I came to see Pippin at this theater and cannot begin to express how impressed I was with the talent here. From singing to costuming to choreography, each performer gave everything to the audience. Since this is a theater in the round in a very intimate setting, I had my concerns that I would be in a section in which the performers had their backs to me. Quickly I realized that the seasoned cast is skilled at playing to each side and the staging wouldn't inhibit anyone's view. I purchased tickets with a partial view ( Row 4), and felt that my view from there was better than many Broadway shows I've attended. I did not find them to inhibit the show in any way, and the leg room was spacious. I really enjoy watching the support cast (chorus) and in this show particularly their roles were important to every element and integrated into the foreground. This is something you often don't see in traditional shows where the leads are foreground and the chorus is just left to be background noise. Great job by all. The theater is located near some eateries and an ice cream shop, but take advantage of this before the show. I felt every single person headed right to the ice cream shop after the show, and some of the eateries closed just as we exited at 9:00pm on a Sunday. read more

Now that the Signature Theatre is on my radar screen, I am happy to report that my 2nd visit - to see Pippin - reflects a live theater experience that is fantastic. I have already rated the theater facility/building as great so I won't go into much more detail about that. Although here goes - the building's entry is grand, the lobby is welcoming and exciting and the ushers/staff are friendly and first rate. The performance of Pippin that I saw was likewise first rate. Signature Theatre has taken a show I have seen multiple times in the past, and freshened it up. A lot! Presented in the round - which I normally do not like - it presents like live-action happening right in front of your eyes for the 1st time. And the theater is small enough that I felt immersed in the action! Indeed, several times, players would come right up into the seats and interact with me and other audience members. It really made the show seem like a story being presented for first time, spontaneously, right in front of me. And, the performances were so fresh, so intense that I felt that each and every emotion/action was directed only to me. Very nicely staged! The quality of talent in this show is also noticeable. Particular kudos to the man who portrayed Pippin. The ensemble too was Broadway caliber. The dancing in particular was exhilarating! I felt every kick and twist. Fosse lives in this production! This show is old, however, having been first conceived in the early 1970's. But there was very little that was tired or old or vintage. It was fresh and cutting edge. The Signature production was unlike any of the other presentations of Pippin I have seen. The actors' entrances came in from the audience entrances - all 4 corners of the theater - and it was enthralling. The close proximity made every actor seem like they were talking/singing just to me. It was the kind of show that you really need to see more than once because there is so much going on all at once. Bravo to the Signature Theatre once again! read more

Great regional theater! I've been wanting to see a show here for years but the ticket prices have kept me away. Pippin drew us in and it was an excellent experience. They have great talent and facilities. Looking forward to seeing another show here next season. read more

Signature Theatre - Pippin - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Signature is a modern theater house that showcases diverse themes from various cultural points of view. Their latest procurement is Play On! A dynamic story about an African American woman who poses as a man to have the afforded opportunity to write and compose music for the Cotton Club. It's juicy with love stories and beautiful rare songs from Duke Ellington, also great tap-dancing numbers. I could go on and on about the play. Back to Signature, this place embodied one of the best set designs I've ever seen, creating club seating with cocktail tables around the stage to make the audience in the front- row seating feel like they were sitting right there in the Cotton Club. I was one of those lucky seat holders and I enjoyed every moment of the energy the actors injected into the atmosphere. The lighting and sound are top-notch and only added to the real-life immersion of feeling like I was a part of the play. They offer drinks and snacks. Drinks in a reusable sip cup can be taken into the theater. Parking is right next door to the playhouse and there are restaurants all within walking distance from Signature. If you want a taste of the Harlem Renaissance Play On! is running till October 5th. One of the best musicals I've ever seen. Signature struck gold with bringing this brilliant masterpiece to life! read more

Signature Theatre - Set design for Play On! - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Signature is now like an airline, charging extra for everything, including printing your tickets at the box office. Their policies have removed any inclination I might have to make a donation. I find some of the box office staff not very customer friendly. read more

I saw Safety Not Guaranteed at Signature Theatre and it was a wonderful performance. The play was interesting and fun and the actors were phenomenal. The theatre is small and seems like you have a great view no matter where you sit. There is a Lobby area where you can purchase drinks/ snacks with some seating available, you can take drinks in to the theatre but it is expensive- 2 cocktails and a bottle of water was $53. read more

