Signature Stories Vol. 15 | Page 2

SignatureStories PUBLISHER Signature Theatre SignatureTheatre James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director SIGNATURE THEATRE and THE PERSHING SQUARE SIGNATURE CENTER Erika Mallin, Executive Director Signature Theatre exists to honor and celebrate the playwright. Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, EDITORS David Hatkoff Beth Whitaker the writer is engaged in every aspect of the creative process. By championing in-depth EDITORIAL TEAM Jenna Clark Embrey Nathaniel French Emily Patton Signature makes an extended commitment to a playwright’s body of work, and during this journey, explorations of a playwright’s body of work, Signature delivers an intimate and immersive journey into the playwright’s singular vision. Signature serves its mission through its permanent home at The Pershing Square Signature Center, a three-theatre facility on West 42nd Street designed by Frank Gehry Architects to host Signature’s three distinct playwrights’ residencies and foster a cultural Residence model as Residency One, a first-of-its-kind, intensive exploration of a single writer’s body Chuck Cooper Jenna Clark Embrey Nathaniel French Gabriela Gutierrez Quiara Alegría Hudes Emily Patton David Sernick Constanza Romero of work. Residency Five, the only program of its kind, was launched at the Center to support multiple PLAYWRIGHTS-IN-RESIDENCE Edward Albee Annie Baker Martha Clarke Will Eno María Irene Fornés A.R. Gurney Katori Hall Quiara Alegría Hudes Bill Irwin and David Shiner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Adrienne Kennedy Lisa Kron Kenneth Lonergan Arthur Miller Regina Taylor Naomi Wallace WEBSITE signaturetheatre.org AROUND THE CENTER 4 SIGNATURE’S NEXT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 5 CLOWNING AROUND 11 A SIMPLICITY OF STYLE 15 VOICES OF COLLABORATION 17 SIGNATURE GALA 2016 18 BECOME A SIGNATURE PATRON 19 SIGNATURE MOMENTS community. At the Center, opened in January 2012, Signature continues its founding Playwright-in- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DESIGN Danielle Speicher Ninth Circle Productions, LLC 3 playwrights as they build bodies of work by guaranteeing each writer three productions over a five-year period. The Legacy Program, launched during Signature’s 10th Anniversary Season, invites writers from both residencies back for productions of premiere or earlier plays. In 2014 Signature became the first New York City theatre to receive the Regional Theatre Tony Award®. The Pershing Square Signature Center is a major contribution to New York City’s cultural landscape and provides a venue for cultural organizations that supports and encourages collaboration among artists throughout the space. In addition to its three intimate theatres, the Center features a studio theatre, rehearsal studio, and a public café, bar, and bookstore. Through the Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access, Signature has also made an unprecedented commitment to making its productions affordable by underwriting the cost of initial run tickets. SIGNATURE TICKET INITIATIVE: A GENERATION OF ACCESS Lead Partner PERSHING SQUARE FOUNDATION Additional support for A Generation of Access provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Margot Adams, and The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Official Airline of Signature Theatre. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the Residency Five Program. Additional support for Residency Five provided by the Time Warner Foundation, Inc. Talkbacks brought to you by American Express. MAILING ADDRESS Signature Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 20 INCIDENT AT VICHY AND NIGHT IS A ROOM AN INTERVIEW WITH THE TEAM BEHIND OLD HATS 21 AN INTERVIEW WITH RESIDENCY FIVE PLAYWRIGHT MARTHA CLARKE AN INTERVIEW WITH ANGEL REAPERS CREATORS MARTHA CLARKE AND ALFRED UHRY SIGNATURE VOICES is an original interview series featuring over 50 playwrights, directors, actors, and designers. 23 HONORING FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JAMES HOUGHTON JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND HELP LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR MANY MORE YEARS OF SIGNATURE THEATRE SIGNATURE ALUMNI REVEAL SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE SIGNATURE MEMORIES SIG SOCIALS JOIN US FOR SIG SOCIALS! FREE PARTIES AT THE PERSHING SQUARE SIGNATURE CENTER. 21 PUZZLE PIECES 22 FROM THE SIGNATURE ARCHIVES 23 SIGNATURE VOICES TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF PAST SIGNATURE PRODUCTIONS A PHOTOGRAPHIC STEP BACK IN TIME VIDEO SERIES, 25 YEARS OF SIGNATURE THEATRE Signature Theatre programs, including the Signature Ticket Initiative, are supported in part by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Signature’s programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. PHOTO CREDITS 17 SIGNATURE WELCOMES PAIGE EVANS Save-the-Date for Signature’s ANNUAL GALA on April 18, celebrating our 25th Anniversary and honoring Founding Artistic Director James Houghton. Residency Five Playwright MARTHA CLARKE talks about her research, process, and exploring simplicity for Angel Reapers. The OLD HATS team discusses the show’s evolution, the role of the audience each night, and the clowns’ cross-generational appeal. COVER Photo by Erik Carter. CONTENTS (top to bottom) Bil