Saturday, AUGUST 2, 2008

Scheduled for Saturday, August 2, 2008, Signature Theatre's 3rd Annual Open House gives you the opportunity to experience Signature through performances, master classes, and the ever popular Broadway on the Plaza concert.
This year's events will include performances by Tony® Nominee Emily Skinner, Broadway Dreamgirl and R&B recording Artist Julia Nixon, as well as some of Signature's favorite performers.

All events are free and open to the public.
SEE YOU THERE!

Schedule of Events:*

11:30am
DOORS OPEN

12:00pm
Signature Season Highlights Concert
In The MAX
Highlights from this Season's Musicals Ace, Anyone Can Whistle, See What I Wanna See, and Giant, featuring Erin Driscoll, Eleasha Gamble, James Gardiner, Will Gartshore, and Tracy Lynn Olivera

12:15pm
Overtures Graduates in Concert
In The ARK
Students from Overtures, Signature's summer musical theater institute, perform their favorite songs. This is a chance to see future musical theater stars in the making.

12:15pm
Signature Theatre Documentary Screening
In the Shirlington Library
A documentary about the growth, success, and spirit of Signature Theatre. The film takes us on a lively journey of the Theatre’s development, featuring interviews with Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, footage and photos of the Theatre’s previous home, its outreach programs, and its new location anchoring Shirlington Village.

Matt Conner

12:30pm
Lobby Performance: Little River Turnpike
Mead Lobby
Amy McWilliams, Steve McWilliams, and Stephen Gregory Smith join together to sing some of their favorite pop songs.

12:45pm
Brad Waller Children's Stage Combat Workshop
In the Shirlington Library
Fight choreographer Brad Waller teaches a workshop in stage combat for kids ages 6 through 12. Locally, he has served as a fight choreographer for many of Shakespeare Theatre's productions.

1:00pm
Will Gartshore: Acting with Music Master Class
In the Shen Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Helen Hayes Award Winner Will Gartshore (Urinetown, Assassins, Merrily We Roll Along) leads a master class in acting a song for pre-selected students from local universities. The class is open to the public to watch and learn followed by a question and answer period.

1:15pm
Game Show: Who Wants to Be A Millionaire
In The ARK
Well, no one is actually going to win a million dollars, but we do have some pretty cool prizes. How much do you know about musical theater and Signature? Test your knowledge for a chance to win such prizes as a season subscription for two, dinner with Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, and much more. Get your Lifelines ready and join Matt Conner, Eric Schaeffer, and the infamous Leopard Ladies as they host "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" (Only 30 minutes)

Emily Skinner

1:30pm
Emily Skinner: Broadway, My Way
In The MAX
Tony® Award nominee and Virginia native Emily Skinner brings her acclaimed Feinstein's cabaret act to Signature Theatre. Emily Skinner appeared in Signature Theatre's The Witches of Eastwick and will appear in this season's new musical adventure Ace. Her Broadway credits include Side Show, Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, Full Monty, and Dinner at Eight.

1:45pm
A Conversation with Signature's Costume Shop Manager, Guy Bailey
Costume Shop, 4th Floor
Learn all about what it takes to bring the works of costume designers like Susan Hilferty, Robert Perdziola, Anne Kennedy, and others to life. Costume Shop Manager Guy Bailey will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in Signature Theatre's costume shop.

2:00pm
A Conversation with Signature's Production Team
Sondheim Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Join Signature Theatre’s Production Manager and Master Electrician as they give you the inside scoop on what it takes to mount a Signature Theatre production.

2:15pm
Stephen Gregory Smith: Insomnieoke Cabaret
In The ARK
Helen Hayes Award Winner Stephen Gregory Smith (110 In the Shade, Into the Woods, Kiss of the Spider Woman) shares selections from his latest cabaret act Insomnieoke.

2:30pm
Eric Schaeffer: Performance Master Class
Shen Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer leads a master class for pre-selected students from local universities. The class is open to the public to watch and learn followed by a question and answer period.

2:30pm
Lobby Performance: My Audition Book
Mead Lobby
Join Overtures Graduates and recent Kander & Ebb Overtures Cabaret performers Florrie Bagel (Into The Woods, Broadway in Ballston), Priscilla Cuellar (My Fair Lady, Into The Woods, Saving Aimee), and Weslie Woodley as they share with you their favorite songs from their audition books.