Signature Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I LOVED Pippin! Was very emotional for me. I related to it so much. I was in tears at the end. The Actors, direction, use of the stage/space, costumes, and music was all fantastic. read more

This is such a fun theatre and I love coming here. The productions are always so good, and they have so many unique and classic shows at this venue. I have seen fiddler on the roof, hedwig and they angry inch and many more. I will continue to come to this theatre for more shows. For anyone interested in shows, definitely come here for a great time! read more

Small theater but a good play. About a family's evictions 5 times and the trials and tribulations. I had a front row seat which was too close. I wouldn't do that again. read more

Excellent theater; two performance spaces. Musicals - with live orchestra are performed in the Max. My ONLY complaint: when the excellent production of HAIR was done, a show was cancelled. Also, the understudy for the lead was a poor choice (and was in the final 2 shows) The bar serves nice appetizers and drinks. Parking is free. read more

The Signature is my favorite theater in the DMV. The shows are excellent, parking is easily accessible, there's not a bad seat in the house, and tickets are affordable. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was excellent, such a fun show with a fabulously talented cast. read more

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Saw Into the Woods and In The Heights here. The two best regional performances I have ever seen. The casts are just so amazingly talented. What stands out to me is how well they focus on the little details. Between costumes, scenic design, music, and acting, it is so clear how they all take the time to make little decisions to take the performance from good to great. read more

Saw Fiddler on the Roof last night at the Signature and was blown away by the talent...as good as anything I've seen on Broadway. The theater itself is a wonderful space. As others have noted, there's not a bad seat in the house (and the seats themselves are comfortable). Highly recommend this regional gem. read more

This theater brings phenomenal talent and has easy parking to Shirlington. I've seen several shows there and both were excellent. Due to the small theater size, it feels like there are no bad seats. I've gotten seats in the second or third row for $50-60. Highly recommend! read more

Went to Black Broadway cabaret on March 22. It was great!! Interesting selection of songs, fantastic singing, and wonderful musicians. Don't miss it. read more

Wow! The current production of a traditional musical "Fiddler on the Roof" is absolutely amazing from start to finish, emotions stretching in multiple directions through outstanding vocals, choreography and acting. The intimate theater space brings the audience into the "village" stage which continually transforms throughout duration of the non-stop show. I have seen "Fiddler" multiple times and this production is by far the most entertaining while sticking to the "tradition"-al story but with creative direction of both the performers and sets. Signature Theater always is high quality and you will not be disappointed by "Fiddler". read more

Always reliably good productions. We've enjoyed our subscription for several years. It also has a cafe for pre theatre dining or intermission chocolate chip cookies read more

I couldn't recommend seeing a play at Signature Theatre enough! Firstly, parking was a breeze because there is a parking garage literally right next to the theatre with plenty of available spaces and an elevator that puts you out a short walk away from the theatre. Secondly, the themed meal and alcoholic beverage that was served at the bar before our play was EXCELLENT! Not only was it a nice touch that helped to immerse us in the entire experience, but it was affordable and tasted great too! Thirdly, the theatre where the play took place was intimate in the sense that you're so close that you can almost reach out and grab the actors (I wouldn't advise that). In our case, the seating map online for our play was very deceiving because it made the theatre look much bigger than it actually is. I can honestly say there is no bad seat in the house (at least for Sweeney Todd), and that a seat further back might actually be better so you can take in more of the play. Lastly, the staff and cast members were extremely friendly and personable. The bar staff was knowledgeable, and a leading cast member even did a meet-and-greet after the show and we got a picture with him. 10/10 experience and will definitely be going back for another show! read more

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Wonderful experience all around. We got there pretty early, but with the cafe and the merch store, there was plenty to do. The theatre itself is intimate, but also feels very large, in terms of stage space. And ALL the production values for the show (set design, costumes, musicians, sound reinforcement, props) we first rate. They had a sign saying something like "The best place in the country to see musicals," and they weren't kidding! It was sort of a rock musical, and we felt the music AND were able to hear every word throughout. KUDOs all around. read more

