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Play On!

Aug 12 – Oct 5, 2025
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Person wearing a red suit, hat, skirt, and heels dancing joyfully against a green abstract background, surrounded by floating sheets of music.

A delightful musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits.

Aspiring songwriter Vy comes to swinging 1930s Harlem to make it big. But when she discovers the doors of opportunity are closed to women, she disguises herself as a man to pitch her songs to Harlem’s hottest composer, the Duke. However, when her tunes attract the attention of Cotton Club performer Lady Liv, the object of the Duke’s affection, Vy-Man is swept up in a swinging tempest of love, mistaken identity and jazz.

If music be the food of love, then Play On’s timeless classics "Take the 'A' Train," "Mood Indigo" "I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good" and "It Don’t Mean a Thing," combine with stunning dance to make for a joyous feast in a fun and fresh take on a beloved comedy.

"Charming, enchanting, laugh-out-loud funny… this show is quite the revelation." – What’s On Stage

Conceived by Sheldon Epps
Book by Cheryl L. West
Music by Duke Ellington
Music Directed by Jermaine Hill
Choreographed by Breon Arzell
Directed by Lili-Anne Brown

Performance Information

Seating Chart

Play On! seating chart
  • Running Time

    Running time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

  • Effects Warnings

    This show will contain strobe and lighting effects, loud noises, theatrical haze and herbal cigarettes.

  • Content Warnings

    This show contains adult themes around gender/sexuality/sex.

  • Age Recommendation

    Recommended for ages 8+. Signature does not admit anyone under 6.

Specialty Performances

Discussion Nights

September 10 at 7:30PM & September 30 at 7:30PM

Go behind the scenes with an exclusive post-show discussion following select Tuesday and Wednesday performances.

Pride Night

September 5 at 8PM

A special Friday event for members of the LGBTQ community, family and friends with a lively post-show reception.

Accessibility

Signature Theatre offers several accessibility options to ensure our Theatre is welcoming to everyone.

Theatre Accessibility Info

Accessible Performances

ASL Interpreted

September 25 at 8PM

Masks Required

September 7 at 2PM

Closed Captions via the GalaPro app

All performances

The Cast

Bryan Archibald

Bryan Archibald

Ensemble

INTERNATIONAL: Voices of Virginia 09’ Get On Your Feet Japan Tour. DC AREA: Olney & Round House Theatre: FELA! (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical, - Hayes); Olney Theatre: Long Way Down (Swing, Mike & Frick U/S); Studio Theatre: Choirboy (Pharus U/S); Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Dreamgirls (CC U/S); Attucks Theatre: Black Nativity (Lead Vocalist), Railings (Jamal); THEARC West Blackbox: BREATHe, (Rayford); Armstrong Hall Theatre: Ev’ry Dog Has His Day (Pepe); Ira Aldridge Theatre: Ain’t Misbehavin (Andre), Bubbly Black Girl (Gregory), Not About Nightingale (Sailor Jack), En’jest (Principle Dancer). EDUCATION: Howard University, BFA; Full Sail University, Masters of Audio & Music Production. IG: Sermonboy_

Wesley J. Barnes

Wesley J. Barnes

Jester

BROADWAY: A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. NEW YORK: New York City Center Encores!: The Tap Dance Kid. NATIONAL TOURS: Mean Girls (1st Nat’l), Jesus Christ Superstar (50th Anniversary Tour). INTERNATIONAL: Magic of the Dance (Germany, Taiwan), Kinky Boots (Canadian; Drayton Entertainment). SELECT REGIONAL: Marriott Theatre: In the Heights; JAG Productions: Choir Boy; NJ PAC: Sophisticated Ladies; Phoenix Theatre Co.: The Scottsboro Boys, Newsies; Theatre Aspen: Hairspray. OTHER: Founder of The MPACT (Mentoring Performing Artists and Curating Talent) Group, Founder. EDUCATION: Concordia University Irvine. www.wesleyjbarnes.com @wesjbarnes @thempactgroup

Chuckie Benson

Chuckie Benson

Rev

NATIONAL TOUR: Spamilton; The Acting Company of NY: August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, The Comedy of Errors. REGIONAL: McCarter and Goodspeed: Dreamgirls; Oregon Shakespeare Festival: RENT, Once on This Island, The Three Musketeers; Drury Lane: The Color Purple; Kokandy: The Wiz; Porchlight Theatre: Sophisticated Ladies; Broadway Playhouse: Heartbreak Hotel; American Blues Theatre: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story; Mercury Theatre: HAIR; Theo Ubique: RENT; Wagon Wheel: Ragtime, Sister Act; Timber Lake Playhouse: Big River, Hairspray. IG:@chuckie.benson

Montel B. Butler

Montel B. Butler

Ensemble

he/him SIGNATURE: Gun and Powder. NYC: Phish 2022 New Years Eve Concert (singer). REGIONAL: Olney Theatre: Beautiful (Lead Drifter); Disney Cruise Line: The Little Mermaid (Sebastian) TELEVISION: NBC: Saturday Night Live with Sam Smith EDUCATION: Towson University: Bachelors of Science in Music

