The cast of Signature’s “Showboat.” Signature Theatre’s production of Showboat demonstrates two things: that sometimes a hefty dose of an old-school musical is just what you need, and that even those old chestnuts can still have some surprises in store. Take Terry Burrell’s rendition of “Bill,” Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s classic ode to inexplicable love (I remember the lyric, “I love him because he’s…I don’t know,” getting a half hour-long rave from my…

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 Merrily We Roll Along has its share of attributes that make it not your average show. That isn’t to say it’s a masterpiece. Merrily We Roll Along, now being staged by Eric Schaeffer at the Sondheim-loving Signature Theater, has plenty…

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…

If you walk past a theater marquee and the sign displays something ridiculous, like Beverly Hills: 90210: The Musical, three little words should make you put your reservations aside and rush to the auditorium: “Starring Carolee Carmello.” The overwhelmingly talented musical theater star, known for her Broadway work in such vehicles as Parade and Urinetown, could sell just about anything. Unfortunately, she’s got her work cut out with her in Kathie Lee Gifford’s stab at…

>> 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…