Signature Theater | ARLnow.com

Published March 2, 2026 at 8:30AM

Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Signature Theatre earned more Helen Hayes Award nominations than any other theater company in the Washington region this year.

The Shirlington-based theater received 28 nominations across five productions, leading all 38 theaters recognized by Theatre Washington for the 42nd annual Helen Hayes Awards, announced last Monday (Feb. 23). Its most-nominated production was “The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical” with eight nominations, followed by “Play On!” with seven and “Fiddler on the Roof” with six.

News

Amid Kennedy Center turmoil, two Arlington theater companies broke sales records in 2025

By Dan Egitto

Published December 22, 2025 at 3:45PM

A performance of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at Signature Theatre earlier this year (via Signature Theater/Instagram)

During a year of shake-ups and flagging sales at the Kennedy Center, several performing arts groups in Arlington enjoyed significant success in 2025.

Leaders of local groups say that it’s difficult to tell whether they’ve directly benefited from this year’s upheaval across the Potomac, which most recently included a vote to rename D.C.’s premier performing arts center as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” last week.

Around Town

‘Gilded Age’ actor to star in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Signature Theatre

By Katie Taranto

Published October 7, 2025 at 1:15PM

Douglas Sills in "The Gilded Age" (via Douglas Sills)

A Tony Award-nominated actor from HBO’s “The Gilded Age” will play the lead role in Signature Theatre’s rendition of “Fiddler on the Roof” this fall.

The Shirlington theater has cast Douglas Sills as Tevye, a Jewish peasant and the musical’s narrator who endures rising antisemitism alongside his family and neighbors in Czarist Russia. The actor is known for his role as chef Monsieur Baudin on “The Gilded Age.”

Around Town

New yacht rock cabaret debuts at Signature Theater in Shirlington this week

By Katie Taranto

Published July 21, 2025 at 2:45PM

Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Sounds of summer are coming to Shirlington this week with the start of a new yacht rock cabaret.

“Sailing: Yacht Rock” premieres tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Signature Theatre, featuring the melodies of Christopher Cross and quintessential yacht rock tunes like “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” and “What a Fool Believes.”

Events

Arlington kicking off WorldPride with block party this Saturday

By Katie Taranto

Published May 13, 2025 at 10:00AM

Progress Pride flags (via All in Arlington Virginia/Facebook)

A full schedule of Pride-themed events is kicking off in Arlington this weekend as WorldPride commences in D.C.

The festivities begin with a light art projection and Saturday block party at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, followed by theatrical performances, DIY arts and crafts and more through June. Here’s a look at some upcoming Pride events across the county.

News

Pickleball courts, library renovation and more on County Board agenda

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 22, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated January 22, 2025 at 9:52AM

Renderings of new pickleball courts at Walter Reed Community Center, as of February 2024 (photo via Arlington County)

Construction contracts for new pickleball facilities and improvements to Central Library are on the agenda as Arlington County Board members meet on Saturday, Jan. 25.

It will be the Board’s first working meeting of the year, and follows a Jan. 7 organizational meeting at which Takis Karantonis was elected chair for 2025.

News

Signature Theatre may get $415K in loans forgiven as it plots future renovations

By Jo DeVoe

Published July 17, 2023 at 4:45PM

Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington County could absolve rent for Signature Theatre for the last two years as the company struggles to move past Covid-era hits to sustainability.

This comes a decade after the county bailed out the Tony Award-winning nonprofit theater company twice in two years: a $250,000 grant in 2013 to help it pay off its real estate and business taxes and a $5 million loan, at a 1% interest rate, in 2014.

Events

Shirlington-based Signature Theatre announces a season-long tribute to Stephen Sondheim

By Matt Blitz

Published November 18, 2022 at 11:45AM

Signature Theatre in Shirlington (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Shirlington-based Signature Theatre has announced a slew of new shows and events as part of a season-long tribute to Stephen Sondheim.

Earlier this week, the well-known local theater on Campbell Avenue released its show schedule for the upcoming season. It will feature a season-long tribute to the American musical icon Stephen Sondheim, who died last November.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 25, 2022 at 7:30AM

"End Road Work" sign in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Welcome to Our Summer Interns — Two interns have joined ARLnow for the summer. Mavis Chan of the University of Missouri will focus on local news reporting while Pia Kramer, graduate of Virginia Tech and Arlington’s Washington-Liberty High School, will focus on audience engagement.

Passengers Spend Hours on Planes at DCA — “Thais Austin wanted to get home to the District after a weekend visit with family in Jacksonville, Fla. Instead, she said, she and other passengers were stuck on the Reagan National Airport taxiway for three hours Sunday night, unable to exit their plane… Hundreds of passengers on at least a half-dozen other flights reported similar delays after thunderstorms downed trees, flooded roads and left thousands without power in the Washington region.” [Washington Post]

Events

The lights are coming on in Shirlington at a holiday event next week

By Matt Blitz

Published November 23, 2021 at 2:15PM

The Village at Shirlington is hosting its annual holiday event “Light Up the Village” (Photo courtesy of Federal Realty Investment Trust)

The lights are coming on at Shirlington next week.

On Thursday (Dec. 2), the Village at Shirlington is hosting the holiday event “Light Up the Village” from 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Events

Local performing arts orgs are back in-person just in time for the holidays

By Matt Blitz

Published November 18, 2021 at 2:00PM

Encore Stage’s Enchanted Bookshop Christmas (Photo courtesy of Encore Stage/ Cindy Kane Photography)

As the region creeps back closer to normal, and with the holiday season now upon us, in-person performing arts are making a comeback.

Local theaters are once again welcoming back audiences for an assortment of concerts and productions.

Around Town

After Surviving Shutdowns, Local Arts Groups Prepare for New Season

By Dana Munro

Published August 17, 2021 at 9:00AM | Updated August 17, 2021 at 9:33AM

Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day (file photo)

Arlington arts organizations may have lost as much as $10 million in 2020 due to the pandemic, but they were able to get by with help from friends of the arts.

Many arts groups in the county reported losing 41-60% of their expected income, according to Embracing Arlington Arts, a group of local residents who work toward bolstering the arts in the county. But the arts organizations survived on a combination of government and private grants, generous locals and virtual performances.