Sondheim: Signature’s Signature
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by George Furth
Based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
Directed by Eric Schaeffer

Beginning in the present and moving backwards in time, Merrily We Roll Along is a tuneful trip through the personal and professional lives of three friends discovering the different paths they’ve taken.  Featuring such classics as “Not A Day Goes By,” “Old Friends,” “Good Thing Going” and, of course, “Merrily We Roll Along,” this reinvented production “could be one of America’s musical classics”
(New York Times).
September 4 – October 14, 2007

THE WORD BEGINS
Written and performed by Steve Connell and Sekou (tha Misfit)
Directed and Developed by Robert Egan

This explosive theatrical experience celebrates the spoken word, the human heart, and the challenges facing the world today.  Written and performed by acclaimed spoken word artists Steve Connell and Sekou (tha Misfit),The Word Begins is a raw, emotionally-charged journey through such controversial issues as race relations, religion, sexuality, love, and the power of mass communication.  Performed as an extraordinarily refreshing, powerful combination of drama meets sketch comedy meets hip hop culture, Norman Lear declared the creative duo “a touch of genius” and Quincy Jones dubbed them “a perfect combination of soul and science.” Contains mature subject matter and strong language
RUN TIME: 1 hour 35 minutes. There is no intermission.
October 2 – December 2, 2007

East Coast Premiere
THE STUDIO
Written,  Directed, and Choreographed by Christopher d’Amboise

The world of dance leaps onto the stage in this East Coast premiere. In a bare, mirrored studio high above Broadway, a well-known choreographer with a highly-guarded private life, creates a new work for two dancers — a veteran who’s seen it all, and a newcomer who wants it all. Secrets are exposed and the stakes become increasingly personal when the artists reveal just how far they’ll go to achieve success. Combining dance, music, and text, The Studio throws open the doors of the rehearsal room revealing a passionate, sexy world where dancer and choreographer come together to create art and ultimately discover themselves.
RUN TIME: 1 hour 32 minutes. There is no intermission.
November 6 – December 2, 2007

World Premiere
GLORY DAYS
Music and Lyrics by Nick Blaemire
Book by James Gardiner
Directed by Eric Schaeffer

Four high school friends reunite one year after graduation to discover how dramatically their lives have grown apart. While they attempt to reconnect and understand each other’s differences, nothing can compare to the glory days of high school when life was simpler and all appeared right with the world. A poignant, coming-of-age story, Glory Days features music styles from pop and folk to contemporary rock.
January 15 – February 17, 2008

KANDER & EBB CELEBRATION
Signature celebrates the longest-running songwriting partnership in Broadway musical history — John Kander and Fred Ebb.  Featuring the many entertainment sides of Kander and Ebb from film to musical theater to cabaret, the entire canon of their witty and sharp lyrics along with their engaging vamps and musical melodies will grace the Signature stage.  This retrospective presents the world of Kander and Ebb like it’s never been seen before.

Will Chase, Natascia Diaz, and Hunter Foster in
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Terrence McNally
Based on the novel by Manuel Puig
Directed by Eric Schaeffer

Winner of the Tony® Award for Best Musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman weaves a distressing tale of persecution into a “dazzling” (Newsweek) theatrical web. Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer brings to life the “thrilling” (New York Times) tale of two men, a window dresser and a socialist rebel, forced to share a jail cell in Argentina. Imprisoned for their beliefs and lifestyles, each man comes to find comfort in the other’s company as the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Contains mature subject matter. March 11 - April 20, 2008

Kiss of the Spiderwoman is made possible by the Bernard Family Foundation

Classic Musical
THE HAPPY TIME
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by N. Richard Nash
Based on a play by Samuel Taylor
Directed by Michael Unger

The rarely produced Kander and Ebb musical The Happy Time tells the story of Jacques Bonnard, a world-traveling photographer, who returns home to French-Canadian St. Pierre in search of his happy youth. Along the way, Bonnard fires up the romantic spirit of his hometown’s inhabitants and tempts his godson with dreams of escape. This classic tale of the prodigal son features a “lilting score” (New York Times) that is “melodious…in variety and scope” (Newsday).
April 1 - June 1, 2008

Chita Rivera & George Hearn in
THE VISIT
Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Terrence McNally. Based on the play The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Choreographed by Ann Reinking
Directed by Frank Galati

Two-time Tony® winner and Broadway legend Chita Rivera stars in this new musical based on one of the great plays of the 20th Century. Claire Zachanassian was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, having been betrayed by her lover. Several decades and seven husbands later, Zachanassian has become the richest woman in the world, yet her hometown has fallen on hard times. When Zachanassian returns with an offer to save the town, salvation comes with an outrageous price tag.
May 13 - June 22, 2008

The Kander & Ebb Celebration is made possible in part by the HRH Foundation, Gilbert and Jaylee Mead, and the Bernard Family Foundation.