Title aside, turns out to be a lot more inspirational than it is salacious. more ›

It's hard not to want to love , the Michael John LaChiusa musical being intimately staged in Signature's Ark theater. You've got an ambitious composer trying to do more than produce commercialized Broadway drivel. You've got jazzy musical moments of sheer pleasure. And you've got Bobby Smith. more ›

It was a good year for the musical. Especially the Signature musical. more ›

From Signature Theater's Twitter feed: "Comp tickets to Les Miz tonight. Call 703 820 9971 to book!" That number actually appears to be a typo, though; the correct number is (703) 820-9771. Our theater critic Missy Frederick loved this version of the classic musical, noting that seeing this excellent regional production of a very challenging work was one of her year's theatrical highlights. If you're free tonight, she highly recommends taking advantage of this offer. UPDATE: Please note that this ticket offer was for Wednesday night only. The free tickets are no longer available. more ›

Damn their warnings, damn their lies. Signature Theater has proven that it doesn't take a turntable stage and a National Tour to produce a dazzling and, more importantly, individualized production of one of the theater's most beloved musicals, . more ›

adaption star to feel almost as tame as an adolescent-run Haunted House. more ›

Does a musical have to break new ground in order to be considered a success? It’s true that Broadway has seen some exciting evolution lately in the form of “younger” works like Spring Awakening and In The Heights. But in an era that’s largely been dominated by jukebox musicals and cinematic retreads, it’s refreshing to see a new production that feels like a return to the old form, and a triumphant one that’s neither nostalgic nor ironic. Good musicals are hard to write, and it’s perhaps not surprising that such a work come from some of the old masters, Kander & Ebb. more ›

was only the second show in history to transition from D.C. to Broadway - and its run only lasted one night. more ›

could even have a Tony coming its way sometime in the future. more ›

Chris Lee’s imaginative design work makes the lighting for Signature Theater’s a dynamic character in its own right in this slick and sexy production. Beams serve as bars for the jail center that is the work’s centerpiece. Hues of red, silver and blue add dramatic punch to various scenes. Flashlights perched on the top add a certain spookiness to a parade of creepy male nurses in the "Morphine Tango". Spotlights seek out ferreting prisoners, and strobe lighting both obscures and highlights the torture they're put through. Most of all, it is lighting that conveys the massive web in which the Spider Woman, a mythic figure never absent from the play's proceeding, entraps her prey. more ›

, now playing at Signature Theater manages to accomplish it. more ›

. Seriously, there's plenty to like in January, from gutsy works to brand-new musicals. more ›

It’s rare to find a musical which thinks exploring adult friendships is more interesting and relevant than focusing exclusively on romantic relationships. Then again, not too many musicals move back in time, either; Sondheim’s has its share of attributes that make it not your average show. more ›

Thank god for the Capital Fringe Festival. The event, now in its second year, makes sure that our July isn’t totally barren when it comes to edgy, exciting theater. We’ll be giving you a more detailed report on what the Fringe has to offer this year (hint: Avenue Q and Harry Potter parodies, Chocolate Jesuses and an operatic Lysistrata are among the choices), but here’s what the less fringified theaters around here will be up... more ›

Between remakes of The Stepford Wives, and sitcoms ranging from "Desperate Housewives" to "Weeds," it’s easy to think the catty, sterile, back-stabbing nature of suburbia has been played out recently as a topic for satire. It turns out that all you need is some super show tunes and some women who can fly to keep the genre fresh. The Witches of Eastwick, making its U.S. premiere at Signature Theater, after a successful run in London... more ›

, three little words should make you put your reservations aside and rush to the auditorium: "Starring Carolee Carmello." more ›

So the big winners at last night’s Helen Hayes awards were… puppets? more ›

Tonight, the D.C. theater community will descend on Warner Theater, decked out in tuxes, kilts, ball gowns and whatever else the artsy crowd comes up with to approximate “black tie” attire. It's the night each year they get the chance to party their brains out and recognize the outstanding contributions they've made this year; it's the Helen Hayes Awards. As busy theater critics with day jobs, we don’t get the chance to attend and review... more ›

>> Soon-to-be Mayor Fenty has named Brian K. Lee as interim fire chief and attorney Matthew Cutts to chair the Sports and Entertainment Commission, as well as three mayoral appointments to the D.C. Board of Education: Laura McGiffert Slover, Tonya Vidal Kinlow, and Herb Scott. [WaPo] >> The Yellow Line extension is Coming! The Yellow Line is extension is coming! On Sunday. [AP via WTOP] >> Eric Schaeffer of Signature Theater reveals the wild partying... more ›

With a title like Assassins, theatergoers probably walk into Signature Theater’s latest production thinking that they’re going to be witnessing something very removed from their everyday lives (well, unless one of them happens secretly to be planning a political murder). After all, how much does the typical D.C. resident really have in common with John Wilkes Booth? Then the American-flag curtain is raised, and we find ourselves staring back at a mirror image of a... more ›