Soft Power at Signature Theatre

Soft Power

Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell Avenue Arlington

After the 2016 election, when a Chinese American playwright is attacked by an unknown assailant, he hallucinates a Golden Age musical comedy about a Chinese theater producer and Hillary Clinton falling in love. Hilarious and biting, this political satire dares to ask: Does American Democracy still work? And is it worth believing in?

Thru - Sep 15, 2024

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Sat, Sep 7: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sun, Sep 8: 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Tue, Sep 10: 7:30pm

Wed, Sep 11: 7:30pm

Thu, Sep 12: 8:00pm

Fri, Sep 13: 8:00pm

Sat, Sep 14: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sun, Sep 15: 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 703-820-9771

www.sigtheatre.org

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Soft Power Reviews

Average Rating based on 6 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Recommended

"...Directed with flair by Ethan Heard, “Soft Power” isn’t just a civics lesson, though; it’s a sharp, often absurdist, critique of the American democratic process, delivered with a wink and a nudge. Many members of the all-Asian cast perform in whiteface, complete with blond wigs, turning the tables on the usual power dynamics of race in American theater."

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- Rhoda Feng

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"...Though Soft Power draws on some of the most recognizable and (for many) embarrassing stereotypes of American culture, Hwang avoids punching down and cruelty for the sake of it. In doing so, the cultural critiques within Soft Power hit much harder."

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- D.R. Lewis

MetroWeekly - Highly Recommended

"...Making use of his art to process the pain and confusion of a heinous physical attack, the David Henry Hwang depicted in the brilliantly funny musical Soft Power echoes the David Henry Hwang who wrote the book and lyrics for the show."

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- André Hereford

Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

"...Tesori's music propels the action with both American and Chinese grace notes. The score incorporates emotional ballads, songs of despair and compromise, and rousing political numbers, all packed into a sleek 85-minute run time without intermission. Music director Angie Benson and nine other musicians provide strong support from their platform above the stage."

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- Susan Berlin

Washington City Paper - Highly Recommended

"...Despite being a farce, Soft Power has true feeling. The musical number “Fuxing Park,” in which DHH reflects on his father’s childhood in China and his own alienation from his ethnic roots, is beautiful. The romance between Xing and Clinton is convincing and moving in both its writing and acting. The last 10 minutes of Soft Power will leave audience members glowing with patriotism on their way out. The show program even features a selection of AAPI-affirming resources and voter registration resources."

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- Allison R. Shely

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

"...“Soft Power” is directed by Signature’s Associate Artistic Director, Ethan Heard. Heard seems to have a firm handle on the lines presented on the page and also the subtext bubbling up between those lines. The ease with which a musical number morphs into a delicate love scene into vehement political statement is certainly impressive and a credit to Heard’s own theatrical sensibilities."

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- Anne Valentino

Soft Power at Signature Theatre

Soft Power

Soft Power Reviews

Washington Post - Recommended

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

MetroWeekly - Highly Recommended

Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

Washington City Paper - Highly Recommended

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

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