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Signature Theatre Company

Signature Theatre Company is an American theatre based in Manhattan, New York. It was founded in 1991 by James Houghton and is now led by Artistic Director Paige Evans.[1] Signature is known for their season-long focus on one artist's work.[2] It has been located in the Pershing Square Signature Center since 2012.

About

Signature has presented entire seasons of the work of Edward Albee, Lee Blessing, David Henry Hwang, Horton Foote, María Irene Fornés, Athol Fugard, John Guare, Bill Irwin, Adrienne Kennedy, Romulus Linney, Charles Mee, Arthur Miller, Sam Shepard, Paula Vogel, August Wilson, Lanford Wilson, A. R. Gurney, Naomi Wallace and a season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company.[2]

Among its programs are the Residency One Program, celebrating a single playwright with multiple productions over the course of a year, and Legacy Program, which brings those playwrights back for additional productions. Signature also introduced Residency Five, a program that will feature early- and mid-career playwrights and guarantee them three full productions over the course of a five-year residency. In honor of its 20th anniversary, Signature launched a subsidized ticketing initiative designed to improve Off Broadway accessibility.[3][4]

Signature, its productions and its resident writers have been recognized with a Pulitzer Prize, a 2014 Regional Theatre Tony Award, eleven Lucille Lortel Awards, fifteen Obie Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, and thirty-two AUDELCO Awards. The National Theatre Conference recognized the company as the 2003 Outstanding National Theatre of the Year.[5]

History

James Houghton founded the theatre in a black box theater at 31 Bond Street in the NoHo neighborhood in 1991 at the Kampo Cultural Center (a venue that had focused on promoting Japanese calligraphy). The theatre focused on having a resident playwright of national stature with its first playwright Romulus Linney and Houghton led the company until just prior to his death in 2016.[2]

In 1997 the theatre moved to 555 West 42nd Street on Theatre Row.[2] In 1999 software developer Peter Norton donated $600,000 for renovations to the 42nd Street venue which was renamed Signature Theatre Company at the Peter Norton Space.[6] Their lease at this location was scheduled to expire at the end of 2011, and the company began a search for a long term home.[7]

In 2004 it was announced that the Signature had signed on to be an anchor tenant of a new $700 million performing arts center on the site of the destroyed World Trade Center site. It was to be designed by Gehry Partners LLP and Snøhetta.[8] By 2007, plans for the WTC Performing Arts Center remained stalled, the city offered Fiterman Hall as a possible home, but that plan also fell through.[7]

In October 2008, Signature announced the creation of the Pershing Square Signature Center, a block west of their former home, which opened in 2012 and was designed by Frank Gehry Architects, the architect's first project for a theatre company.[9][10] The space reflected a significant increase in Signature's audience capacity.[11] The Pearl Theatre moved into the old Signature space but that company declared bankruptcy in 2017.

Paige Evans took over for Houghton as Artistic Director in 2016,[12] and in 2018, Harold Wolpert took over from Erika Mallin as Executive Director.[13] Wolpert remained through June 30, 2021.[14]

Awards and recognition

Tony Awards

  • Regional Theatre Tony Award (2014)[15]

Pulitzer Prize

  • The Pulitzer Prize for Playwriting to Horton Foote for The Young Man from Atlanta (1995)[16]

Obie Awards[17]

  • Romulus Linney, Sustained Achievement in Playwriting (1992)
  • Edward Albee, Sustained Achievement in Playwriting (1994)
  • Adrienne Kennedy, Best American New Plays: June and Jean in Concert and Sleep Deprivation Chamber (1996)
  • Special Award to María Irene Fornés, Writing and Directing Letters from Cuba (2000)
  • Edward Norton, performance in Burn This (2003)
  • Lois Smith, performance in The Trip to Bountiful (2006)
  • Sherie René Scott, performance in Landscape of the Body (2006)
  • Roslyn Ruff, performance in Seven Guitars (2007)
  • Lou Bellamy, performance in Two Trains Running (2007)
  • Ron Cephas Jones, performance in Two Trains Running (2007)
  • Kate Mulgrew, performance in Iphigenia 2.0 (2008)
  • Veanne Cox, Sustained Excellence in Performance (2008)
  • Jane Greenwood, Sustained Excellence in Costume Design (2008)
  • Adrienne Kennedy, Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)
  • Sonia Tayeh, choreography for Kung Fu (2014)
  • Emmanuel Brown, fight direction for Kung Fu (2014)
  • Lileana Blain-Cruz, directing for The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (2017)[18]

