Signature Stories Issue 13 | Page 2

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 Signature Theatre exists to honor and celebrate the playwright. Founded in 1991 by James Houghton, 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 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 Jo Bonney Jenna Clark Embrey Elliot Fox Nathaniel French Katori Hall James Houghton Kwame Kwei-Armah Emily Patton Austin Pendleton 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 MAILING ADDRESS Signature Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 3 Signature makes an extended commitment to a playwright’s body of work, and during this journey, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DESIGN Danielle Speicher Ninth Circle Productions, LLC Signature talks to John director Sam Gold about his collabrations with playwright Annie Baker. 5 10 11 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 tickets, currently priced at $25, through 2031. 10 9 A CAREFUL COMPOSITION 13 AN INTERVIEW WITH ANNIE BAKER 6 SIGNATURE MOMENTS 19 25,000 GIFTS FOR OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY 18 21 SIGNATURE ALUMNI REVEAL SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE SIGNATURE MEMORIES A CREATIVE ESCAPE 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. AN INTERVIEW WITH SEAN PETERSON, SIGNATURE BOARD TRUSTEE AN INTERVIEW WITH RESIDENCY ONE PLAYWRIGHT A.R. GURNEY AND LOVE & MONEY DIRECTOR MARK LAMOS PUZZLE PIECES 22 FROM THE SIGNATURE ARCHIVES TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR RESIDENCY ONE PROGRAM A PHOTOGRAPHIC STEP BACK IN TIME Talkbacks brought to you by American Express. 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. Residency Five Playwright ANNIE BAKER talks about process, inspiration, and her longtime collaboration with director Sam Gold. 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. COVER Signature Theatre Production photos, courtesy of Signature Theatre. CONTENTS (top to bottom) Sam Gold, photo by Gregory Costanzo; Annie Baker, photo by Gregory Costanzo; James Houghton, photo courtesy of Signature Theatre; A.R Gurney and Mark Lamos, photo by Gregory Costanzo. CURTAIN UP (page 3) Photo by Steve and Anita Shevett; Photo ©Susan Johann. (page 4) Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre. A CAREFUL COMPOSITION (page 5) Photo by Gregory Costanzo. (page 6) Photo by Joan Marcus. (page 7) Photo by Gregory Costanzo; Photo by Joan Marcus; (page 8) Photo by Julieta Cervantes; Photo by Joan Marcus. (page 9) Photo by Julieta Cervantes; Photo by Gregory Costanzo. (page 10) Photo by Gregory Costanzo. SIGNATURE MOMENTS (page 11) Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre; Photo by Joan Marcus; (page 12) Photo by Gregory Costanzo; Photo by Rahav Segev. BOARD SPOTLIGHT (page 13) Photo courtesy of Sean Peterson. (page 14) Photos by Joan Marcus; Photo by Gregory Costanzo. A CREATIVE ESCAPE (page 15) Photo by Gregory Costanzo; Photo by Richard Feldman. (page 16) Photo by James Leynse. (page 17) © Carol Rosegg. (page 18) Photo by Joan Marcus; © Carol Rosegg; Photo by Joan Marcus; © Carol Rosegg. © 2006 – 2015 Signature Theatre All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission, except for educational purposes where fewer than 100 copies are being reproduced. Address copyright queries to th e editor. The opinions in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Signature Theatre or its offices and directors. YEARS 17 10 11 21 Residency One playwright A.R. GURNEY and director MARK LAMOS discuss their years of collaboration, theatre as escape, and finding value in rarely-produced work. Test your knowledge of our Residency One playwrights with a fun crossword! 5 12 8 14 PHOTO CREDITS Printed in the United States of America 4 AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN DIRECTOR SAM GOLD 15 Official Airline of Signature Theatre. 21 3 MAKE A GIFT IN SUPPORT OF ANOTHER 25 YEARS OF SIGNATURE THEATRE Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access made possible by Lead Partner The 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 19 7 ORCHESTRATED PRECISION BOARD SPOTLIGHT Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access, Signature has also made an unprecedented 1 16 A MESSAGE FROM FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JAMES HOUGHTON 13 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 CURTAIN UP! In celebration of our 25th Anniversary Season, a look back at some SPECIAL SIGNATURE MOMENTS. 2 15