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Signal Ensemble Theatre
FormationNovember 2002 (2002-11)
DissolvedMarch 2016 (2016-03)
TypeTheatre group
Location
Websitesignalensemble.com

Signal Ensemble Theatre was a professional nonprofit ensemble theatre company in Chicago. Founded in 2002, the company produced thirteen seasons of works ranging from English Renaissance tragedies, to mid-20th century American masterworks, to world-premiere plays and musicals from around the world.

History

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A semi-itinerant life

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Signal was founded in 2002 by Ronan Marra, Christopher Prentice, and Joseph Stearns. The inaugural season included an off-night world-premiere production of Marra's Learning to Fly, the final presentation at Wing & Groove Theatre in the Flatiron Building, and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in a studio at the Athenaeum Theatre.

The company first gained critical acclaim for its productions of mid-20th century masterpieces alongside new works.

In its second season, the company staged critically acclaimed productions of Joseph Heller's Catch-22 and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot at the Chopin Theatre, which would be Signal's home for the next several years, as well as the premiere of Marra's Landslide at the Breadline Arts Center, the theatre that would eventually become Signal's permanent home.[1]

Signal earned its first Jeff nominations for the world premiere of Marra's Landslide in 2005 (Actress in a Supporting Role - Play, New Work). Waiting for Godot was remounted later in the year. The company gained notoriety for its mid-20th-century plays ... It also made its debut in Chopin's mainstage space with a classic farce, Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer.

2006

2007 Hamlet with Prentice tanked netted the company Jeffs - Jon Marans's Old Wicked Songs

Transition

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2008 saw an operational change, with co-founder Prentice stepping aside to pursue other opportunities, and Marra and Stearns becoming co-artistic directors and Stephanie Ingram becoming managing director. The company redefined its mission, focusing on new works.

A home in River North

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In 2010, Signal moved into a permanent home in the North Center, Chicago neighborhood, in a space it had rented that was at the time the Breadline Arts Center. A remount of Marra's Aftermath was a hit.

In September 2015, the company announced it would close its doors at the conclusion of its current season, that would not include a planned production of The Southern Women.[2]

Production history

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2003

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

  • East of Berlin & The Russian Play by Hannah Moscovitch (Chicago premiere)
  • Motion by Ronan Marra (world premiere)
  • Hostage Song – book by Clay McLeod Chapman, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow, arrangements by Nathan Leigh (Chicago premiere)

2012–13

  • Princes of Waco by Robert Askins (Chicago premiere)
  • Successors by Jon Steinhagen (world premiere)
  • Lascivious Something by Sheila Callaghan (Chicago premiere)

2013–14

2014–15

  • Devil's Day Off by Jon Steinhagen (world premiere)
  • Red Bud by Brett Neveu (U.S. premiere)
  • The Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Daniela Vlaskalic and Charle Tomlinson (Chicago premiere)

