Marc Kudisch, Julia Murney Lead Signature's SizzlinÂ' Summer Cabaret Series; Begins Tonight

Virginia's Signature Theatre heats up during the dog days of summer with their annual Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret, a 3-week series featuring thirteen individual acts sure to keep things red hot. Headlining the talented array of solo artists assembled will be Tony Award® nominee Marc Kudisch (Broadway's 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, andThoroughly Modern Millie) with his What Makes Me Tick cabaret coming straight from Feinstein's. Broadway star Julia Murney (Elphaba in Wicked and a Drama Desk nominee for The Wild Party) will also be performing for two nights with her own mix of renowned stage songs.

Other solo performances featured in the Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret include Sandy Bainum (Signature's Sunset Boulevard and Show Boat), Erin Driscoll (Signature's [title of show] and Sweeney Todd), Peter Fox (the cabaret shows Everything's Coming Up Sondheim and Let Me Be the Music), Will Gartshore (Show Boat, Urinetown at Signature), Bob McDonald (Signature's Putting it Together and Anyone Can Whistle in Concert), Colleen McHugh (AfterDark Award for "Outstanding Cabaret Artist" and selected as Chicago's "Best Cabaret Artist, 2001), and Lauren Williams (Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened... at Signature).

Signature will also be celebrating the magic of Irving Berlin with two performances of Let Me Sing and I'm Happy (The Music of Irving Berlin), a collection of Berlin favorites. The show, originally produced by Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, features D.C. favorites Sherri L. Edelen (Les Miserables, Side Show), James Gardiner ([title of show], Chess), Matt Pearson (See What I Wanna See, Lost Songs of Broadway cabaret), and Bayla Whitten (Chess, Merrily We Roll Along) singing Berlin standards such as "Check to Cheek," "Blue Skies," and "Always."
The 21/24 Signature Lab, now in its third year, jumpstarts the series with a presentation of the new musical I Capture the Castle on July 16th and 17th. The 21/24 Signature Lab, an initiative for the creation of Musical Theatre Works by young composers, is part of Signature's celebrated American Musical Voices Project: Next Generation. Based on the renowned novel and film by Dodie Smith (One Hundred and One Dalmatians), I Capture the Castle features music by Next Generation Composer Award recipient Peter Foley - with lyrics by Marion Adler and book by Kenneth Vega. Helen Hayes Award winner Aaron Posner (Folger Theatre's Comedy of Errors and Arcadia) will direct this charming, coming-of-age tale of an eccentric artistic family who move into a decaying English castle in the 1930's.
The 21/24 Acting Company features Alexis Bronkovic, Zack Colonna, Lauren Culpepper, Susan Derry, Natascia Diaz, James Gardiner, Helen Hedman, Eric Hissom, James Konicek, Tim Rogan, and Danny Yoerges.

Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer stated, "With the impressive collection of talents we have assembled, this year's Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret promises to be a scorcher. Signature is always extremely proud to be home to new musicals, and our 21/24 program allows us to continue our efforts as a leading force in supporting exciting new work by emerging young composers."

More Articles by This Author...