting an environmental production of the hit musical, Miss Saigon. What’s an “environmental production”? It basically means that the entire theatre will be integrated into the scenic design. You won’t want to miss what Maggie is calling a “thick, full, exciting, 360º” production.

PRIDE IN THE FALLS OF AUTREY MILLS (October 15, 2013 - December 8, 2013)

If you loved Paul Down Colaizzio’s Really Really, you’re going to love this new play of his! The writing is similarly gritty and revealing, but more mature and even a little stylistically absurd. Directed by Michael Kahn (Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company), this production promises to shine the light on the hidden shadows of the seemingly perfect suburban family.

CROSSING (October 29, 2013 - November 24, 2013)

In the past couple of years, Signature has produced a workshop and a concert version of this new musical by Matt Connor. While in the past it has had more of song cycle feel (think Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World), the book, written by Grace Barnes, brings the story together, connecting songs and strengthening character relationships. Keep an eye out for the cast album which will be released prior to the production.

GYPSY (December 17, 2013 - January 19, 2014)

What did Hunter and Maggie have to say about this Joe Calarco-directed classic? Children. There will be lots of children (the entire season, really, is full of children). Also, Donna Migliacci, Tracy Lynn Olivera, and Sandy Bainum as the three strippers? Enough said.

BEACHES (Feburary 18, 2014 - March 23, 2014)

That’s right, Signature is bringing that famous tear-jerker to life on stage next season in the form of a world-premiere musical. The script follows the novel closely (as opposed to following the film) and is even being penned by the original author, Iris Rainer Dart. To all you hard-core Beaches fans, Hunter reassured us that “Wind Beneath My Wings” was in the most recent draft of the script, although it’s inclusion has not yet been finalized. According to Maggie, “It’s a weepie,” so be sure to bring your Kleenex!

TENDER NAPALM (March 18, 2014 - May 11, 2014)

This two-hander show is not for the faint-of-heart theatre-goer. Coming from stellar runs in New York as well as London, this abstract piece discusses the inner workings of a marital relationship using imagery and non-linear story-telling. Matthew Gardiner will be directing and Maggie feels that he is a perfect fit for this movement-heavy piece.

THE THREEPENNY OPERA (April 22, 2014 - June 1, 2014)

True to form, Signature is celebrating a number of “firsts” this next season, including their first piece of Brecht. Hunter and Maggie explained that this will be an “de-sanitized” production; much dirtier, grittier and, hopefully, closer to how Brecht intended the piece to be performed. If you’re looking for a standard musical theatre story, keep in mind that Brecht was always more about politics than plot.

CLOAK & DAGGER (June 12, 2014 - July 6, 2014)

It just so happens that Ed Dixon is not only an actor (you may have seen him as Max in Sunset Boulevard), but also a writer and composer! Dixon’s new musical was inspired by The 39 Steps and similarly includes a cast of few actors playing many, many, many roles (Maggie and Hunter estimate four actors and 40+ characters). Needless to say, it will be a fast-moving, riotous musical that all will enjoy.

CABARETS (Dates TBA)

Let us not forget Signature’s amazing cabaret series. Patrons can look forward to enjoying many evenings of show-stopping entertainment and maybe even an additional fall cabaret series…

As you can see, it's going to be a season you won't want to miss!

For synopses of next season's shows, click here. You can purchase season tickets here.

Don't forget to check out Part II of this recap on Friday!

"Why do you want to be on Broadway?"

11:34 AM Signature Education No comments

"Why do you want to be on Broadway?"

TEDxBroadway 2013 Series (Part I)

George Takei is not a name one would necessarily associate with Broadway. Neither is Randi Zuckerberg or Susan Salgado. And yet these individuals, along with 14 others, were speakers at this year's TEDxBroadway conference on Janury 28th. These highly successful and inventive individuals gathered together in front of a 450 member audience to discuss the future of Broadway. The big question posed was "What's the best that Broadway can be -- on stage, in the community, and throughout the world?"