I am SO impressed with Signature Theatre! I was lucky enough to see In the Heights and Hedwig and the Angry Inch here recently. The theater for In the Heights was so immersive- I loved the way all of the aisles were used and how there were signs recreating the neighborhood hung all around the theater. Hedwig was in a more intimate space that was just as immersive and cool, where we felt so close to the cast. It was one of the most fun shows I've ever seen, the performer playing Hedwig had so many hilarious riffs on local politics and occurrences and had such great audience interactions. For both shows, there wasn't a bad seat in the house. I was in the absolute last row and still felt like it was a great experience. The quality of the productions is fantastic and tickets are so reasonable- I also think it is such a nice touch that you can swap your seats for another night if tickets are still available! read more

WOW wow wow. I love musicals and Wicked on Broadway has been my favorite since I saw it in 2006. But this performance of HAIR at Arlington's Signature Theatre just took the top spot for me! Sooo much talent on one stage. And I was lucky enough to see it from a front row center seat! Plus, what a fabulous venue. There really isn't a bad seat, because it's a small, cozy place. I was also happy to get snacks at decent prices. Their chocolate chip cookies and brownies were awesome! This was my first visit but it definitely won't be my last. read more

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We went to see something funny happened on the way to the forum, a musical comedy today. The staff are very helpful and accommodating and friendly. The performance was excellent. This is a theater that has terrific seating and it's hard to have a bad seat in the house.We were off to the far right in an orchestra seat but still had a good view of the stage. read more

TLDR: do not trust the theater to be responsible in age appropriateness recommendations--they'll sell "family tickets" to your 6-10 year old kid to see a half naked guy in a bondage suit whipping people, dry humping objects and other people, and mimicking fellatio on stage. Took my kids to see A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum--what a mistake--and let me tell you, this is NOT appropriate for kids under 16yo! Shame on Signature theater for downplaying the level of raunchiness in the show. I understand this is one of Sondheim's more edgy musicals, but this play is on another level and should have been rated more like PG-14 or Mature Audiences. The play dialed up the raunchy level to 11 out of 10. Signature's ticket sale site offered "Family Tickets" for a 2PM performance and states kids must be at least 6years old--Family Tickets are to make it more affordable for families with children per the website. It's listed elsewhere (not at the screen for ticket sales that sexual innuendo is present and they recommend 10years old and above). We'll let's see if you think this is cool for a 10 year old: -There's more than a few S&M references--a man dressed in bondage leather suit cracking a whip, -two male twin prostitutes half naked sniffing each other's crotches; -at least 3 couples dry humping (Hero and Phillia repeatedly doing so), -a guy dry humping a marble column, -and suggesting he had ejaculated in his toga after trying to hide an erection -female lead pantomiming fellatio -most male characters overtly gesturing to their crotches or penises -guards vigorously stroking spears in a suggestive manner -bondage guy bending over and presenting rear end We had to leave an intermission and did not go back. Look, I know what this play is, but expected the jokes to go over my kids head. But the sexual innuendo was incessant. Selling family tickets to 6 year olds, for a day time show with just these instances in the first act is not cool. And the warnings in a completely Different location that show appropriate for age 10+ still not sufficient. The play was funny as hell for adults, and singing and acting, music, and sets were top notch. I'm not a prude or killjoy. But it's definitely NOT for kids and surprised/disappointed the Signature theater that I love did not do enough to warn parents. read more

Finally, Signature management has gotten the sound engineers to do what they should have been doing all along: Balance the singing loudness with the orchestra loudness so that we could actually hear/understand what the actors were singing! Soft Power, their latest fun production (Sept 2024) is absolutely worth seeing and had the best sound production values yet in that I could hear every word sung and also enjoy the orchestra. Comfortable seating in a very nice location. The building, tho, is starting to show its age (with understairs lighting that's starting to droop), but otherwise looks great. read more

Signature is one of the foremost regional nonprofit theaters in the country, and is the world's preeminent producer of the works of Stephen Sondheim. The largest theater here has barely more than 250 seats (it varies by show), yet each season they produce large-scale plays and musicals, sometimes with 15-piece orchestras, in this incredibly intimate space. Such shows often attract both performers and audience members to travel to DC from New York and other parts of the country, and for good reason. Not only are the productions works class, but the whole experience is as well, with comfortable seats, free parking, and over a dozen restaurants within a few blocks' walk. Signature is unquestionably one of DC's treasures. read more

Signature Theatre - The lobby and bar area between the two theaters - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Surprise discovered of this theater and truly enjoyed the production "Play On" in September. Will definitely look for other plays.