Drama Desk Awards[19]

  • Honorary Award to Signature "For its unique concept that annually serves one playwright -- and many more audiences" (1996)
  • Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award, Arthur Miller (1997)
  • Best Actress, Hallie Foote for her roles in the Horton Foote plays at Signature Theatre Company (1994–95)
  • Outstanding Actress in a Play, Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful (2006)
  • Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award, Horton Foote (2006)

Lucille Lortel Awards[20]

  • Special Award, Horton Foote for an Individual Body of Work (1995)
  • Special Award, Signature Theatre Company for an Institutional Body of Work (1995)
  • Outstanding Revival, Fifth of July (2003)
  • Outstanding Revival, The Trip to Bountiful (2006)
  • Outstanding Director, Harris Yulin, The Trip to Bountiful (2006)
  • Outstanding Lead Actress, Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful (2006)
  • Outstanding Featured Actress, Hallie Foote, The Trip to Bountiful (2006)
  • Outstanding Featured Actress, Sherie Rene Scott, Landscape of the Body (2007)
  • Outstanding Featured Actor, Arthur French, Two Trains Running (2007)
  • Outstanding Revival, Two Trains Running (2007)
  • Outstanding Choreographer, Peter Pucci, Queens Boulevard (The Musical) (2008)

Outer Critics Circle Award[21]

  • Special Achievement Award, Horton Foote plays
  • Outstanding Actress in a Play, Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful (2006)

AUDELCO Awards[22]

  • Best Supporting Actress, Beatrice Winde, A Lesson Before Dying (2000)
  • Best Dramatic Production, Seven Guitars (2006)
  • Best Direction, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Seven Guitars (2006)
  • Best Supporting Actor, Charles Weldon, Seven Guitars (2006)
  • Best Sound Design, Darron L. West, Seven Guitars (2006)
  • Best Set Design, David Gallo, King Hedley II (2007)
  • Best Lighting Design, Thom Weaver, King Hedley II (2007)
  • Best Lead Actress, Lynda Gravatt, King Hedley II (2007)
  • Best Supporting Actor, Lou Myers, King Hedley II (2007)
  • Best Dramatic Production Award, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Direction Award, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Playwright Award, Leslie Lee, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Lead Actress Award, Leslie Uggams, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Supporting Actress Award, Yaya DaCosta, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Supporting Actor Award, John Earl Jelks, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Lighting Design Award, Marcus Doshi, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Set Design Award, Michael Carnahan, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Costume Design Award, Karen Perry, The First Breeze of Summer (2008)
  • Best Revival Award, Zooman and the Sign (2009)
  • Best Lighting Design, Matthew Frey, Zooman and the Sign (2009)
  • Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award, Kevin Carroll, Tracey Bonner and January Lavoy, Home (2009)
  • Best Set Design, David Gallo, Hurt Village (2012)
  • Best Supporting Actress, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Hurt Village (2012)[23]
  • Best Revival Award, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Director/Dramatic Production Award, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Lead Actress Award, Roslyn Ruff, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Lead Actor Award, Brandon J. Dirden, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Supporting Actor Award, Chuck Cooper, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Lighting Design Award, Rui Rita, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Set Design Award, Michael Carnahan, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Costume Design Award, Karen Perry, The Piano Lesson (2013)
  • Best Lighting Design Award, Thom Weaver, August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned (2014)

Special Awards & Recognition

  • Time Magazine, Play of the Year: Two Rooms by Lee Blessing (1993)
  • NAAP Gradiva Award for Best Play: When the World Was Green (A Chef's Fable) by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin (1997)[24]
  • Margo Jones Medal: James Houghton (1998)