In this three-part opinion series, Signature Theatre staff look at their favorite talks from the TEDxBroadway 2013 conference sharing thoughts, insights, and an analysis of the issues facing the theatre industry at large and how Signature Theatre is handling them. Read Part II here.

Today’s blog author is Marcella Toronto, Signature’s education intern.

I have chosen a career in theatre because I can’t picture myself doing anything else. Creating and sharing through this medium fills me with energy, purpose and a passion that I can’t explain. Many other theatre artists express similar sentiments when asked why they do what they do. So why is it that not all theatre productions reflect these feelings? As much as we may hate to admit it, many of us have either seen or been in a less-than-inspiring show. In Terry Teachout’s talk entitled, “Why Do You Want to be On Broadway?” he challenges the theatre industry to gamble on greatness.

Terry Teachout
Source: http://bit.ly/10uiPJs

Teachout begins his remarks with a fact:

“Seventy-five percent of all Broadway shows lose money. Three shows out of four.”

To call odds like these discouraging would be an understatement. But I love how Teachout puts this statistic – and what all the play-it-safe-ers are probably thinking – on its head.

“What William Goldman said about Hollywood goes double on Broadway: nobody knows anything. And that means that there's only one reason for you to be on Broadway--and that's to have fun.

So how do you do that? If you're a creative person--and everybody on Broadway is, or should be, creative in one way or another--then the best way to have fun is to try to do something good. Really good. To roll the dice on excellence.”

I love working at Signature Theatre because one of the things Signature does best is, as Teachout put it, “roll the dice on excellence.” Over the past 23 years, Signature has developed a reputation for “definitive Sondheim productions, inventive adaptations of overlooked or forgotten works, and investment in fresh new projects.” And that’s what makes Signature Theatre so great, that’s what draws the audience. You know that when you come to Signature you’re going to see something that nobody else has ever done:

Assassins with the stage as a reflection of the audience

The cast of Assassins
Source: http://bit.ly/ZRTNXZ

“How do I convey the pow! factor in Signature Theatre’s startling new staging of Assassins without spoiling it for you? Absorbingly original… boldly, stylishly theatrical… exhilarating.”

– Peter Marks, The Washington Post

Show Boat… with no boat

“What is being fondly called “No Boat” (no two-tiered riverboat is recreated onstage) may or may not be the future of this lavish, rarely performed show.”

– David Belcher, New York Times

Hello, Dolly! with no grand staircase

“Dusting off the script, Director Eric Schaeffer has created a fresh new Dolly that is personal, heartfelt, and engaging.”

– Mark Beachy, MD Theatre Guide

Les Miserables with no turntable

“The Signature experiment works on many levels. Bringing the production down to an intimate scale assuredly makes the characters more accessible, even when crooning those familiar larger-than-life numbers.”

– Paul Harris, Variety

There are shows I have forgotten or wish I could forget, but the breath-taking image of a magic ring of candles descending from the sky in Shakespeare’s R&J is a memory I will always cherish. Those are the kind of risks that make Signature great.

A magical moment in Shakespeare's R&J
Source: http://bit.ly/12hbBvp

I have to admit I’m going to steal Teachout’s closing. Because it’s just that good.

“If there's ever a time in life for you to shoot high, this is it. Don't start out settling for safe--gamble on great. Forget about making money. You're not going to make money. Instead, make something beautiful. Something special. Something new. Something that makes you proud. Do that and you always win...and who knows? You might even get rich.”

I only hope we can all live up to his challenge.

Read the full text of Teachout’s talk here.

Check out the rest of the talks from TEDxBroadway 2013 here.

Today in Theatre History: The Mystery of the Long-Running Show

10:46 AM Signature Education No comments

TODAY IN THEATRE HISTORY: May 8th

In the “Today in Theatre History” series, we take a specific event in theatre history and use it as a starting point for discussion about aspects of theatre – past, present, and future.

