Signature Stories: Volume 14

SignatureStories PUBLISHER Signature Theatre SignatureTheatre James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director SIGNATURE THEATRE and THE PERSHING SQUARE SIGNATURE CENTER Erika Mallin, Executive Director EDITORS David Hatkoff Beth Whitaker EDITORIAL TEAM Jenna Clark Embrey Nathaniel French Emily Patton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gregory Costanzo Jenna Clark Embrey Nathaniel French John Guare Bill Heck James Houghton David Henry Hwang Joaquina Kalukango Emily Patton David Sernick DESIGN Danielle Speicher Ninth Circle Productions, LLC 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 AROUND THE CENTER 5 A THEATRE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME Signature Theatre exists to honor and celebrate the playwright. Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, Signature makes an extended commitment to a playwright’s body of work, and during this journey, the writer is engaged in every aspect of the creative process. By championing in-depth 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 9 community. At the Center, opened in January 2012, Signature continues its founding Playwright-inResidence model as Residency One, a first-of-its-kind, intensive exploration of a single writer’s body of work. Residency Five, the only program of its kind, was launched at the Center to support multiple 10 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®. 11 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 commitment to making its productions accessible by underwriting the cost of initial run tickets, currently priced at $25, through 2031. 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. MAILING ADDRESS Signature Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 9 AN INTERVIEW WITH RESIDENCY ONE PLAYWRIGHT NAOMI WALLACE 21 TAKING A DIVE AN INTERVIEW WITH NIGHT IS A ROOM DIRECTOR BILL RAUCH BECOME A SIGNATURE PATRON Test your knowledge of Legacy Playwright Arthur Miller with a fun crossword! 21 JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND HELP LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR MANY MORE YEARS OF SIGNATURE THEATRE THE MEASURE OF A MAN AN INTERVIEW WITH INCIDENT AT VICHY DIRECTOR MICHAEL WILSON REMEMBERING MILLER 17 A CENTURY OF LEGACY 19 SIGNATURE MOMENTS 21 PUZZLE PIECES 22 FROM THE SIGNATURE ARCHIVES Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the Residency Five Program. Talkbacks brought to you by American Express. JOHN, LOVE & MONEY, 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EVENTS, AND HOW YOU CAN BE COUNTED 16 Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access, Signature has also made an unprecedented Additional support for Residency Five provided by the Time Warner Foundation, Inc. WEBSITE signaturetheatre.org 3 Signature talks to director Bill Rauch about working with playwright Naomi Wallace and the unique challenges of Night is a Room. FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JAMES HOUGHTON LOOKS BACK ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH ARTHUR MILLER SIGNATURE TALKS WITH REBECCA MILLER ABOUT ARTHUR MILLER’S LEGACY SIGNATURE ALUMNI REVEAL SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE SIGNATURE MEMORIES TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF LEGACY PLAYWRIGHT ARTHUR MILLER A PHOTOGRAPHIC STEP BACK IN TIME 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. Residency One Playwright NAOMI WALLACE reflects on her Signature experience. PHOTO CREDITS COVER Photo © Susan Johann. CONTENTS (top to bottom), Bill Rauch, Photo by Jenny Graham; Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Jason Fisher in The American Clock by Arthur Miller, Photo by Susan Johann. Naomi Wallace, Photo by Gregory Costanzo; Charlie Hudson, Lucia Costanzo, and Corey Hawkins, Ph

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