2015–16

Date Title Writer(s) Venue Notes
2003 Learning to Fly Ronan Marra Wing & Groove Theatre world premiere
Much Ado About Nothing William Shakespeare Athenaeum Studio
2004 Catch-22 Joseph Heller Chopin Studio Theatre
2005 Waiting for Godot Samuel Beckett Chopin Studio Theatre
2005 Landslide Ronan Marra Breadline Arts Center world premiere; nominated for three Jeff Citations: New Work (Ronan Marra), Actress in a Supporting Role - Play (Georgann Charuhas)[3]
2005 Waiting for Godot Samuel Beckett Chopin Studio Theatre remount
2006 Seascape Edward Albee Chopin Studio Theatre Jeff Citation award for Costume Design (Laura M. Dana)
2006 She Stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith Chopin Theatre
2006 The Dumb Waiter & The Zoo Story Harold Pinter and Edward Albee Chopin Studio Theatre
2006 Closer Patrick Marber Chopin Studio Theatre
2007 The Weir Conor McPherson Chopin Studio Theatre Jeff Citations nominations: Ensemble, Actress in a Supporting Role - Play (Melanie Keller), Scenic Design (Melania Lancy)[4]
2007 Hamlet William Shakespeare Chopin Theatre
2007 Fool for Love Sam Shepard Chopin Studio Theatre
2007 Old Wicked Songs Jon Marans Chopin Studio Theatre Jeff Award nominations: Actor in a Principal Role - Play (two, for Vincent L. Lonergan and Shawn Pfautsch)[5]
2008 1776 Chopin Theatre Jeff Award: Production - Musical; nominations: Director - Musical (Ronan Marra), Actor in a Principal Role - Musical (Philip Winston), Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical (Vincent L. Lonergan), Costume Design (Laura M. Dana)[5]
The Birthday Party Harold Pinter Chopin Studio Theatre
Six Degrees of Separation John Guare Chopin Studio Theatre
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Jay Presson Allen, adapted from the novel by Muriel Spark Chopin Studio Theatre
The Ballad of Sad Café adapted to the stage by Edward Albee, from the novella by Carson McCullers Chopin Studio Theatre
Aftermath Ronan Marra Raven Theatre world premiere
The Real Inspector Hound Tom Stoppard Signal Ensemble Theatre
Aftermath Ronan Marra Signal Ensemble Theatre remount
Accidental Death of an Anarchist Dario Fo Signal Ensemble Theatre
Aces Jon Steinhagen Signal Ensemble Theatre world premiere
Krapp's Last Tape Samuel Beckett Signal Ensemble Theatre
East of Berlin & The Russian Play' Hannah Moscovitch Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere; Jeff Award: Actress in a Principal Role - Play (Melanie Keller)
Motion Ronan Marra Signal Ensemble Theatre world premiere
Hostage Song book by Clay McLeod Chapman, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow, arrangements by Nathan Leigh Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere
Princes of Waco Robert Askins Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere
Successors Jon Steinhagen Signal Ensemble Theatre world premiere
Lascivious Something Sheila Callaghan Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere
This Is War Hannah Moscovitch Signal Ensemble Theatre U.S. premiere
Plainsong Eric Schmield, adapted from the novel by Kent Haruf Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere
The Next Thing book by Ronan Marra, music and lyrics by Jon Steinhagen Signal Ensemble Theatre world premiere; Jeff Award nominations: Actress in a Principal Role – Musical or Revue (Courtney Jones), New Work (Ronan Marra and Jon Steinhagen)
Devil's Day Off Jon Steinhagen Signal Ensemble Theatre world premiere
Red Bud Brett Neveu Signal Ensemble Theatre U.S. premiere
The Drowning Girls Beth Graham, Daniela Vlaskalic and Charle Tomlinson Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere
Butcher Nicolas Billon Signal Ensemble Theatre U.S. premiere
2016 The Consultant Heidi Schreck Signal Ensemble Theatre Chicago premiere

Awards and accolades

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Signal was nominated for twenty-one Jeff Awards and won three, for Production – Musical (1776), Actress in a Leading Role – Play (Melanie Keller for East of Berlin and The Russian Play), and Costume Design (Laura M. Dana for Seascape).[4][5]

Year Production Category Nominee Result
2005 Landslide Actress in a Supporting Role – Play Georgann Charuhas Nominated
New Work Ronan Marra Nominated
2006 Seascape Actor in a Supporting Role – Play Aaron Snook Nominated
Actress in a Supporting Role – Play Georgann Charuhas Nominated
Costume Design Laura M. Dana Won
2007 The Weir Ensemble Nominated
Actress in a Supporting Role – Play Melanie Keller Nominated
Scenic Design Melania Lancy Nominated
2008 Old Wicked Songs Actor in a Principal Role – Play Vincent L. Lonergan Nominated
Actor in a Principal Role – Play Shawn Pfautsch Nominated
1776 Production – Musical Example Won
Director – Musical Ronan Marra Nominated
Actor in a Principal Role – Musical Philip Winston Nominated
Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical Vincent L. Lonergan Nominated
Costume Design Laura M. Dana Nominated
2012 East of Berlin & The Russian Play Actress in a Principal Role – Play Melanie Keller Won
2014 Lascivious Something Scenic Design Buck Blue Nominated
2015 The Next Thing Actress in a Principal Role – Musical or Revue Courtney Jones Nominated
New Work Ronan Marra and Jon Steinhagen Nominated
2016 The Drowning Girls Ensemble Nominated
Lighting Design Michael C. Smith Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Jones, Chris (2015-09-16). "Signal Ensemble will close at end of 13th season". Chicago Tribune.
  2. ^ Vire, Kris (2015-09-16). "Signal Ensemble Theatre to close up shop in 2016". Time Out Chicago.
  3. ^ Jones, Chris (21 April 2005). "Small troupes hit it big with Jeffs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (2007-06-12). "House Theatre's The Sparrow Among 2007 Jeff Citations Recipients in Windy City". Playbill.
  5. ^ a b c Jones, Kenneth (2008-06-10). "Dr. Moreau, Jerry Springer, Machos Are Among Jeff Award Winners in Chicago". Playbill.
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