The cast of Signature's Dreamgirls.
Photo: Chris Mueller

Today in theatre history:

- “Rise and Fall of Little Voice” closes at the Neil Simon Theatre after 9 performances (1994)

- “Earl of Ruston” closes at Billy Rose Theater after 5 performances (1971)

- “Shuffle Along” opens at Broadway Theater for 4 performances (1952)

- “Funny Thing Happened” opens at Alvin Theater for 965 performances (1962)

All shows must close. The question then is how long will the show survive?

When it comes to theatre there are two terms used to define the "run" of the show (aka how long the show plays for):

The Broadway cast of The Phantom of the Opera
Source: http://bit.ly/12RbB2D

In an open-ended run there is no set end date. The greater the demand for tickets, the longer the run. When there is no longer a demand for tickets or when it becomes more profitable to license the show to other producers, a closing date is picked. Shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Wicked all had open-ended runs on Broadway. Because Signature Theatre only has two performances spaces and produces up to eight fully-mounted productions a season, open-ended runs are simply not feasable.

Signature shows therefore have what is called a limited engagement run. This means that there is a specific end date set for the show before performances even start. If the show is selling very well towards the end of the run, sometimes a show will receive an extension, meaning that another week or two of performances are added. While this is one way for patrons to gauge whether or not a show is selling well, there are times when a show is selling well but there is no extension because the space is needed for another production.

So why do some shows get extended and others don't? Why do some open-ended runs only last for five performances and others 5,000? In looking at Signature Theatre's production history, some themes became apparent:

Star Power

Big names have a tendency to draw big crowds. A popular actor's fan base will fill a surprising number of seats. In Signature Theatre's recent production of "Dreamgirls" actress Nova Y. Payton garnered an impressive amount of attention for her phenomenal performance of Effie. By the end of the show many people were coming to see Payton perform because they had heard great things and tickets were in such high demand that the show was extended.

Nancy Robinette and Sherri L. Edelen in Walter Cronkite is Dead. Source: http://bit.ly/18Uh2kF

Signature's production of Walter Cronkite is Dead was extended before the show even opened because the show's two actresses, Sherri L. Edelen and Nancy Robinette, were (and still are) both DC area stars.

Known Titles

The barricade in Signature's production of Les Miserables.

Source: http://bit.ly/109oKXg

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera or Sweeney Todd. In today's economy the average person is less-inclined to spend money on a show they've never heard of, as unfortunate as that is. Tourists in New York are more likely to spend money on a ticket to The Phantom of the Opera than a ticket to Return to the Forbidden Planet (the irony being that Phantom started off as an unknown show - but that's a discussion for another blog post). When Signature produced Les Miserables tickets sold incredibly well and the run was extended

because of the combination of a quality product

and also a well-known show.

An Overall Good Production

Fiona Shaw in The Testament
of Mary.
Source: http://bit.ly/11QOAxy

Then there are the shows that don't have a star or a well-known title and still manage to be incredibly successful. Shows like Really, Really that had a young cast and a young playwright but would have been extended if not for another show needing the space.

And let us not forget the shows with great casts and great scripts which, artistically speaking, deserve a longer run; shows like The Testament of Mary that managed to nab several Tony Award nominations but will shortly be closing.

Statistics show that three out of four shows on Broadway are a financial failure. Who gets the open-ended run? Who gets the extension? Who closes after four performances? The ticket-buyers will ultimately decide.

Sources
http://www.tdf.org/tdf_servicepage.aspx?id=103
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_longest-running_Broadway_shows
http://www.artsjournal.com/aboutlastnight/2013/01/tt_the_one_good_reason_to_take.html

Hello, Edward Gero! (and Dolly, for that matter)

2:24 PM Signature Education No comments

For our April Brown Bag Thursday, we will be entertaining Edward Gero, a veteran actor playing the role of Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly!, a co-production between Ford’s Theatre and Signature Theatre.