The theater is nice, clean and the staff is friendly. Some really good shows there this year and the theater is just the right size. Every seat is a good seat. read more

Signature Theatre - Gender neutral bathrooms! - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

For a special treat for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, surprised my wife with coming here to see RENT. Really appreciate the COVID protocol here. You need to show proof of vax and mask-up the entire time. No problem from me. Seating was easy and ushers were on top of things. Theatre is small and was set up "in the round", you are right on top of all the action. The actors were incredible, really felt like NY Broadway, just on a smaller scale. Powerful vocals for this well done musical. Greatly told story about sad early day of AIDS. It's great not having to go to DC to see quality performances, will be back soon. read more

Signature Theatre - stage setup from our seats - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This place is great I just watched the The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical. As always the acting and choreography was on point. This is a great theater with excellent shows. There is also a bar in the lobby if you was to grab a meal and a drink before the show. This is one of my favorite theaters in the DMV. read more

I saw Disco Fever with some colleagues last night and it was crazy fun! The singers are AMAZING (both of them had incredible range and wow, that falsetto ) and the band were killing it, every musician was vibin' and clearly had a love for the genre. Yes, there were lots of people there who were reliving their disco days but IT WAS A FUN CROWD! I was pretty young when disco hit its stride but I have lots of nostalgia about this music being in my house during that time. If you are looking for a fun time singing and dancing to some amazing singers covering everything from The Bee Gees, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, to Earth, Wind & Fire, you need to check this out! Don't forget your satin, sequins, platforms, and get ready to boogie! read more

Signature Theatre - Song list! Get ready to boogie down! - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I saw No Place To Go at Signature Theatre for the local "Theater Week." The show was very good, but I'm not sure how much a venue's review should be about that. Signature Theatre turned out to be a great venue. The show I saw had a script that hardly pushed the limits of tech and crew abilities (it was a mostly one-man, with an onstage band, one-set show), but the set was nice, they used better lighting capabilities than many theaters have, and the sound (it was a musical) was very good. Every seat in the house had a perfect view. My wife and I got the last of the cheapest tickets they offered and, while near the edge of the last row, felt like we were right in front of the stage, and our view was straight-on and totally unobstructed. The staff were great. Friendly. Helpful. Professional but not uptight or snobby. They have a pretty respectable bar. In addition to a standard menu of drinks and snacks, they have a food and drink special for each show. I got the "red planet old fashioned," which was the cocktail special for the show we saw, while my wife got the special inspired by The Color Purple (the other show playing at the same time). Both were solid drinks. Both cocktails and a bottle of water came to $30... Not cheap, but not the biggest theater markup. Even though they were busy, the bathroom was very clean. They have a small but interesting gift shop where the prices are as low as you'll find for such a place. They currently require face masks when you're in the theater area, which might annoy some since it's been awhile since masks were widely required. They do as well with implementing that as a place can do. They don't require it until you enter the direct theater area... which makes some sense since you're generally not close to people until then but are in seats that are close together afterwards. They have masks to offer those who don't have them. They enforce the rule on everyone so that there's compliance but don't make the enforcement a distraction from the show. They still let people bring food and drinks in and are fine with people lowering their mask to take a sip or bite. Signature Theatre is also conveniently in Shirlington. Free or cheap street, lot, and garage parking are within a few blocks, as is a diverse range of good restaurant options, etc. It makes for a great dinner-and-a-show date night. I'm already planning my next visit to Signature Theatre. read more

