The experts behind the Going Out Guide post daily on news and trends in D.C.'s arts and entertainment scene, upcoming events and restaurant and bar openings.
A Signature Season
Signature Theatre's lineup for the 2005-06 season has just been announced, and I'm happy to report that the opener is "Urinetown." For those of you not immediately excited about a musical named after a bodily function, let me assure you that "Urinetown" is supposed to be a great show -- it won three Tony Awards in 2002 and was scheduled to come to Washington a couple of years ago but the D.C. dates on its national tour wound up getting canceled.
In addition to "Urinetown," which runs from Aug. 16 to Oct. 2, the Signature lineup includes the new play "Yemaya's Belly" (Nov. 8-Dec. 18); a new musical about Edgar Allan Poe called "Nevermore" (Jan. 10-Feb. 18); Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" (date TBD); and "The Sex Habits of American Women" (date TBD). Those last two will be performed in Signature's new $12.5 million complex, now under construction at the Village of Shirlington.
In other theater news, "columbinus" -- a timely show about the Columbine shootings that's even more timely given this week's tragic shootings in Minnesota -- has been extended. It's now running at Round House Silver Spring through April 10 and, as I said in a previous blog post, is well worth seeing. -- Jen
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washingtonpost.com
| March 25, 2005; 4:08 PM ET
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Posted by: Lara | March 30, 2005 5:31 PM | Report abuse
I saw Urinetown on Broadway 3 times and was looking forward to seeing it again at the National Theatre--then it was cancelled.
It's brilliant. Very intelligent yet silly. The score runs the gamut: Gospel, Berlin cabaret, Klezmer, ballad, swing...even toe-tapping showtunes.
It's a vicious satire, a morality play and a parody of Broadway all rolled into one.
With Will Gartshore and Sherri Edelen starring, it's hard to believe that the Signature production won't be great. I already have my tickets for September.
Posted by: Christine | August 12, 2005 5:14 PM | Report abuse
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I saw Urinetown on Broadway and despite a great cast, the show was AWFUL! Plot points that you've heard twenty times before, uninspired songs, lame humor (the kind that involves pointing out that the characters are in a play and mugging at the audience). Save your money.