PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Signature's Sunset Boulevard with Ed DixonAction! Broadway regular Ed Dixon, who plays the role of mysterious butler Max in the Signature Theatre's new resident staging of Sunset Boulevard, takes Playbill.com on an exclusive backstage tour of the DC-area venue.
By
Matthew Blank
December 28, 2010
Florence Lacey, who has a long history as a popular Eva in Lloyd Webber's Evita, stars as forgotten silent-screen actress Norma Desmond, who seeks a 1950s return to stardom via a new picture, the screenplay of which is being cleaned up by a handsome young screenwriter that she ensnares. D.B. Bonds (The Phantom of the Opera; Les Misérables; Signature's The Visit) plays writer Joe Gillis.
Dixon — whose Broadway credits include Les Miz, The Iceman Cometh, The Three Musketeers and The Scarlet Pimpernel — grabbed a camera and shot some photos backstage at the Arlington, VA theatre:
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Signature's Sunset Boulevard With Ed Dixon
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Signature's Sunset Boulevard With Ed Dixon
Broadway regular Ed Dixon, who plays the role of mysterious butler Max in the Signature Theatre's brand new resident staging of Sunset Boulevard, takes Playbill.com on an exclusive backstage tour of the DC-area venue. Read the Playbill.com story.
17 PHOTOS
How can so many musicians (20) fit in such a tiny space?
Ed Dixon
Sean Thompson, Stephen Gregory Smith, Matthew Wojtal and William Diggle in the men's dressing room. No posing here.
Ed Dixon
The running crew prepares Sheldrake's desk.
Ed Dixon
Deck chief Michelle Kadikian. Now this is how you call a cue on stage right!
Ed Dixon
Flo Lacey, even glamorous in her dressing room.
Ed Dixon
Fred Shiffman in a moment of quiet revelry. (Unusual.)
Ed Dixon
The women's dressing room just before the glamor arrived... but not before one of the men did.
Ed Dixon
A party in the green room, where it's always someone's birthday.
Ed Dixon
Harry Winter gives proper top-of-the-head makeup tips.
Ed Dixon
Jake Odmark explains the function of wardrobe.
Ed Dixon
Maestro Jon Kalbfleisch with "a couple" of pre-show notes.
Ed Dixon
Karma Camp gives choreographic encouragement to Sandy Bainum by the call board.
Ed Dixon
Resident director Matthew Gardiner and production stage manager Kerry Epstein take note of the fact that I have forgotten to sign in while taking photos.
Ed Dixon
Max Von Meyerling (me!) professes, yet again, his innocence.
Ed Dixon
D.B. Bonds and Sandy Bainum share some Laffy Taffy. (Sandy gets around.)
Ed Dixon
The wig room, where all acting begins... unless you're bald!
Ed Dixon
Matt Conner plays carols in the Signature lobby with Shirlington Village twinkling behind him. Come see us at the Signature before Feb. 13!
The story of a hungry young screenwriter who hitches his wagon to a faded film star also features Susan Derry (Wonderful Town) as love interest and fellow screenwriter Betty; three-time Helen Hayes Award winner Fred Shiffman as Sheldrake; and Harry Winter as Cecil B. DeMille.
Eric Schaeffer directs the production. Music director and conductor Jon Kalbfleisch leads the orchestra. The creative group consists of Karma Camp (choreography), Daniel Conway (sets), Howell Binkley (lights), Kathleen Geldard (costumes) and Matt Rowe (sound).
The Sunset Boulevard ensemble features Sandy Bainum, Matt Conner, William Diggle, Rebecca Fale, Gia Mora, Jake Odmark, Kirstin Riegler, Stephen Gregory Smith, Sean Thompson, Matthew Wojtal and Kara Tameika Watkins.
Tickets range in price from $59-$85 and are available by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT (7328) or visiting www.signature-theatre.org.