I absolutely love Sig Theatre. 1) They're local. Especially to me. It's nice getting home after a show in 10 minutes. 2) They have great shows. They have the big name shows that are crowd favorites, but it has also introduced me to very much lesser known shows that I've always enjoyed. 3) They have pretty stairs 4) I don't think I ever realized how cute their gift shop is. She Loves Me was also playing at my most recent visit and they had two themed She Loves Me shirts. 5) They have a legit bar and food menu. Shirlington has a whole list of pre-show dining options but I would recommend just grabbing a bite in the lobby and you wouldn't be disappointed. 6) They have TEACHER DISCOUNTS (ok that might be just helpful for me) but they also have rush tickets too. YAY AFFORDABLE THEATER FOR ALL!!! 7) Because my OCD makes me want to end my list on a happy number 7 and not 6. read more

One of the best hidden gem theaters in the DMV! The shows are consistently broadway caliber, which makes their Regional Tony Award all the more understandable. The lobby is spacious and beautiful, and the staff are extremely friendly. Stop what you're doing and buy a season subscription! read more

Signature Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Despite previously living up the street from Signature for 2 years, I visited here for the first time this past Sunday on a solo trip to see RENT. Just a HUGE heads up in advance during these times, you must wear a mask throughout the entire show and in public spaces AND you have to show full proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Currently, it did not appear they have food or beverage options; however, there are an abundance of places nearby to stop in. I really appreciated the ticketing process online where you could choose your seat after viewing what the stage would look like from it. It is a VERY small theatre, so I would imagine nearly every seat would provide at least a decent view. It was interesting because I chose a $66 seat ($70 after fees), but for this show, I was seated practically in the action next to the pay phone (for the set) and had actors within a hands reach of me. I'm not sure how it was only $66 vs. the most expensive $108 but I'll take it! I didn't use the restroom on this visit, so I'm unable to comment there. The ushers were very friendly and helpful as were the ticket scanners and vaccine card checkers. I'd be happy to return to see another show here in the future! read more

Beautiful, intimate theater. I was here recently for their Rent production. It was an amazing show with so many great singers. My friends and I sat at the top level and had a great time. You get an awesome view wherever you're sitting. The chairs could be a little more comfortable and they also need more bathrooms on the top level. Free garage parking. There are plenty of restaurants in the area, but they do get pretty busy so if you want to grab a bite to eat before your show, go early. read more

Very nice local theater seats are close to the stage. They have a nice bar and they also serve and sell food. They would nit allow me to enter the theater with the drink i purchased but i noticed other guests enter with drinks. Also we were required to have our vaccines and show proof of vaccination but they required all the guests to wear masks which became uncomfortable after being in the theater for almost 2 hours. read more

Signature Theatre - The name if the play we went to see - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Went here to see A Chorus Line and it was wonderful! They have a little cafe with drinks and small plates and they even let you take drinks into the theater! The ushers were nice and helpful as well. And the show was lovely! Great acting and singing! I really enjoyed my time here and I want to come back for another show! It doesn't hurt that the theater is located in the cutest little town with lots of shops and restaurants. You can really make a whole day of it! read more

Signature Theatre - Before the show. - Performing Arts Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Omg! I have seen 2 productions here. Sweeney Todd and recently Hair. The plays are seriously Broadway quality in terms of lighting, sets, music, sound quality and of course the acting! There is not a bad seat in the house, free parking in the garage next door, and restaurants up and done the little street. HIGHLY Recommend! read more

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. 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 fan for life! read more

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Signature Theater in Shirlington, VA not only has two NYC-class performance spaces, it also has a stylish bar / dining area / lobby, where you can relax and have a bite to eat before / during the show. There is always free parking nearby. Many restaurants and super market in the area. You are always close to the action; In the 'Max' space you can sit balcony or stage level. Signature tailors the seating area in the Max space for each show. The sets are, out of necessity, always a bit sparse, as Signature has very limited backstage space. This makes it easier to see all the action. Everyone who goes to Signature a lot has their favorite shows! My favorites: CABARET CRAZY FOR YOU CHORUS LINE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS A FOX ON THE FAIRWAY GYPSY COMPANY CHESS INTO THE WOODS Cabaret and Crazy For You included several NYC-based cast members. Much innovative staging; Cabaret had 'standard' seats, tables, and a working bar - as in the 1998 NYC production (with Natasha Richardson). read more

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