Erin Driscoll (Dede), Kyle Sherman (Ricky), Callum Francis (Michael), and Deema Turkomani (Sam) in All the World’s a Stage at Signature Theatre. Photo by Christopher Mueller
Theatre impacts all of us in such unique ways, and luckily, in the DMV community, we are fortunate to have numerous organizations offering distinct theatrical viewpoints into this art form we all love. Signature Theatre’s regional premiere of “All The World’s A Stage” has me realizing just how much I’ve taken that for granted in this profoundly heartfelt tale.
…thoughtfully explores the complexities of identity, love, and acceptance…It’s not one to miss.
Originally premiering Off-Broadway in 2025, Adam Gwon’s “All The World’s A Stage” takes us back 30 years to small-town Pennsylvania where closeted math teacher, Ricky Alleman, is faced with a perplexing dilemma: assist Sam, a struggling high schooler, with a theatre competition and risk his carefully compartmentalized life unraveling, or conform to his Bible-thumping town’s ideals. Featuring a sweeping score that pays homage to Gwon’s “Ordinary Days,” “All The World’s A Stage” highlights the desire for acceptance and community, all wrapped up like a love sonnet written by a theatre kid.
Truth be told, this was the first time I had seen a show in Signature’s Ark Theatre, and I was immediately enthralled by the intimacy of the space. This was only elevated by Paige Hathaway’s scenic design which transforms the black box into a classroom, hallway, office, and big-box store, all through the clever use of Jenga-style set pieces and props.
In keeping with the production’s overarching themes of community, the inclusion of the band on stage gave the production a wonderfully tight-knit feel. While the sound balance was slightly off during the first number, it was immediately resolved for the rest of the show, allowing the cast’s rich harmonies (kudos to music director Marika Countouris) to soar. This created some stunning, heartfelt moments, even with some occasionally out-of-place choreography. Paired with Matthew Gardiner’s thoughtful direction, these elements made for some truly tear-jerking moments.
Gardiner has once again excelled at assembling a cast to portray this emotional tale, led by Kyle Sherman (Ricky Alleman) and Deema Turkomani (Sam Bucknam). The audience was in fantastic hands from curtain up to curtain down. Both Sherman and Turkomani skillfully navigated Ricky and Sam’s internal struggles and the nuances of feeling confined to a box when all they want is to break down the walls around them. However, it wasn’t just the emotional weight of their scenes that the duo handled so well. Their comedic timing was equally impressive, with Turkomani perfectly embodying a high school student who is both enamored with and embarrassed by their teacher. Both delivered not only layered performances but also fabulous vocals, especially in Sherman’s “Somebody Found the Words” and Turkomani’s “Other Lives.”
Sherman and Turkomani’s performances were further elevated by the rest of the superb company, including Callum Francis (Michael Hallett) and Erin Driscoll (the wildly conflicted Dede Rozenel). Francis was a true standout, providing a fabulous foil to Sherman’s Ricky: a man looking to stand out and make a difference, in contrast to Ricky’s desire to remain a little more in the closet (at least at work). Francis truly excelled not only in the show-stopping, over-the-top moments, showcased brilliantly in “I’m Your Man,” but also in the heartfelt number “Mirrors,” alongside Turkomani, which left me genuinely misty-eyed.
Like Sam and Ricky’s favorite play, Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America,” “All The World’s A Stage” thoughtfully explores the complexities of identity, love, and acceptance. In a region fortunate enough to have such a diverse theatrical community, Signature Theatre reminds us just how powerful this art form can be in helping us find our own sense of belonging. It’s not one to miss.
Running Time: Approximately one hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.
Advisory: Recommended for mature teens and up. Contains intolerance and intentional property damage against the LGTBQ+ community and an LGBTQ+ owned business discussed and depicted.
Children under 6 are not admitted at Signature.
“All The World’s A Stage” runs through December 20, 2026, at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 703-820-9771, email tickets@sigtheatre.org, or go online.
