SignatureStories
PUBLISHER Signature Theatre
James Houghton , Founding Artistic Director
Erika Mallin , Executive Director
EDITORS David Hatkoff Beth Whitaker
EDITORIAL TEAM Jenna Clark Embrey Nathaniel French
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Annie Baker Jenna Clark Embrey Nathaniel French David Hatkoff Deborah Hedwall Henry Houghton Lily Houghton David Henry Hwang Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Tony Kushner Erika Mallin Edward Norton Ruben Santiago-Hudson Regina Taylor Joyce O ’ Connor Beth Whitaker
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
WEBSITE signaturetheatre . org
MAILING ADDRESS Signature Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street New York , NY 10036
SignatureTheatre
SIGNATURE THEATRE and THE PERSHING SQUARE SIGNATURE CENTER 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 community . At the Center , opened in January 2012 , Signature continues its founding Playwright-in- Residence 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 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 features a studio theatre , rehearsal studio , and a public café , bar , and bookstore . Through the Signature Ticket Initiative : A Generation of Access , Signature has also made an unprecedented commitment to making its productions affordable by underwriting the cost of initial run tickets .
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 . 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 . 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 .
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 .
PHOTO CREDITS COVER Founding Artistic Director Jim Houghton , photo courtesy of STC . CONTENTS ( top to bottom ) Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo courtesy of STC . LETTER FROM THE EDITORS ( page 3 ) Photo by Gregory Costanzo . ( page 4 ) Photo courtesy of STC ; Photo by David Sundberg / ESTO ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo . AROUND THE CENTER ( page 5 ) Photo by Erik Carter . Photo by Kevin Thomas Garcia . ( page 6 ) Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo courtesy of STC .
A JOLT OF EMPATHY ( page 7 ) Photo by Joan Marcus . ( page 8 ) Photo by Gregory Costanzo . ( page 9 ) Photo by Monique Carboni ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Jeff Gaines ; Photo by Joan Marcus . ( page 10 ) Photo by Joan Marcus .
LEAVING A MARK ( pages 11-12 ) All photos by Joan Marcus .
SLIVERS ( page 13 ) Photo by Susan Johann . ( page 8 ) Photo courtesy of STC ; Photo by Steve and Anita Shevett . ( page 9 ) Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo courtesy of STC . ( page 10 ) Photo by Steve and Anita Shevett ; All other photos courtesy of STC .
AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL ( page 18 ) Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Rahev Segev ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Susan Johann ; All other photos courtesy of STC . ( page 19 ) Photo by Steve and Anita Shevett ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; All other photos courtesy of STC . ( page 22 ) Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Carol Rosegg ; Photo by Carol Rosegg ; Photo by Steve and Anita Shevett ; Photo by Gregory Costanzo ; Photo by Carol Rosegg ; All other photos courtesy of STC .
LOOKING BACK ON LEGACY ( page 23 ) Photo courtesy of STC . ( page 24 ) All photos by Susan Johann . ( page 25 ) Photo by Susan Johann . ( page 26 ) Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo courtesy of STC ; Photo by Susan Johann .
BODIES OF WORK ( page 28 ) Photo by Erik Carter ; Photo negatives by Susan Johann . SIGNATURE PATRON ( page 29 ) Photo by Joan Marcus .
PUZZLE PIECES ( page 30 ) Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo by Rahev Segev ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Susan Johann ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Carol Rosegg ; Photo by Joan Marcus ; Photo by Susan Johann .
2016-17 SEASON ( back cover ) Suzan-Lori Parks Photo by Tammy Schell ; All other photos by Gregory Costanzo .
© 2006 – 2016 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 the editor . The opinions in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Signature Theatre or its offices and directors .
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