Over the course of 25 years, Jim has worn many hats at Signature in addition to
Founding Artistic Director – from building sets and managing the box office to
supporting playwrights and directing numerous productions.
Jim is a true visionary.
He is a gentle soul
who will also not ever
back down to make
sure that the company
gets what it needs.
To be in the business
that long and always
maintain that kind of
spirit, to always be
thinking and thinking
about what’s next
and what’s new and
how we can do
better… that quality
is unmatched. I have
learned so much from
working with him.
I think he brings out
the good in people.
He is a true champion.
–ERIKA MALLIN,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jim is to theatre directors
what Daniel Day Lewis
is to actors. He’s like
one of the best and he
only descends from his
mountain cave like a
warrior monk to do it and
kind of knock everybody
out and then he like
disappears again.
I’ve never worked with
anybody better, he’s just
the greatest. He’s got
the ultimate light touch.
In terms of directing actors
he really just makes you
wrestle with it for a long
time. He’s a very gentle,
very wise director and he
creates such a nice safe
space that people can
look like an idiot for a
little bit trying out an idea.
He’s wonderful.
–EDWARD NORTON, ACTOR AND
SIGNATURE BOARD CHAIRMAN
I think he’s one of the
great forces in American
theatre. He’s created
something that will
really endure, and
really made a demand of
the people who watch
this art form – he’s made
a demand that we pay
attention to not just the
ephemeral work of the
moment but that we
consider the life cycle of
the artists who produce
this work that is designed
not to last. Jim said,
“Let’s not forget the
history of it and the
way that the art form
evolves over lifetimes.”
And he’s made his own
lifetime into an example
of that.
– TONY KUSHNER, RESIDENCY ONE
IN REHEARSALS, JIM HOUGHTON WAS IMMEDIATELY SO
OPEN, SO BEAUTIFUL, AND EXCITED ABOUT CREATIVITY
AND PROCESS AND LOOKING AT A PLAY THAT HAD
BEEN DONE A GAZILLION TIMES AND FINDING IT FRESH.
IT’S THE SIGN OF A REAL GENUINE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
TO LOVE ACTORS, TO LOVE WRITERS, TO LOVE THE
CREATIVE PROCESS AND WELCOME IT ALL AND NOT
BE AFRAID OF ANY OF IT. – DEBORAH HEDWALL, ACTOR
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