LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Figuring out how to pay tribute to
Jim Houghton in this, the last issue
of Signature Stories under his
leadership as Founding Artistic Director,
seemed an almost impossible task.
How to honor the man who, as a young actor performing
lives Jim has touched over the past 25 years: more than
in a Romulus Linney play, conceived of a theatre company
30 playwrights, to whom he has provided an artistic
that would explore a playwright’s body of work and put the
home; directors, designers, and actors, like Edward Norton
writer at the center of the creative process? The man who
and Peter Sarsgaard, who got their professional starts at
would later imagine a residency program that would
Signature; audiences, who enjoyed the fruits of his artistic
guarantee productions (and health care!) to a group of
decisions, transporting themselves in just the past few
writers, encouraging them to build a body of work? The
months from a colonial bed and breakfast to World War II
man who, by sheer force of vision and will, would build two
France to early 20th Century America; and the staff, who
homes for the company, including one that spanned an
were inspired by him and his vision on a daily basis to
entire city block on West 42nd Street and was designed by
do their very best work possible. You will also read words
the world class architect Frank Gehry? The man who would
from Jim’s wife Joyce O’Connor, the unsung hero of
revolutionize access to theatre by introducing a ticket
Signature Theatre, whose paychecks as an actress kept
initiative that made theatre affordable for everyone?
the lights on in the early days of the company.
The man whose warmth, passion, artistry, and intellect
Perhaps it comes from those early days of Signature,
has inspired people and changed their lives?
when he had his hand in everything, from folding
An impossible task, indeed.
programs to building sets, but those who have had the
Jim Houghton is in every inch of Signature Theatre.
privilege of working with Jim know that he has something
It is the singular place it is because of him. But Jim
to say about everything that happens at Signature,
would be the first to tell you that he is not Signature
whether it’s a lightbulb being out in the lobby, the
Theatre. Signature Theatre is the one-of-a-kind mission.
temperature of the soup at the Café, or the way a stage
Signature Theatre is the playwrights and the artists and
floor slopes at a certain angle. We couldn’t not ask him
the audience and the staff and the context and the work
to say something here. This is what he had to say:
and the community. Signature Theatre is its own special
being, and the best tribute that can be paid to Jim on
the occasion of his retirement is to recognize that the
company he built is stronger and more vital than ever.
We’ve asked some friends of Signature to say a few
Thank you, Jim. We love you.
thoughts about Jim and his impact in this issue.
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The handful of voices you will read here are just a
David Hatkoff and Beth Whitaker
small sampling of the great many people whose
Signature Stories Editors