Notes

  1. ^ About Official site
  2. ^ a b c d Simonson, Robert (2016-08-02). "James Houghton, Founder of Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre, Dies". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  3. ^ Jones III, Marshall (2016-12-22). "Is the Ticket Price Right?". Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  4. ^ Zara, Christopher (22 May 2019). "NYC's Signature Theater Sells One Millionth Low Cost Ticket". Fastcompany.com.
  5. ^ Outstanding theatrer award Retrieved May 24, 2017
  6. ^ "Peter Norton Signs His Name on OB's Signature; Fornes Season Starts Sept. 14". Playbill. Aug 19, 1999. Retrieved Mar 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Pogrebin, Robin (Aug 8, 2007). "Signature Theater's Hunt for New Home Continues". The New York Times. Retrieved Mar 21, 2020.
  8. ^ "Lower Manhattan Development Corporation". www.renewnyc.com. Retrieved Mar 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Gehry-designed New York theater to open with $25-million gift". Los Angeles Times Blog. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  10. ^ "Frank Gehry's Pershing Square Signature Center Debuts". Architechural Record. 2012-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  11. ^ Iovine, Julie V. (2012-03-31). . Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  12. ^ Simonson, Robert (2016-03-13). "What's New in Regional Theatres? New Artistic Directors Are Shaping the National Scene". Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  13. ^ Clement, Olivia (2018-03-07). "Harold Wolpert Named Executive Director of Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  14. ^ "Exec Director Harold Wolpert to Depart Signature Theatre". 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  15. ^ "Regional Theatre Tony Award," Tony Awards, 2014. http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/artists/201404261398551516327.html
  16. ^ "Drama," The Pulitzer Prize Website, 2008. http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Drama
  17. ^ "Obies," Village Voice, 2008. http://www.villagevoice.com/obies/
  18. ^ Obie Awards, 2017 Winners
  19. ^ "Drama Desk Awards," The Drama Desk Awards, 2008. http://dramadesk.com
  20. ^ "History," Lucille Lortel Foundation, 2008. . Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  21. ^ "Award Archives," Outer Critics Circle, 2008. . Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "AUDELCO," Audience Development Committee, Inc., 2008. http://www.audelco.net/home.html
  23. ^ "AUDELCO," Audience Development Committee, Inc., 2012. http://www.audelco.net/2012vivwinners.html
  24. ^ "The Best Theatre of 1993," Time Magazine, 3 November 2005.

