AROU
N
D
CLOWNING
Legacy playwright Bill Irwin and David Shiner first enchanted
Signature audiences in 2013 with their smash hit Old Hats.
Now, fresh off a run at San Francisco’s American Conservatory
Theater, the clowns are back alongside their new collaborator,
songstress Shaina Taub, for a special return engagement.
From a plugged-in businessman locked in battle with his
technological devices to a lonely hobo in search of
companionship, the clowns hilariously and touchingly
explore human predicaments both timeless and topical.
At the same time, Taub’s blend of soulful melodies and
whimsical wordplay provides a spirited counterpoint to
the clowns’ antics. Directed by Tina Landau, whose past
work at Signature includes Charles Mee’s Iphigenia 2.0
and Big Love, Old Hats makes for a beguiling evening
for audiences of all ages.
Before beginning performances, the whole
team spoke with Literary Associate Nathaniel
French about the show’s evolution, the role
of the audience each night, and the
cross-generational appeal of these
two “Old Hats.”
Signature: How did Old Hats come about?
BI: He didn’t say that!
Bill Irwin: You know, Old Hats’ existence is a testament to [Signature’s Founding Artistic Director] Jim Houghton’s stubbornness and perseverance. He said, “You and Shiner should get in
a room and see if any ideas come to you.” The idea of doing a
follow-up piece to this show we did decades ago called Fool
Moon was always a conv