“All the World’s a Stage”: new musical by Adam Gwon, full cast announced for Signature Theatre premiere

Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, has announced the full cast and creative team for the regional premiere of the new musical “All the World’s a Stage”, a touching story about the redemptive power of art, with book and music by Adam Gwon — one of the most interesting voices in contemporary American musical theatre, known for “Ordinary Days” and “Cake Off”. The news was announced on Friday (September 25, 2026) by the well-known theatre portal BroadwayWorld.

The production will be directed by Signature Theatre’s artistic director himself, Matthew Gardiner — the name behind the theatre’s successes such as “Merrily We Roll Along” and “Pippin” — while the music direction is handled by Marika Countouris. Performances will run from October 20 to December 20, 2026 at the ARK Theatre, with tickets starting at $47 and already on sale.

Leading the cast are Erin Driscoll as Dede, Callum Francis (known from “Kinky Boots” on Broadway) as Michael, Kyle Sherman as Ricky and Deema Turkomani as Sam. Sydne Lyons and Christian Montgomery will serve as understudies.

Set in 1996, the story follows a high-school math teacher, secret about his sexual orientation, who agrees to mentor a student for a theatre competition. Both outsiders in their small community, they find in exploring the play “Angels in America” a journey that shakes the fragile balance of the town — a story about courage, authenticity and the power of art to change lives. The show is also presented as a tribute to all the teachers who, through their courage, change the lives of their students.

The creative team is completed by set designer Paige Hathaway, costume designer Shahrzad Mazaheri, lighting designer Max Doolittle and sound designer Eric Norris, with casting by Charlotte Sandor. “All the World’s a Stage” is considered one of Gwon’s boldest works and is expected to spark debate in the Washington autumn season.