Now Serving: The Diner Team

The world premiere of Diner at Signature Theatre is fast upon us and the artistic, production and administrative teams could not be more ecstatic to share this amazing show with everyone. Signature is known for its bold and brave new musicals and Diner aims to be one of the boldest and bravest yet. Taking on a landmark film such as Diner is no easy feat. As highlighted in one of our previous blog entries, the film helped pave the way for such stars as Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon and pushed for the usage of “nothing” in film and television. At the helm of this landmark production is a powerhouse team consisting of director Kathleen Marshall, writer Barry Levinson, and musician Sheryl Crow. 

Kathleen Marshall

Kathleen Marshall is a Tony and Drama Desk award winning director and choreographer. Originally from the Pittsburgh theatrical scene, Kathleen began her Broadway career as the assistant to her choreographer brother Rob Marshall and has since collaborated with him on shows such as She Loves Me, Damn Yankees and Seussical. Kathleen has gone on to direct and choreograph Broadway revivals of the Pajama Game with Harry Connick, Jr. in 2006 and Anything Goes with Sutton Foster in 2011. 

Barry Levinson

On the writing front of Diner, is none other than the film’s original director and screenwriter, Barry Levinson. Barry, a Baltimore native, brings incredible warmth and an immense supply of talent to the table. Having directed and written award winning films that have included: The Natural, Good Morning, Vietnam, Rain Man, Bugsy,Toys ,and What Just Happened, Levinson is more than seasoned enough to handle diving back under the hood of Diner.

Sheryl Crow

Last but not least, bringing up the musical and lyrical front of Diner in none other than singer songwriter Sheryl Crow. This Grammy Award winning musician is taking on a new challenge with the music and lyrics of Diner, as this is the first time she has written for a musical. However, if what we have seen and heard in rehearsals and tech is any indication, Sheryl clearly knows what she is doing. 

The creative reigns of Diner are clearly in very capable hands. With a power plant of creative energy in charge of this project, the production is sure to electrify audiences. For more information and tickets please contact the Signature Theatre Box Office at 703-820-9771 or visit the Signature website.

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Order Up a Plate of "Nothing" Thanks to Diner

As we slowly approach December, the days and nights get colder and we find ourselves one step closer to the world premiere of Diner here at Signature Theatre. This production, under the helm of three-time Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall features music by Grammy Award Winning Sheryl Crow and book by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Barry Levinson.

For those that aren’t familiar with the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated film, Diner focuses on a reunion of childhood friends around Christmas time in 1959 Baltimore, Maryland. From the comfort of an all-night diner, the men, in their early-twenties, confront the realities of adulthood and the always perplexing opposite sex.

The film itself is a landmark movie, one that launched numerous careers, including those of actors Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, and screenwriter/director Barry Levinson. Diner’s groundbreaking evocation of male friendship changed the way men interact, not just in movies, but on television, commercials and the radio as well.  In 2009, TV critic Nancy Franklin observed that “Levinson should get royalties any time two or more men sit together in a coffee shop.”

What Franklin really means is that, more than any other film, Diner invented the concept of “nothing”. In Diner, Levinson took the stuff that usually fills time between the car chases and kisses and made it central to the story (This idea was popularized with the premiere of Seinfeld.)

Diner influenced a whole generation of writers, revolutionizing the way characters talk and how realistic they could be. The film was particularly influential with actors, as it provided this notion that you could play someone who was extremely real and at the same time humorous and emotional. Diner has a complexity that not a lot of movies at the time had. Older films tended to be tremendously dramatic or broadly comic. Diner on the other hand landed in a new territory where somebody could be entertaining and humorous and also make you cry. Observing more contemporary television and film, Diner is clearly responsible for such "nothing" heavy hits as The Office, Pulp Fiction and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Signature Theatre’s world premiere production of Diner promises to remain faithful to the concept of “nothing” and to retain the truthfully entertaining personalities that are on display. Diner opens December 9^th and runs until January 25^th. Tickets and more information can be found on the Signature website and at our box office. (703 820 9771)

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