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First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald

Jan 31 - Feb 5, 2023
Ella Fitzgerals with hair in two buns on top of her head leaning against a railing. Photo is tinted blue.
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The definition of an icon, Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for over 50 years. Celebrate her phenomenal range, syncopated style, and heart of gold with a swinging cabaret bursting with her incredible songbook including “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Mack the Knife,” “Blue Skies” and many more.

Performance Information

Seating Chart

  • Run Time

    Cabarets run approximately 75 minutes, no intermission.

  • Masking

    Masks are always optional in the lobby and other public areas of the building.

    Face masks are required inside the performance spaces on Thursdays and Sundays.
    Face masks are optional but strongly encouraged inside the performance spaces Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

  • Plan Your Visit

    Signature does not admit children under 6 years old.

Cast Members

Ayo

AYO is a gifted vocalist who studied Jazz Voice at Howard University. During her time there she was a featured soloist in Howard University’s Jazz Ensemble Afro Blue, a featured composer for the Kennedy Center’s Residency, Betty Carter Jazz Ahead where she studied under Jason Moran and Carmen Lundy. She was also most recently Young Ella Fitzgerald on the HBO Documentary The Apollo and its subsequent album Ella’s 100th Live at the Apollo featuring: Liz Wright, Patti Austin and Ledisi. For more information, visit: www.ayoofficial.com

Rochelle Rice

Rochelle Rice

Walking a fine line between jazz and folk, award-winning singer-songwriter, Rochelle Rice, lives in between the cracks of hard and fast genre rules. As a singer steeped in the music of artists like Lizz Wright, Joni Mitchell, and Carmen McRae, Rice’s sound leans heavily on solid lyrics, jazz-influenced harmony, and soaring vocals. Her debut project, Wonder, established her as a singer’s singer with beautiful original songs, a sizzling quartet, and lush strings.

Rice’s versatility and unique skills as a singer, composer, and clinician have allowed her the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s most acclaimed musicians, including touring with the world-renowned women’s group, Sweet Honey In The Rock® and featuring in Signature Theatre’s Hotter Than July: Stevie Wonder cabaret.

Creative Team

Mark G. Meadows

Mark G. Meadows

Director of Cabarets

he/him SIGNATURE: Director of Signature Cabarets; Music Direction: The Color Purple, RENT, After Midnight, Spunk, Ain’t Misbehavin’; Jelly’s Last Jam. Apollo Productions: ELLA, An American Miracle. Kennedy Center: Acoustic Rooster REGIONAL: Oregon Shakespeare Theatre: Once on this Island. Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Choir Boy, Wildfire. LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE: Associate Music Direction: The Outsiders.  ALBUMS: Be the Change, To the People, Somethin’ Good, A Child is Born. CONCERTS: Jazz at the Lincoln Center, DC Jazz Festival, Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center, Smalls Jazz, The Strathmore. INTERNATIONAL: Haiti, Russia, The Congo, Qatar, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, The Caribbean. APPEARED WITH: Cynthia Erivo, Usher, Bobby McFerrin, Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washington, Nicholas Payton, Kurt Elling, Ledisi. AWARDS: 2020 DC Wammies Jazz Artist of the Year, Washington City Paper’s Artist & Composer of the Year. TEACHING: American University, Shenandoah University: Jazz Instructor; Duke Ellington School of the Arts: The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. MarkGMeadows.com @MarkGMeadows

Signature Theatre

4200 Campbell Ave Arlington, Virginia