2012/13 Signature season: David Henry Hwang

Signature Theatre have announced that Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) will be the Residency One Playwright for the 2012-2013 season at the company's new home, The Pershing Square Signature Center.

Residency One is Signature's core one-year playwright-in-residence program that produces a series of plays from the body of work of one accomplished writer. Hwang succeeds Athol Fugard, whose 'My Children! My Africa!' and 'The Train Driver' will be presented in the coming months, as Signature's Residency One playwright.

Titles, dates and directors for the David Henry Hwang series will be announced at a later date.

Signature Theatre's Founding Artistic Director James Houghton said, "I have been looking forward to a season of David Henry Hwang's work for a long time, and I am thrilled that he will be Signature's 2012-2013 Residency One Playwright. For over thirty years, David's plays have tackled critical issues of identity, legacy, and the global community with incredible insight and great humor. He is also a fierce supporter of emerging playwrights and a vital leader in the New York theatre community. We are honored to have David join the company and to produce three of his extraordinary plays."

David Henry Hwang said, "It doesn't feel like so much time has passed since Joe Papp gave me my first production more than thirty years ago. I am moved and grateful for this amazing opportunity to revisit some of my early work in the beautiful new Pershing Square Signature Center. Joining the roster of iconic playwrights who have enjoyed Residency One seasons has long been a fantasy of mine. Thanks so much to Jim Houghton and Signature Theatre for making my dreams come true."

David Henry Hwang's plays include 'M. Butterfly' (1988 Tony Award, 1989 Pulitzer Finalist), 'Golden Child' (1996 Obie Award, 1998 Tony Nomination), 'Yellow Face' (2008 Obie Award and Pulitzer Finalist) and 'FOB' (1981 Obie Award). His Broadway musicals include the books for Elton John & Tim Rice's 'Aida' (co-author), 'Flower Drum Song' (revival, 2002 Tony Nomination) and Disney's 'Tarzan.' As America's most-produced living opera librettist, he has written four works with composer Philip Glass, as well as Osvaldo Golijov's 'Ainadamar' (two 2007 Grammy Awards), Unsuk Chin's 'Alice in Wonderland,' and Bright Sheng's 'The Silver River.' He penned the feature films "M. Butterfly," "Golden Gate" and "Possession" (co-writer), and co-wrote the song "Solo" with pop star Prince.