Signature Theatre's 'The Monsters' by Ngozi Anyanwu Heads Into Casting Ahead of Arlington, Virginia Run

Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia is moving into casting and pre-production on "The Monsters," a new play written by Ngozi Anyanwu and directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, with rehearsals scheduled to begin January 8, 2027. The production opens February 10, 2027 and runs through March 21, 2027, giving the team a generous runway to assemble its cast and creative departments. For actors, designers, and theatrical crew based in the Washington D.C. metro area and beyond, the window to get in front of this team is open right now.

Ngozi Anyanwu is a playwright and actress whose work has drawn significant attention in regional and Off-Broadway circles. She is perhaps best known for "Good Grief," which earned her an Obie Award and had productions at the Vineyard Theatre in New York and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Her writing tends toward emotionally intimate stories that carry surprising physical energy, and "The Monsters" fits squarely in that tradition. The play centers on two siblings: LIL, a young woman who has spent years obsessing over her older brother BIG, an aging but accomplished fighter in the local Mixed Martial Arts circuit, from a safe distance. When she finally shows up on his doorstep, what unfolds is a story about reunions, resentment, reconnection, and the particular weight of family mythology. It is a sibling love story, but one with real teeth.

Tiffany Nichole Greene directs. Greene is an award-winning director whose credits span major regional theatres across the country, including work at the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Arena Stage, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, among others. She has a reputation for bringing sharp physical precision and emotional clarity to character-driven new work, which makes her a strong match for Anyanwu's style. The fight choreography, a component that will require particular care given the MMA setting at the heart of the story, is being handled by Sijara Eubanks. Eubanks is not only a fight choreographer but also a professional MMA fighter and UFC veteran, which gives her an authenticity in this role that few others could bring. That combination of theatrical craft and lived athletic experience is a genuine asset to this production and signals that the physical storytelling will be grounded and specific rather than stylized for spectacle.

Signature Theatre is one of the most prominent regional theatres in the mid-Atlantic, holding the distinction of being a Tony Award-winning company. Based in Arlington, Virginia, it has long been celebrated for its commitment to musical theatre but has increasingly invested in new play development as well, with Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner leading the company. Producing at The ARK, Signature's intimate black-box space, "The Monsters" will benefit from that venue's flexibility and close actor-audience proximity, which suits the interpersonal intensity of Anyanwu's script. This is not a touring production or a transfer; this is an in-house world premiere (or developmental) run at a theatre with real institutional muscle behind it.

Casting is being handled jointly by Charlotte Sandor, Signature's Casting Director and Artistic Associate, who manages in-house casting for the company's Arlington productions, and Sujotta Pace, CSA, who is leading New York casting efforts. The dual-city casting structure is a strong signal that the production is looking at a national talent pool, and actors in both the D.C. metro area and New York should consider this an active opportunity. With rehearsals not beginning until January 2027, the casting process is likely in its early stages, but representation and self-submission inquiries directed toward Sandor and Pace now would be well-timed. Beyond acting, productions of this scale at Signature typically engage scenic designers, lighting designers, sound designers, costume designers, stage managers, and production assistants through their established relationships in the regional theatre community, so designers and stage management professionals with D.C.-area ties should take note as well.

The MMA context of the script will make this production particularly interesting from a production design standpoint. Recreating a credible fighting world on a black-box stage requires a thoughtful scenic approach, and the presence of a dedicated fight choreographer of Eubanks' caliber suggests the physical production will be built to support serious movement work. Sound design will also be a meaningful creative role here, given the sonic world of a fighting gym and arena. This is the kind of project where every department has the opportunity to do genuinely interesting work, not just serviceable work.

For the most current information on the full creative team, casting contacts, production office details, and any scheduling updates as this production moves through pre-production, check the complete listing for "The Monsters" at ProductionList.com. With more than a year before rehearsals begin, there is real time to make a connection with this team, but the earlier you get on their radar, the better positioned you will be when decisions start getting made.

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