2:45pm
Brad Waller Stage Combat Workshop
In the Shirlington Library
Fight choreographer Brad Waller teaches a workshop in stage combat. Locally he has served as a fight choreographer for many of Shakespeare Theatre's productions.

3:00pm
Musical Mayhem: Signature's Improv Show (Where Anyone Can See The Lieutenant's Giant Dog Whistle)
In The MAX
A hilarious comedy improv show featuring some of your favorite Signature performers. Watch as these seasoned actors let there hair down in a show of improv, music, sketches, games, and much more. It's certain to be a blast!

Temika Moore

3:15pm
Plaza Concert: Temika Moore
On the Plaza
Philadelphia native and DC area resident Temika Moore is jazzy, soulful, and simply organic. Imagine: the folk-style of Tracy Chapman meets the refined soul of Anita Baker.

3:30pm
Sondheim Sing-Along
In The ARK
Come sing-along to the music of the composer that Signature knows best, Stephen Sondheim. Join local performers as they teach you to sing songs from some of your favorite Sondheim musicals.

3:45pm
Matthew Gardiner: Dancin' Broadway Master Class
Shen Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor

Bring along your dance shoes for a master class led by Helen Hayes Award Winner Matthew Gardiner (Studio Theatre's Reefer Madness and Jerry Springer The Opera). Open for the public to view or participate.

4:00pm
A Conversation with Signature's Costume Shop Manager, Guy Bailey
Costume Shop, 4th Floor
Learn all about what it takes to bring the works of costume designers like Susan Hilferty, Robert Perdziola, Anne Kennedy, and others to life. Costume Shop Manager Guy Bailey will give you a behind the scenes look at what goes on in Signature Theatre's costume shop.

4:00pm
Lobby Performance: Peter Lerman
Mead Lobby
Join singer/songwriter Peter Lerman in the lobby as he shares his unique blend of musical theater and folk music. Lerman writes in a style called "New Americana" - folk songs fused with dramatic storytelling, influenced by such songwriters as Steve Goodman, Arlo Guthrie, Randy Newman, and Shel SIlverstein.

4:15pm
Signature Theatre Documentary Screening
In the Shirlington Library
A documentary about the growth, success, and spirit of Signature Theatre. The film takes us on a lively journey of the Theatre’s development, featuring interviews with Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, footage and photos of the Theatre’s previous home, its outreach programs, and its new location anchoring Shirlington Village.

Julia Nixon

4:30pm
Julia Nixon in Concert
In The MAX
Award winning artist and former Broadway Dreamgirl Julia Nixon shares her favorites songs from her debut album, Keepin’ On Track.

4:30pm        
Pet Fashion Show
On the Plaza
Dress your dog to impress in a one-of-a-kind pet fashion show.

4:45pm
Game Show: Name That Signature Tune
In The ARK
Does that song sound familiar? Do you know what Signature musical it's from? Join composer and actor Matt Conner and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer as they take us on a nostalgic trip through Signature's past shows. Who knows, you might even pick up prize. (Only 30 minutes)

5:00pm
Plaza Concert: Temika Moore
On the Plaza
Philadelphia native and DC area resident Temika Moore is jazzy, soulful, and simply organic. Imagine: the folk-style of Tracy Chapman meets the refined soul of Anita Baker.

5:15pm
Michael Baron: Auditioning Master Class
In the Shen Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Watch as local university students get behind-the-scenes instruction on the art of auditioning from Signature Theatre's own casting director, Michael Baron. Open for the public to view.

5:30pm
Lobby Performance: Matt Conner
Mead Lobby
Matt Conner’s piano stylings have become a pre-show staple here at Signature Theatre. Enjoy a cool beverage in the lobby while you wait for the next performance to begin, as local composer and actor Matt Conner sits down at the piano to entertain you in true Signature fashion.

5:45pm
Signature Season Highlights Concert
In The ARK
Highlights from this Season's Musicals Ace, Anyone Can Whistle, See What I Wanna See, and Giant, featuring Erin Driscoll, Eleasha Gamble, James Gardiner, Will Gartshore, and Tracy Lynn Olivera

6:00pm
Emily Skinner: Broadway, My Way
In The MAX
Tony® Award nominee and Virginia native Emily Skinner brings her acclaimed Feinstein's cabaret act to Signature Theatre. Emily Skinner appeared in Signature Theatre's The Witches of Eastwick and will appear in this season's new musical adventure Ace. Her Broadway credits include Side Show, Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, Full Monty, and Dinner at Eight.