External links

  • Official website


signature, theatre, company, other, uses, signature, theatre, disambiguation, american, theatre, based, manhattan, york, founded, 1991, james, houghton, artistic, director, paige, evans, signature, known, their, season, long, focus, artist, work, been, located. For other uses see Signature Theatre disambiguation Signature Theatre Company is an American theatre based in Manhattan New York It was founded in 1991 by James Houghton and is now led by Artistic Director Paige Evans 1 Signature is known for their season long focus on one artist s work 2 It has been located in the Pershing Square Signature Center since 2012 Contents 1 About 2 History 3 Awards and recognition 4 Notes 5 External linksAbout EditSignature has presented entire seasons of the work of Edward Albee Lee Blessing David Henry Hwang Horton Foote Maria Irene Fornes Athol Fugard John Guare Bill Irwin Adrienne Kennedy Romulus Linney Charles Mee Arthur Miller Sam Shepard Paula Vogel August Wilson Lanford Wilson A R Gurney Naomi Wallace and a season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company 2 Among its programs are the Residency One Program celebrating a single playwright with multiple productions over the course of a year and Legacy Program which brings those playwrights back for additional productions Signature also introduced Residency Five a program that will feature early and mid career playwrights and guarantee them three full productions over the course of a five year residency In honor of its 20th anniversary Signature launched a subsidized ticketing initiative designed to improve Off Broadway accessibility 3 4 Signature its productions and its resident writers have been recognized with a Pulitzer Prize a 2014 Regional Theatre Tony Award eleven Lucille Lortel Awards fifteen Obie Awards five Drama Desk Awards and thirty two AUDELCO Awards The National Theatre Conference recognized the company as the 2003 Outstanding National Theatre of the Year 5 History EditJames Houghton founded the theatre in a black box theater at 31 Bond Street in the NoHo neighborhood in 1991 at the Kampo Cultural Center a venue that had focused on promoting Japanese calligraphy The theatre focused on having a resident playwright of national stature with its first playwright Romulus Linney and Houghton led the company until just prior to his death in 2016 2 In 1997 the theatre moved to 555 West 42nd Street on Theatre Row 2 In 1999 software developer Peter Norton donated 600 000 for renovations to the 42nd Street venue which was renamed Signature Theatre Company at the Peter Norton Space 6 Their lease at this location was scheduled to expire at the end of 2011 and the company began a search for a long term home 7 In 2004 it was announced that the Signature had signed on to be an anchor tenant of a new 700 million performing arts center on the site of the destroyed World Trade Center site It was to be designed by Gehry Partners LLP and Snohetta 8 By 2007 plans for the WTC Performing Arts Center remained stalled the city offered Fiterman Hall as a possible home but that plan also fell through 7 In October 2008 Signature announced the creation of the Pershing Square Signature Center a block west of their former home which opened in 2012 and was designed by Frank Gehry Architects the architect s first project for a theatre company 9 10 The space reflected a significant increase in Signature s audience capacity 11 The Pearl Theatre moved into the old Signature space but that company declared bankruptcy in 2017 Paige Evans took over for Houghton as Artistic Director in 2016 12 and in 2018 Harold Wolpert took over from Erika Mallin as Executive Director 13 Wolpert remained through June 30 2021 14 Awards and recognition EditTony Awards Regional Theatre Tony Award 2014 15 Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize for Playwriting to Horton Foote for The Young Man from Atlanta 1995 16 Obie Awards 17 Romulus Linney Sustained Achievement in Playwriting 1992 Edward Albee Sustained Achievement in Playwriting 1994 Adrienne Kennedy Best American New Plays June and Jean in Concert and Sleep Deprivation Chamber 1996 Special Award to Maria Irene Fornes Writing and Directing Letters from Cuba 2000 Edward Norton performance in Burn This 2003 Lois Smith performance in The Trip to Bountiful 2006 Sherie Rene Scott performance in Landscape of the Body 2006 Roslyn Ruff performance in Seven Guitars 2007 Lou Bellamy performance in Two Trains Running 2007 Ron Cephas Jones performance in Two Trains Running 2007 Kate Mulgrew performance in Iphigenia 2 0 2008 Veanne Cox Sustained Excellence in Performance 2008 Jane Greenwood Sustained Excellence in Costume Design 2008 Adrienne Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award 2008 Sonia Tayeh choreography for Kung Fu 2014 Emmanuel Brown fight direction for Kung Fu 2014 Lileana Blain Cruz directing for The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World 2017 18 Drama Desk Awards 19 Honorary Award to Signature For its unique concept that annually serves one playwright and many more audiences 1996 Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award Arthur Miller 1997 Best Actress Hallie Foote for her roles in the Horton Foote plays at Signature Theatre Company 1994 95 Outstanding Actress in a Play Lois Smith The Trip to Bountiful 2006 Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award Horton Foote 2006 Lucille Lortel Awards 20 Special Award Horton Foote for an Individual Body of Work 1995 Special Award Signature Theatre Company for an Institutional Body of Work 1995 Outstanding Revival Fifth of July 2003 Outstanding Revival The Trip to Bountiful 2006 Outstanding Director Harris Yulin The