This episode of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, a new Arts and Entertainment program will air on Sunday, October 16 at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996. 
Photo by Lia Chang
On October 4, light rain and blustery winds did not dampen the mood of Signature Theatre’s unveiling of the 42nd Street and Dyer Avenue intersection in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood as the newly co-named Jim Houghton Way, which celebrates the groundbreaking company’s founder, the late James Houghton.
For this festive gathering, elected officials, legendary members of the city’s theater community, and members of the Houghton family gathered at Pershing Square Signature Center in honor of Houghton, who formed the company in 1991 with a mission of supporting playwrights through a multi-play residency model designed to invest in a body of work and provide a supportive artistic home.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Signature Board Chair Edward Norton, Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Lily Houghton, Signature Residency 5 Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Council Member Erik Bottcher, Senator Brad Holyman. Photo by Lia Chang
The program began at Pershing Square Signature Center featuring remarks by Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Signature Artistic Director Paige Evans, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, City Council Member Erik Bottcher, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, Signature Board Chair Ed Norton, Houghton’s daughter, Lily Houghton, and Signature Resident Playwright Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins.
This episode of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, a new Arts and Entertainment program will air on Sunday, October 16 at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996.
Houghton was beloved by the theatre community and known for supporting visionary playwrights and theatremakers including Edward Albee, Will Eno, Horton Foote, Athol Fugard, John Guare, Katori Hall, David Henry Hwang, Bill Irwin, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Adrienne Kennedy, and Sam Shepard.
Annie Baker, Will Eno, Lily Houghton, Henry Houghton, David Henry Hwang and Branden Jacob-Jenkins. Photo by Lia Chang
Artistic alumni of Signature Theatre who came to celebrate Jim included Annie Baker, Becky Ann Baker, Dylan Baker, Jo Bonney, Martha Clarke, Will Eno, Hailie Foote, David Henry Hwang, Charles Mee, Edward Norton, Lois Smith, Harris Yulin and many more.
Paige Evans, Signature Artistic Director, Lily Houghton, Signature Board Chair Edward Norton. Photo by Lia Chang
Becky Ann Baker Christine Jones, Loren Toolajian and Dallas Roberts. Photo by Lia Chang
Charles Mee and Lily Houghton. Photo by Lia Chang
Houghton tirelessly fundraised for and realized the building of Signature’s flagship three-theatre complex and cultural space, The Pershing Square Signature Center-its 75,000-square-foot facility designed by Frank Gehry Architects and opened in 2012. Houghton’s conviction about theatre’s integral role in community-building resulted in Signature’s Access ticket program (formerly Signature Ticket Initiative), providing over a million affordable, subsidized tickets since its launch; and the Pershing Square Signature Center’s open, public space that invites community gathering and connection.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Signature Theatre Executive Director, Board Trustee Nina Matis, Paige Evans, Signature Artistic Director. Photo by Lia Chang
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Photo by Lia Chang
Council Member Erik Bottcher. Photo by Lia Chang
Senator Brad Hoylman. Photo by Lia Chang
Guests at the unveiling fill the lobby of The Pershing Square Signature Center. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Board Chair Edward Norton. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Resident Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Resident Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.Photo by Lia Chang
After the speeches, we all filed outside to witness the unveiling, and then returned to Pershing Square Signature Center for a light bites and prosecco reception.
Jim Houghton Way Street Sign Unveiling. Photo by Lia Chang
Lily Houghton gets ready to unveil the Jim Houghton Way Street Sign in New York on October 4, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Jim Houghton Way Street Sign Unveiling. Photo by Lia Chang
Jim Houghton Way Street Sign Unveiling. Photo by Lia Chang
Senator Brad Hoylman and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Lily Houghton, Signature Resident Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Senator Brad Hoylman, Henry Houghton, Council Member Erik Bottcher and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Lily Houghton, Signature Resident Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Senator Brad Hoylman, Henry Houghton, Council Member Erik Bottcher and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Photo by Lia Chang
Jim Houghton Way Street Sign Unveiling. Photo by Lia Chang
Lily Houghton. Photo by Lia Chang
The Houghton Family. Photo by Lia Chang
Timothy J. McClimon, Signature Executive Director, Paige Evans, Signature Artistic Director. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Executive Director Timothy J. McClimon, Artistic Director Paige Evans. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Artistic Director Paige Evans. Photo by Lia Chang
Will Eno and Adam Bernstein, Executive Director of The New Group. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Board Chair Edward Norton, Dallas Roberts, Bill Migliore, Juan Leon, Silvan Tropea. Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker, Lily Houghton, Henry Houghton and David Hatkoff (former director of marketing and audience services). Photo by Lia Chang
Signature Associate Artistic Director Beth Whitaker with the Rauch Family. Photo by Lia Chang
The Houghton Family is flanked by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins and Beth Whitaker. Photo by Chang
The staff of Signature Theatre Company in the lobby of The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York on October 4, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is a Signature alum, having performed in Signature’s revival of Chicago, directed by Joe Chaiken during Signature’s Sam Shepard season in 1996 at The Public Theater.
Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, a new Arts and Entertainment program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and MNN2.
Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. Her short film, When the World Was Young recently garnered a 2021 DisOrient Film Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations.
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