Signature Stories Vol 8 | Page 2

SignatureStories PUBLISHER Signature Theatre James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director Erika Mallin, Executive Director EDITORS David Hatkoff Beth Whitaker EDITORIAL TEAM Whitney Eggers 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 Jenna Clark Embrey Frank Gehry Architects to host Signature’s three distinct playwrights’ residencies and foster a cultural Christie Evangelisto community. At the Center, opened in January 2012, Signature continues its founding Playwright-in- Sarah Rose Leonard Residence model as Residency One, a first-of-its-kind, intensive exploration of a single writer’s body Cathy Popowytsch of work. Residency Five, the only program of its kind, was launched at the Center to support multiple CONTRIBUTING WRITERS playwrights as they build bodies of work by guaranteeing each writer three productions over a Whitney Eggers five-year period. The Legacy Program, launched during Signature’s 10th Anniversary Season, invites Jenna Clark Embrey writers from both residencies back for productions of premiere or earlier plays. Christie Evangelisto Sarah Rose Leonard 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 DESIGN Danielle Speicher Ninth Circle Productions, LLC 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 PLAYWRIGHTS-IN-RESIDENCE Annie Baker Martha Clarke commitment to making its productions accessible by underwriting the cost of initial run tickets, currently priced at $25, through 2031. Will Eno Horton Foote Katori Hall David Henry Hwang Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access made possible by Lead Partner The Pershing Square Foundation. Additional support provided by the Ford Foundation and Margot Adams. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Kenneth Lonergan Regina Taylor August Wilson Official Airline of Signature Theatre. Support for the Legacy Program is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special thanks to the Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the Residency Five Program. WEBSITE signaturetheatre.org MAILING ADDRESS Signature Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center Talkbacks brought to you by American Express. Kung Fu is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Signature programming, including the Signature Ticket Initiative, is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the New York City Council. 480 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 Signature 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 Christian Borle in rehearsal for Angels in America, 2009, photo by Gregory Costanzo. CONTENTS Costume sketch by David Zinn, 2013, photo by Gregory Costanzo. Katchkie Farms, 2013, photo by Liz Neumark. David Henry Hwang and Leigh Silverman, 2013, photo by Erik Carter. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, 2013, photo by Gregory Costanzo. Will Eno, 2013, photo by Gregory Costanzo. THE FEARLESS MISFIT (Page 5) Photo by Joan Marcus, photo by Gregory Costanzo. (Page 6) Photo by Steve and Anita Shevett. (Page 7) Photo by Erik Carter. (Page 8) photo by Richard Termine, photo by Joan Marcus, photo by Gregory Costanzo. (Page 9) Photo courtesy of Sonya Tayeh, photo by Gregory Costanzo. (Page 10) Photo by Erik Y. Exit, photo by Joan Marcus. BEYOND THE STAGE (Pages 11-12) Production photos by Joan Marcus, all other photos by Gregory Costanzo. A TOUGH JOB BEING HUMAN (Page 13-14) Photo by Richard Termine, photo by Gregory Costanzo. (Page 15) Photo by Joan Marcus, photo by Gregory Costanzo. (Page 16) Photo by Kevin Berne, photo by Geraint Lewis, photo by Joan Marcus. (Page 18) Photo by Kevin Berne, photo by Carol Rosegg. FINDING SOLACE IN COMPLICATION (Page 19) Photo by Gregory Costanzo, photo by Joan Marcus. (Page 21) Photo by Liz Liguori. (Page 22) Photo by Amy Widdowson, photo by Gregory Costanzo. (Page 24). Photo by Amy Widdowson, photo by Joan Marcus. FARM TO THEATRE (Page 25) Photo by Tristan Nash, photo by Liz Neumark. © 2006 – 2014 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. Printed in the Un