'Giant,' 'Ace' in Signature slate

Musical to highlight theater season

By PAUL HARRIS

ARLINGTON, VA. -- A world preem of Michael John LaChiusa’s musical, “Giant,” and a new production of the tuner, “Ace,” which is being aimed for Broadway, will highlight the Signature Theater’s 2008-09 season.

Signature a.d. Eric Schaeffer will stage the April 2009 bow of “Giant,” with a $50,000 assist from the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays. The show is based on Edna Ferber’s novel about a Texas ranch family, which was filmed in 1956 with James Dean. Schaeffer also will direct “Ace,” the musical by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker about a young boy’s dreams of becoming an aviator. The tuner was produced last season at San Diego’s Old Globe.

The upcoming slate will also include Martin McDonagh’s “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” and “The Little Dog Laughed” by Douglas Carter Beane.