Signature Theatre — Attraction in Bailey's Crossroads

After seeing Signature's epic performance of Ragtime I am convinced this is the best theatre company on the planet. What they do with the space that they have is nothing short of phenomenal. I look back on that spring afternoon in April of 2017 when I was at The Historic Ford's Theatre and I witnessed what I thought then was the greatest performance of live theatre I have ever seen and this includes the hundreds of shows I have seen on and off Broadway. The staging, the use of visual media during the handheld picture movie book scene. The enormous cast, movement and rousing musical number over this expansive space. A sight to behold indeed no doubt. Well Signature just did their own version of Ragtime on a stage one fourth the size of the Ford Theatre and it was nothing short of magical. Every song was resounding and moving. The setting was so reminiscent of this period and the entire production took place on what appeared to be the halls of an imagined Ellis Island immigration station. The staging was out of this world. How these actors never collided or bumped into each other during these intricate dance scenes is a rousing testament to the dance captains and choreographer. I sat in the very far back on the right and I could see perfectly and I am blind without 20/20 corrective lenses. There is not one bad seat in the house seeing that the seats are elevated on permanent risers and this gives each patron ample leg room. The ushers were efficient and very friendly and took me right to my seat. I did not try the food but they had a very appetizing pre theatre Ragtime themed menu that featured their own version of turtle soup. The lobby is clean and airy and spacious and you never feel like you are on top of other patrons. There are places to sit in the lobby and at tables. The first floor where you pick up and order tickets has plenty of comfortable seating and outside in the courtyard there are plenty of places to lounge and people watch before showtime. I guess at this point Maggie Boland the managing director should be considered a genius. She has had the privilege to oversee the Titanic in 2017 and now this. She gets the money and she finds the talent. Signature never disappoints. I know when I see the season lineup, I will be going to at least two shows, and this year is no different. Please support and give to this theatre generously. They put on big budget big time shows with high quality professional actors and they are a regional theatre! However they sure do not act like it. Signature is a five star theatre putting on a five star performance. I am a...

Great, great space and almost always great productions.

I have removed one star (temporarily I hope) - I did not care for (the play) Job. I also was not pleased with how Signature handled missing cast members for HAIR last summer.

I am looking forward to In The Heights and Hedwig in 2025.

While Signature is not perfect, the best Signature shows (esp. the ones for an established show - like HAIR or Cabaret), are great! Often you sit so close to the actors, if you stuck your legs out, you might trip them! Particularly if you are in one of the first two rows, it is very immersive (something you do NOT get at Kennedy Center). If you come early to eat at Ali's bar, you will see some of the cast members filing-in to the dressing room area!

The cafe and bar have a light selection that changes for every show. You can order ahead for intermission. Lots of free parking; Harris Teeter market around the corner, drug store, and countless places to eat (including a great tapas place) nearby.

I have seen many shows multiple times at Signature - and in all, probable about 50 different shows and 90 performances.

The best of all time? Easy! CABARET - With TWO talented Broadway actors and a production that almost matched the Broadway cast recording of 1998, it was fantastic.

If CHICAGO EVER stops playing on Broadway, I am sure Signature will present it with aplomb. Here's hoping Signature will do a production of Oklahoma! - as was done on Broadway in 2018/2019.

Sunday, June 30 2024 was the first time (I have seen over 90 shows) a show (HAIR) was ever canceled. It was a particularly poor first experience for one group of four who had travelled an hour for the show. The show must (should) go on!!!

Also disappointed that the final HAIR show did NOT have a really capable Claude; all other roles (including those filled by swings were fine); Understudies must be capable - be good actors AND LOOK THE PART!

Signature insists on doing challenging and relatively new works, as well as established shows. That is the id of Signature. With free parking, first-rate acting and directing, close-in seating, this is a great, great...

UPDATE: You can skip the erstwritten anecdote about flatulence (unless you're here for a chuckle). A member of the staff reached out and explained the difficulties—fortunately not a matter of staffing or logistics, but something more acute. She was quite understanding and invited us back to see the musical again, but our enjoyment was not so sullied that a mulligan is necessary.

Signature Theatre thereby earns their fifth star back. Thanks for the fun!

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Hi folks. My wife and I saw The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical this evening and laughed our heads off. This show is terrific. I've never seen a musical or stage play with such inventive use of props, and all the performers did stellar work.

Why is this review a four-star, then? Well, we were seated on the right side of the balcony near a staff member, who appeared to be handling subtitles or something on a laptop nearby. As the second half of the show resumed following the intermission, we heard something. You might call it the thunder from down under, or ass-crackatoa, or the Rip van Winkel's lullaby. A toot or a poot. A gas passed or a wind broken.

A FART.

Now, just one fart is not an insurmountable social faux pas, as most people will quietly try to ignore them, and, as good audience members not intending to make a fuss, my wife and I ignored it quietly. Until it happened again.

And again. And again.

The entire of the second half of this musical was, for us, punctuated by the wettest, bowel-curdling, ear-turdling flatulence humanity has ever witnessed, rising up over the quiet portions between songs. Look, I understand that staffing in a business where the show must go on has its challenges, but when one of your staff members is having a gastric disaster, it would be handy if someone could take over and let this poor tech answer nature's persistent call instead of letting it go to...