Ciara Hargrove

Ciara Hargrove

Ensemble

she/her DC AREA: Olney Theatre Center: Sleepova (Elle), Senior Class (Ensemble, u/s Alizé and Ty'Quasia), Long Way Down (Swing). REGIONAL: Theatre by the Sea: 42nd Street (Ethel), Sound of Music (Ensemble, u/s Berthe); Arizona Broadway Theatre: Hello, Dolly! (Ensemble, u/s Minnie Fay & Ermengarde), Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble). NATIONAL TOUR: American Girl Live!: In Concert. OTHER: Goodspeed New Works Festival: Little Miss Perfect, Photosynthesis. EDUCATION: The Hartt School—BFA in Musical Theatre. UPCOMING: Olney Theatre Center: Hello, Dolly! www.ciarahargrove.com Instagram: @theciarahargrove

Divine Iweha

Divine Iweha

Ensemble

she/her NEW YORK: 54 Below Passes the Bechdel Test. EDUCATIONAL: University of Maryland Baltimore County: In The Darkest Forest, Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Charon). EDUCATION: University of Maryland Baltimore County @divineiweha

Jared Martin

Jared Martin

Swing

he/him SIGNATURE: In the Heights. REGIONAL: Virginia Repertory Theatre: 9 to 5 the Musical (Josh/Ensemble); Mac-Haydn Theatre: A Chorus Line (Richie), Kiss Me Kate (Paul), Urinetown; Hope Repertory Theatre: A Year With Frog and Toad, The Importance of Being Earnest. OTHER: Workshops: A Killer Party (Clarke Staples). Readings: The Flick. EDUCATION: Shenandoah University: BFA Musical Theatre. @_jaredmartin_

Vaughn Ryan Midder

Vaughn Ryan Midder

Ensemble

NATIONAL TOUR: The John F. Kennedy Center: Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie; Adventure Theatre: Three Little Birds. DC AREA: Olney Theatre Center/Round House Theatre: Felá!; Mosaic Theatre: The Emmett Till Trilogy, Native Son; Everyman Theatre: Sweat; Gala Hispanic Theatre: In the Heights en Español; Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Black Side of the Moon; Constellation Theatre Company: Urinetown, Avenue Q; Studio Theatre: Choir Boy. AWARDS: Helen Hayes Award - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (Avenue Q), Helen Hayes nomination - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (In the Heights), Monologue Madness D.C. 2018 Champion. EDUCATION: B.A. Theatre, University of Maryland, College Park. IG: @vaughn_ryan_

Kalen Robinson

Kalen Robinson

Ensemble

she/her SIGNATURE: Passing Strange (Swing). DC AREA: Studio Theatre: Paradise Blue (Pumpkin); The Kennedy Center: Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks (national tour), Finn (Seasil); Olney Theatre Center: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Janelle); Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: The Sensational Sea-Minkettes (Raquel); Folger Theatre: Metamorphoses (ensemble); Imagination Stage: Nate the Great (Annie), The Hula Hoopin’ Queen (Kameeka); Constellation Theatre and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma: Once on This Island (Ti Moune); Folger Theatre: Our Verse In Time to Come (Sprite); Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Elf: The Musical (Deb), Grease (Jan), Rocky: the Musical (Angie); Round House Theatre: Spring Awakening (Thea). REGIONAL: Fulton Theatre: Cinderella (Stepsister), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne S.). EDUCATION: BFA in Musical Theatre, Howard University. kalenrobinson.com. IG: @k_nicole143

Tierra London Rush

Tierra London Rush

Swing

she/hers REGIONAL: Know Theatre of Cincinnati: BLERDS (Tonya u/s, Kiera u/s), Die Hard is a Christmas Movie (Mom/Al u/s). EDUCATION: Xavier University: BA Musical Theatre. https://tierralondonrush.wixsite.com/mysite @tierralondon_

Awa Sal Secka

Awa Sal Secka

Lady Liv

SIGNATURE: Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (Natalie/Musician 2), Ragtime (Sarah, 2024 HHA), Gun and Powder (Flo), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon), Broadway in the Park, Signature Vinyl. NEW YORK: The Public: GODDESS (Zawadi/Nadira U/S), NATIONAL TOUR: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Bea). REGIONAL: Paper Mill: After Midnight (Sassy); Berkeley Rep: GODDESS (Zawadi). DC AREA: Kennedy Center: RENT (Joanne), Me…Jane (Maisie), Chasing the Wind (Abby); Ford’s: Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), The Wiz (Glinda/Dorothy u/s); Theatre J: Intimate Apparel (Mayme); Round House: School Girls (Ama); Caroline, or Change (Dottie); Imagination: Charlie Brown (Lucy); ArtsCentric: AIDA (Aida), MEMPHIS (Felicia); Studio: SILENCE! (Ardelia); OTC: Co-Writer of The Joy That Carries You, Children of Eden Concert (Eve). Multi HH Award Winner/Nominee. EDUCATION: Montgomery College. IG: @_kujichagulia_ 