6:15pm
Plaza Concert: Nothing Unexpected
On the Plaza
From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Nothing Unexpected is a four piece rock band. The band has graced the stage with the likes of Bob Dylan, Gnarls Barkley, Matchbook Romance, Punchline, Fall Out Boy, and many more.

6:30pm
Ask Maggie & Eric: A Conversation with Signature's Leadership Team
In the Shen Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Do you have a question about our upcoming season? Join Siganture's new Managing Director, Maggie Boland, and Artistic Director, Eric Schaeffer for a special one time conversation.

6:45pm
Game Show: Who Wants to Be A Millionaire
In The ARK
Well, no one is actually going to win a million dollars, but we do have some pretty cool prizes. How much do you know about musical theater and Signature? Test your knowledge for a chance to win such prizes as a season subscription for two, dinner with Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, and much more. Get your Lifelines ready and join Matt Conner, Eric Schaeffer, and the infamous Leopard Ladies as they host "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" (Only 30 minutes)

7:00pm
A Conversation with Signature's Production Team
In the Sondheim Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Join Signature Theatre’s Production Manager and Master Electrician as they give you the inside scoop on what it takes to mount a Signature Theatre production.

7:15pm
Lobby Performance: Matt Conner & Friends
Mead Lobby
Join Matt Conner, Eleasha Gamble, Stephen Gregory Smith, and Kara-Tameika Watkins for a lively concert. Enjoy a cool beverage in the lobby while you wait for the next performance to begin, as these local talents entertain you in true Signature fashion.

7:15pm
Plaza Concert: SSUUNA
On the Plaza
Through an exotic fusion of traditional and contemporary East African music, dance, and storytelling accompanied by traditional instruments, SSUUNA will take the audience on a crucial but delightful cultural extravaganza with a promise to experience our cultural similarities and to walk away respecting the differences. SSUUNA; The Spirit of Africa is here to keep love in action.

7:30pm
Julia Nixon in Concert
In The MAX
Award winning artist and former Broadway Dreamgirl Julia Nixon shares her favorites songs from her debut album, Keepin’ On Track.

7:45pm
Revenge of the Understudies Cabaret
In The ARK
A cabaret featuring the understudies from Signature's 2007-2008 Season, these are some very talented young performers that are not to be missed.

Signature Sings Broadway in Shirlington

8:30pm
Signature Sings Broadway in Shirlington
On the Plaza
Welcome back the day's performers and additional special guests for an exciting closer to the Open House. Featuring some of your favorite Broadway tunes, this a concert that you just can't miss.

ONGOING OPEN HOUSE EVENTS

Signature Street
On the Plaza
Enjoy our family activities throughout the day including a moonbounce, snow cones, popcorn, and balloons.

Kids Activities: Story-Time and Crafts
In the Shirlington Library
Bring the kids and get creative from 12:00-4:30pm.

Signature Design Showcase
In the Sondheim Rehearsal Room, 4th Floor
Feast your eyes on some of the memorable set models, costume sketches, and more from Signature's past productions from 12:00-8:00pm

Signature Costume Showcase
In the Signature Costume Shop, 4th Floor
Take a look at actual costume pieces from previous as well as upcoming Signature productions from 12:00-8:00pm

Refreshments & Information
In the Mead Lobby

Ali's Bar will be open to purchase snacks and sodas, and you'll find staff on hand to answer any questions about the Theatre and the upcoming season.

PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SIGNATURE’S OPEN HOUSE

The Village at Shirlington’s
Dog Days of Summer
3pm – 7pm

Celebrate summer with your four-legged friends.
• Pet portraits- go home with a complimentary photo!
• Pet fashion show at 4:30pm – Dress your dog to impress!
• Best trick contest
• Pet bakery and groomer
• Store promotions and giveaways
• Adopt a dog or puppy from AFH Rescue Foundation or Precious Paws Rescue

Rules and Regulations: please keep dogs on a leash (6 ft or less) at all times, pets must wear ID tags, pet handlers must clean up after their pets, pet handlers must be 12 or older and remain with pet at all times, pets must be 4 months of age or older, small children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, no female dogs in heat, pets not allowed in Theatre.

For more information please call (301)998-8153

All Open House events are subject to change.

Signature’s Open House is sponsored by: