Matthew Gardiner News

Signature Theatre announces that Signature favorites Awa Sal Secka (Gun and Powder, Blackbeard) and Shayla S. Simmons (After Midnight, Dreamgirls) will perform in Soul Divas Reprise, inspired by the sold-out cabaret from 2019 dedicated to the music of acclaimed musical divas from Aretha to Whitney to Tina. The cabaret will be music directed by Mark G. Meadows, Signature's Director of Cabarets. Soul Divas Reprise runs June 27 – July 9 in Signature's ARK Theatre.

This evening, the 2023 Helen Hayes Awards took place at The Anthem on the District Wharf, with over 1,600 theatre-makers and theatre supporters in attendance. Esteemed Washington theatre artists Naomi Jacobson, Erika Rose, Holly Twyford, and Christopher Michael Richardson hosted an evening showcasing the vibrant and diverse community of professional theatre artists in the Washington region.

Signature Theatre has announced its 34th season, featuring six musicals and one play in a season lineup that includes one world premiere and three DC premieres. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Watch the trailer for Passing Strange at Signature Theatre!

Signature Theatre will continue its commitment to new work by presenting the eighth annual SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings. Under the leadership of Signature's Director of Artistic Development Anika Chapin, this initiative highlights and supports the work of DMV playwrights and is an opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and patrons to explore new plays in a fun and informal environment.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler.

Who knew in 1994 that a dance number performed during a seven minute intermission during the Eurovision song contest would expand into a thrilling spectacle of dance that would not only survive the test of time, but remain so beloved by so many? Beyond a pandemic, political unrest, racial tension, a couple of wars, RIVERDANCE still shines it's timeless light and energy on audiences around the world.

It was a like coming home with Chita Rivera full circle and approaching a kind of comfortable closure when I attended the Signature Theatre’s Sondheim Award Gala 2023 honoring the Broadway legend Chita Rivera at the Italian Embassy in Washington. DC.  The iconic legend of theatrical music and dance (What a dancer she is!) was feted with the prestigious award from Signature Theatre and a warm response from a very “Chita-friendly” roster of performers and an audience of patrons, fans and supporters. (Rivera has also won about every award in the book including two Tony Awards, a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Kennedy Center Honor).

Signature Theatre and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced the cast for the third annual musical theater collaboration, Broadway In The Park. See who is starring, and learn how to purchase tickets!

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the musical Passing Strange, with music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald and book & lyrics by Stew.

Signature Theatre is presenting a streaming re-release of its 2021 digital production of Simply Sondheim on March 22 in honor of the late composer’s birthday in continuation of its season-long tribute to Signature’s signature, Stephen Sondheim.

Signature Theatre is continuing its season-long tribute to Signature’s signature, Stephen Sondheim, with three new events.

On April 3, 2023, Virginia’s Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor the theatrical icon Chita Rivera with the company’s twelfth Stephen Sondheim Award. See performers and more!

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the musical Pacific Overtures with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman.

Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show is Riverdance, as you've never seen it before comes to New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark for five extraordinary performances.

Nominations have been announced for the 37th Helen Hayes Awards, which will be presented on Monday, May 22. Nominees include productions from Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, GALA Hispanic Theatre and more.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the play Selling Kabul, written by Sylvia Khoury.

On April 3, 2023, Virginia’s Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor the theatrical icon Chita Rivera with the company’s twelfth Stephen Sondheim Award.

Chances are you may have been scrolling through Tik Tok or Instagram over the last two years and happened upon a video of two brothers performing fresh, fun and amazing Irish dance routines together. Those brothers, Michael and Matthew Gardiner are currently on tour with the 25th Anniversary tour of RIVERDANCE which will make a stop here in Orlando January 20th – 22nd. I had a chance to speak with the brothers to learn more about how they got started dancing, their newfound social media fame and their involvement in what has become a global phenomenon over the last 28 years.

Ayo (HBO’s The Apollo) and Rochelle Rice (Sweet Honey In The Rock®) will perform in First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald, a cabaret dedicated to the music of acclaimed jazz artist Ella Fitzgerald at Signature Theatre.