Alana S. Thomas

Alana S. Thomas

CC

she/her NEW YORK: Gallery Players: Ragtime; Theatre of War: Antigone In Ferguson. DC AREA: Dance Institute of Washington: Spirit of Kwanzaa; Constellation Theatre Company: Little Shop of Horrors (Ronette); Gala Hispanic Theatre: FAME The Musical (Mabel); Imagination Stage: The Hula Hoopin’ Queen, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, P. Nokio. REGIONAL: Virginia Repertory Theatre: In The Heights, The Color Purple, The Producers, White Christmas; Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: Ragtime; Firehouse Theatre Company: Dessa Rose; Riverside Center for the Performing Arts: Legally Blonde The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. OTHER: Summer of Love Concert Tour (Ikette dancer). AWARDS: Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical; Nomination (Ronette) @alanabesaiyan

Derrick D. Truby Jr.

Derrick D. Truby Jr.

Sweets

Ford's Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Sister Act the Musical (Curtis), A Christmas Carol (Fezziwig), Ford’s Theatre Company Member; Folger Theatre: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Simple); Adventure Theatre: Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play! (Elephant), Winnie the Pooh (Pooh); Monumental Theatre Company: Be More Chill; Imagination Stage: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; ArtsCentric: Smokey Joe’s Café; Memphis the Musical (Bobby); ArtsCentric Company Member. REGIONAL: Great Lakes Center for the Arts: Godspell (Jesus). Instagram: @derricktrubyjr

Sean Walton

Sean Walton

Ensemble

REGIONAL: McCarter Theatre: Dreamgirls; The MUNY: The Color Purple; Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Once on This Island; Steppenwolf Theatre: Harriet Jacobs; Drury Lane: Grand Hotel, Boys from Syracuse, Hot Mikado, Hairspray; St. Louis Black Rep: Romeo & Juliet, Five Guys Named Moe; Stray Dog Theatre: Angels In America. FILM/ TV: Sirens, Scrooge & Marley, Hogtown, COMMUNE.

Greg Watkins

Greg Watkins

Duke

DC AREA: Arena Stage/Alabama Shakespeare Festival/Seattle Opera: Jubilee (Benjamin M. Holmes, Assistant Director); Keegan Theatre: Legally Blonde (Professor Callahan, Helen Hayes award, Supporting Actor); Constellation Theatre Company: Aida (Zoser), Desperate Measures (Governor); ‪ Workhouse Arts Center: Rock of Ages (Stacee Jaxx); Arts Centric: ‪Sister Act (Curtis Jackson); Avant Bard: The Gospel at Colonus (Polyneices, Helen Hayes Award nomination), King Lear; Toby’s Dinner Theater: ‪Dreamgirls; ‪Creative Cauldron: Thunder Knocking On the Door; Olney Theatre: Finian’s Rainbow; Kennedy Center: Four Little Girls (Musical Director); In Series: Stormy Weather (Musical Director); Scena Theater: A Clockwork Orange, The Dead (Music Director). EDUCATION: Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University, American University. IG: @gregwatkinsmusic

Jalisa Williams

Jalisa Williams

Vy

SIGNATURE: The Color Purple. REGIONAL: McCarter Theater: Primary Trust (Wally’s Waiter u/s), Dreamgirls (Ensemble/DC); Goodspeed Opera House: Dreamgirls (ensemble/DC). DC AREA: Olney Theatre Center: Fela! (ensemble); Ford's Theatre: Shout Sister Shout (Dee Dee); Artscentric: Aida (Aida u/s, ensemble), Chicago (Hunyak). TV/FILM: BET+: Holiday Heartbreak, Netflix-BET+: Love Dot Com. EDUCATION: UMBC/VCU. IG: @Lissae88 

Kanysha Williams

Kanysha Williams

Miss Mary

SIGNATURE: STAX Records, Ain't Misbehavin', Soul Divas, Gun and Powder. DC AREA: Ford's Theatre: Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors; Arena Stage: The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence (National Tour), American Prophet, Drumfolk (National Tour); Shakespeare Theatre Company: Macbeth In Stride; Olney Theatre Center: FELA!, AD16; Round House Theatre: The Tempest; The Kennedy Center: Acoustic Rooster (National Tour). REGIONAL: Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre: Sister Act; Riverside Center for the Performing Arts: The Color Purple. EDUCATION: The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music; George Mason University, B.M. Music, 2014. MUSIC: Original music available for streaming on all platforms. PODCAST: Downstage Center Podcast (Host). SOCIAL MEDIA: @StrawberrySings - IG; @StrawberrySingsMusic - TikTok; @StrawberrySingsMusic - YouTube

Creative Team

Signature Theatre

4200 Campbell Ave Arlington, Virginia