Todd Buonopane & Sherri L. Edelen to Star in Sheri Wilner's Cake Off at Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Cake Off, a new musical by Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam Gwon (Signature's The Boy Detective Fails). Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's Gypsy, Shakespeare's R&J) this hilarious new musical is a battle-of-the-sexes set at the 50th Annual Millberry Cake-Off competition. Cake Off runs September 29 - November 22 in the ARK Theatre.

"I've been fortunate enough to work with Julia Jordan and Adam Gwon numerous times and have known Sheri Wilner for many years, so I couldn't be more excited for this collaboration," said director Joe Calarco. "Cake Off is hilarious and also fearless in its exploration of gender politics."

Cake Off is presented as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival, which is dedicated to featuring new work by female playwrights and highlighting the scope of plays being written by women. Signature is proud to be an originating theater sponsoring the two-month festival, which boasts participation from more than 50 theaters throughout the Nation's Capital region.

"As one of the originators of this important festival, Signature is producing three projects with women writers this season - and we're especially excited to be producing one of the few musicals in the festival with Cake Off," said Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. "We're all committed to this cause and I couldn't be more proud of the effort at Signature Theatre and in this city to bring female voices to the stage."

The production will star Todd Buonopane (Broadway's Cinderella, Chicago) as Paul, Sherri L. Edelen (Signature's Gypsy, Hairspray) as Rita, Jamie Smithson (Arena Stage's Fiddler on the Roof) as Jack DeVault/Multi-Character Man and Ian Berlin (Signature's Elmer Gantry) as Wyatt.

The creative team includes Musical Direction by Andrea Grody (The Public Theater's The Fortress of Solitude, The Tempest); Scenic Design by Jason Sherwood (Goodspeed's The Circus in Winter, Studio Theatre's Choir Boy); Costume Design by Frank Labovitz (Signature's Cabaret, Soon); Lighting Design by R. Lee Kennedy (Transport Group's Three Days to See, Almost Maine); Sound Design by Lane Elms (Signature's Cabaret, Simply Sondheim); Production Stage Manager Julie Meyers (Signature's Soon, Xanadu); and Production Assistant Jessica Skelton (Signature's Soon).

It's the 50th Annual Millberry Cake Off. The legendary jackpot: one million dollars for the best homemade sugary delight. After a chilly pre-heating, hardy contestants Paul and Rita don their aprons, strap on their oven mitts and square off. Armed with whisks, bowls, knives and eggs, the two engage in an increasingly ludicrous all-out brawl - and only one can remain standing when the timer dings.

Cake Off is based on an original play by Sheri Wilner. The New York Times called Wilner's play a "laugh-out-loud satire on gender roles...barbed, witty, thoughtful, giggle and snort inducing."

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $40. Single tickets are available in person at the Signature Box Office at 4200 Campbell Avenue in Shirlington, by calling the Signature Theatre Box Office (703) 820-9771, and online at www.sigtheatre.org.

This production's Pride performances are scheduled for October 16 and November 6. Discussion performances are scheduled for October 14, October 27 and November 4. Open Caption performances are November 15 at 2:00PM and November 17 at 7:30PM.

Sign up now for priority ticket offers at www.sigtheatre.org