SigWorks is Signature Theatre’s program dedicated to developing the future of theater works and artists. Officially launched in 2015 with SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings, the program now includes SigWorks: Signature Theatre/Yale Composer Partnership, SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab, SigWorks: Musical Theater Director Workshop, SigWorks: The Heidi Thomas Writers Initiative, SigWorks: In the Schools and SigWorks: Dance Technique for Performers. The ever-growing umbrella of SigWorks programs demonstrates Signature’s ongoing commitment to initiatives which nurture writers, composers, performers, directors and productions.

Read about our programs below.

SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings

SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings is an initiative which highlights and supports the work of DC-area playwrights. This series is an opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and patrons to explore new plays in a fun and informal environment. Each reading will be followed by a dialogue with the audience and the artists.

New work at Signature Theatre is sponsored by Dan and Gloria Logan.

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SigWorks in the Schools

Continuing Signature’s ongoing commitment to the rising generations of theater artists, SigWorks in the Schools focuses on burgeoning high school playwrights. Exclusively for Arlington Public Schools high school students, five young writers are chosen to go through a 5-session playwriting course led by a professional playwright, culminating in an evening of staged readings performed by professional actors.

2024 Session Dates

• February 26, 4PM – 5:30PM
• March 8, 4PM – 5:30PM
• March 18, 4PM – 5:30PM
• April 1, 4PM – 5:30PM
• April 8, 4PM – 5:30PM
• April 13
  • Show Rehearsal: 12 – 5PM
  • Show: 7 – 8PM

All sessions and performances held at Signature Theatre.

How to Apply
Email education@sigtheatre.org with:

• Student’s full name (first and last)
• School / Current Grade
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• A 3-page creative writing sample

Application Deadline: February 13. Any questions, please reach out to education@sigtheatre.org.

Signature Theatre’s Education and Community Programs are sponsored by

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SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab

SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab is a new developmental workshop that furthers our mission to promote new theatrical work. The creators of a selected original musical spend two intensive weeks refining their work, and the program culminates with public readings for the musical.

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SigWorks: The Heidi Thomas Writers’ Initiative

Through a generous grant from The Jenna and Paul Segal Foundation, Broadway Producer Jenna Segal will sponsor a world premiere by a female playwright with a female director for the next five years through SigWorks: The Heidi Thomas Writer’s Initiative. The grant also gives Signature the resources to help playwrights secure second and third productions by bringing artistic directors from across the country to Signature during the run of their plays to meet with the playwright and plan for future productions of the work.

This program is named after acclaimed British playwright and screenwriter Heidi Thomas. Miss Thomas is the creator and executive producer behind the BBC’s Call the Midwife series and adapted the recent Broadway revival of Gigi directed by Eric Schaeffer and produced by Jenna Segal. Heidi’s award-winning theatrical work has been performed at the Liverpool Playhouse, the National Theatre Studio, The Almeida, Chichester Festival and Royal Court Theatres, the National Theatre of Norway, by the Women’s Playhouse Trust and by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her screenwriting has been acknowledged and awarded by BAFTA, the Emmys, The Writers Guild of Great Britain, Women in Film and Television UK, and the Royal Television Society.