Signature Theatre Company to Premiere New Plays by Sam Shepard, David Henry Hwang & More During 2012-13 Season

Signature Theatre Company has announced eight productions for its 2012-13 season, including world premieres by previously announced Residency One playwright David Henry Hwang, Residency Five playwright Regina Taylor and Sam Shepard. The season will also feature a new project by Bill Irwin and David Shiner in addition to classic works by August Wilson and Lanford Wilson. All productions will be staged at off-Broadway’s Pershing Square Signature Center. No casting has been announced for any of the productions.

Inspired by the life of Bruce Lee, Hwang's Kung Fu will receive a world premiere in fall 2013 at the Irene Diamond Stage. Directed by Leigh Silverman (Chinglish), Kung Fu is the story of a young martial artist who comes to America from Hong Kong in the 1960s to become the biggest movie star in the world.

Also helmed by Silverman, the revival of Hwang’s Tony-nominated play Golden Child will premiere October 23 and run through December 2 at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. Set in 1918, Golden Child is the story of a Chinese family who struggles to adjust to Western ways.

Directed by May Adrales, the revival production of Hwang’s The Dance and the Railroad will begin performances February 5 and run through March 17, 2013 at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre. Set on a California mountaintop in 1867, The Dance and the Railroad incorporates the stagecraft of Chinese opera to tell an intimate and haunting American story about two Chinese laborers.

Heartless, a new play by Sam Shepard, will receive a world premiere beginning August 7 at the Irene Diamond Stage. The production will run through September 16. Set in Los Angeles, Heartless is the story of a family grappling with their own secrets. Daniel Aukin is set to direct.

Bill Irwin will reunite with fellow Fool Moon clown David Shiner for The Bill Irwin and David Shiner Project, a new work combining magic, slapstick and hilarity by using music, technology and movement. The project will premiere October 30 at the Irene Diamond Stage and run through December 9.

Regina Taylor's --- and Potatoes will receive a world premiere on April 30, 2013 at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. and run through June 9. The play follows Chicago book publisher William Ames, who struggles to adapt his business in the rapidly changing digital age. No director has been announced.

The revival of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson will begin performances January 29, 2013 at the Irene Diamond Stage and run through March 10. Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson is the story of the Charles family as they engage in a battle over their shared legacy—an antique piano.

Lanford Wilson’s classic play The Mound Builders will begin performances April 23, 2013 at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre. The production will play a limited engagement through June 2. Set in Indiana, The Mound Builders tells the tale of a team of archaeologists who excavate the remains of a Native American civilization.