Trip to Bountiful 2006 Outstanding Lead Actress Lois Smith The Trip to Bountiful 2006 Outstanding Featured Actress Hallie Foote The Trip to Bountiful 2006 Outstanding Featured Actress Sherie Rene Scott Landscape of the Body 2007 Outstanding Featured Actor Arthur French Two Trains Running 2007 Outstanding Revival Two Trains Running 2007 Outstanding Choreographer Peter Pucci Queens Boulevard The Musical 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award 21 Special Achievement Award Horton Foote plays Outstanding Actress in a Play Lois Smith The Trip to Bountiful 2006 AUDELCO Awards 22 Best Supporting Actress Beatrice Winde A Lesson Before Dying 2000 Best Dramatic Production Seven Guitars 2006 Best Direction Ruben Santiago Hudson Seven Guitars 2006 Best Supporting Actor Charles Weldon Seven Guitars 2006 Best Sound Design Darron L West Seven Guitars 2006 Best Set Design David Gallo King Hedley II 2007 Best Lighting Design Thom Weaver King Hedley II 2007 Best Lead Actress Lynda Gravatt King Hedley II 2007 Best Supporting Actor Lou Myers King Hedley II 2007 Best Dramatic Production Award The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Direction Award Ruben Santiago Hudson The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Playwright Award Leslie Lee The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Lead Actress Award Leslie Uggams The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Supporting Actress Award Yaya DaCosta The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Supporting Actor Award John Earl Jelks The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Lighting Design Award Marcus Doshi The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Set Design Award Michael Carnahan The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Costume Design Award Karen Perry The First Breeze of Summer 2008 Best Revival Award Zooman and the Sign 2009 Best Lighting Design Matthew Frey Zooman and the Sign 2009 Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award Kevin Carroll Tracey Bonner and January Lavoy Home 2009 Best Set Design David Gallo Hurt Village 2012 Best Supporting Actress Marsha Stephanie Blake Hurt Village 2012 23 Best Revival Award The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Director Dramatic Production Award Ruben Santiago Hudson The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Lead Actress Award Roslyn Ruff The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Lead Actor Award Brandon J Dirden The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Supporting Actor Award Chuck Cooper The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Lighting Design Award Rui Rita The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Set Design Award Michael Carnahan The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Costume Design Award Karen Perry The Piano Lesson 2013 Best Lighting Design Award Thom Weaver August Wilson s How I Learned What I Learned 2014 Special Awards amp Recognition Time Magazine Play of the Year Two Rooms by Lee Blessing 1993 NAAP Gradiva Award for Best Play When the World Was Green A Chef s Fable by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin 1997 24 Margo Jones Medal James Houghton 1998 Notes Edit About Official site a b c d Simonson Robert 2016 08 02 James Houghton Founder of Off Broadway s Signature Theatre Dies Playbill Retrieved 2022 01 04 Jones III Marshall 2016 12 22 Is the Ticket Price Right Retrieved 2022 01 04 Zara Christopher 22 May 2019 NYC s Signature Theater Sells One Millionth Low Cost Ticket Fastcompany com Outstanding theatrer award Retrieved May 24 2017 Peter Norton Signs His Name on OB s Signature Fornes Season Starts Sept 14 Playbill Aug 19 1999 Retrieved Mar 21 2020 a b Pogrebin Robin Aug 8 2007 Signature Theater s Hunt for New Home Continues The New York Times Retrieved Mar 21 2020 Lower Manhattan Development Corporation www renewnyc com Retrieved Mar 21 2020 Gehry designed New York theater to open with 25 million gift Los Angeles Times Blog 2012 01 27 Retrieved 2022 01 04 Frank Gehry s Pershing Square Signature Center Debuts Architechural Record 2012 01 31 Retrieved 2022 01 04 Iovine Julie V 2012 03 31 Frank Gehry Pershing Square Signature Center Wall Street Journal Archived from the original on 2015 10 23 Retrieved 2022 01 04 Simonson Robert 2016 03 13 What s New in Regional Theatres New Artistic Directors Are Shaping the National Scene Retrieved 2022 01 04 Clement Olivia 2018 03 07 Harold Wolpert Named Executive Director of Off Broadway s Signature Theatre Playbill Retrieved 2022 01 04 Exec Director Harold Wolpert to Depart Signature Theatre 2021 05 27 Retrieved 2022 01 04 Regional Theatre Tony Award Tony Awards 2014 http www tonyawards com en US nominees artists 201404261398551516327 html Drama The Pulitzer Prize Website 2008 http www pulitzer org bycat Drama Obies Village Voice 2008 http www villagevoice com obies Obie Awards 2017 Winners Drama Desk Awards The Drama Desk Awards 2008 http dramadesk com History Lucille Lortel Foundation 2008 Lucille Lortel Foundation Archived from the original on 2008 07 06 Retrieved 2008 07 17 Award Archives Outer Critics Circle 2008 Archived copy Archived from the original on 2009 04 23 Retrieved 2009 04 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link AUDELCO Audience Development Committee Inc 2008 http www audelco net home html AUDELCO Audience Development Committee Inc 2012 http www audelco net 2012vivwinners html The Best Theatre of 1993 Time Magazine 3 November 2005 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Signature Theatre Company amp oldid 1154883856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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