Horace and Dolly share a meal at the Harmonia Gardens.
Photo by Carol Rosegg

Hello, Dolly! is perhaps one of the most iconic of American musicals, conjuring images of stars like Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, and Barbra Streisand. However, Hello, Dolly! did not begin as the powerhouse of a musical that we know today. The musical Hello, Dolly! actually began as a play called The Merchant of Yonkers, written by Thornton Wilder in 1938. Never heard of it? That’s probably because The Merchant of Yonkers was a flop. It was only after Wilder re-worked the play and published it under the title The Matchmaker in 1955 that the story began to pick up steam. Ten years later, lyricist and composer Jerry Herman and book writer Michael Stewart completed their adaptation of Wilder’s play into the show audiences have been humming and tapping along to for the last fifty years. The ten-time Tony Award-winning musical ran for seven years and 2,844 performances on Broadway, has since been revived multiple times and been performed in countries all around the world.

For those who are unfamiliar with the show:

In the Tony-winning musical farce Hello, Dolly!, the cantankerous half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder hires matchmaker Dolly Levi to find him a wife. Dolly soon hatches a plan to woo and win Vandergelder’s hand herself, while simultaneously arranging romantic prospects for his niece, his clerks and two of Manhattan’s most eligible shop girls.

Watch the Ford's Theatre Hello, Dolly! trailer here.

Our Brown Bag guest Edward Gero will be playing the role of Horace Vandergelder the aforementioned "cantakerous half-a-millionaire." Read a little about him in this bio courtesy of George Mason University where Gero teaches:

Edward Gero, a fourteen-time nominee and four time recipient of the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for his work in Shakespeare, contemporary and musical theatre, has been teaching at George Mason University since 1991. Offering a wide variety of courses from Beginning Acting to Characterization, Acting Shakespeare, Verse Speaking, Script Analysis, and many others, he continues his 30 year performance career throughout Washington stages and across the nation.

This year he completed a critically acclaimed production of John Logan’s Tony Award winning play RED, directed by Tony Award winning director, Robert Falls at The Goodman Theater in Chicago and Arena Stage in Washington. He wrote a blog “The Making of RED” to chronicle his process. He will be returning in the 2012 Washington Theater season as Scrooge in the acclaimed production of A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theater. In 2011 he appeared in The Chosen by Chaim Potok at Arena Stage and Salieri in Amadeus at The Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD.

He has been a company member of the nationally known Shakespeare Theatre Company in downtown Washington since 1983, appearing in over 75 productions there. He was named an associate artist at Center Stage in Baltimore, MD. He appears at many others regional theaters including The Goodman Theater in Chicago, Ford’s Theatre, The Studio Theatre, Round House Theatre, Arena Stage, Olney Theatre Center, Theater J and George Mason's own Theatre of the First Amendment. He can also be heard narrating on The Discovery Channel, Science Channel and Nat Geo.

Don't forget to be part of the conversation tomorrow! Our Brown Bag Discussion with Edward Gero will begin at 1pm in the Mead Lobby at Signature Theatre. Can't make it in person? Follow us on twitter @sigtheatre or use #sigbrownbag.

Ford's and Signature's co-production of Hello, Dolly! is currently playing at Ford's Theatre and will run until May 18th. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Want a second opinion on what you saw or a head's up on what you'll be seeing? Check out some of the reviews for Ford's and Signature's Dolly!:

Washington Post

MD Theatre Guide

DC Metro Theater Arts

DC Theatre Scene

COMING UP: May 6th, 2013 Page to Stage -- Join us for a special viewing of the film version of Hello, Dolly! starring Barbara Streisand. The film will begin at 6:30pm in the Shirlington Branch Library. We'll bring the popcorn, you fill the seats!

Sources:

http://mason.gmu.edu/~egero/homepage/Welcome.html

www.callondolly.com
http://www.fords.org/event/hello-dolly

Carla: Poet of the Revolution

12:10 PM Signature Education No comments

High school senior Carla plays a charismatic and compassionate Reston high schooler named Caryna in Signature in the Schools' premiere production, Revolution. We asked Caryna to describe her Signature in the Schools experience and she wrote us this lovely poem: