TO BE OR NOT TO BE YOURSELF

Signature Theatre’s intimate production finds emotional
resonance in the struggle to live authentically

Callum Francis (Michael) and Kyle Sherman (Ricky) in All the World’s a Stage at Signature Theatre

At Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, All the World’s a Stage, a musical by Adam Gwon, explores a deceptively simple but profoundly important question: What happens when art gives us the courage to become who we truly are?

Set in 1996, the musical introduces us to Ricky Alleman (Kyle Sherman), a closeted high school mathematics teacher navigating life in a small-town community. Dede Rozenall (Erin Driscoll), the school secretary and sister of the town’s minister, becomes an enthusiastic new friend to Ricky. Sam (Deema Turkomani), a socially isolated student, finds an unlikely mentor in Ricky when he helps her prepare for a theater competition. Their exploration of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America challenges the community’s prejudices and brings their own struggles for acceptance into sharper focus. Meanwhile, Michael (Callum Francis), who runs the local bookstore, enters Ricky’s life as a love interest, opening the door to romance and the possibility of a deeper personal connection.

Kyle Sherman (Ricky)

An important parallel emerges between Ricky and Sam: both understand what it means to feel excluded and judged by the world around them. Although their circumstances are different, their shared appreciation of theater creates an opportunity for mutual understanding and challenges the limitations imposed upon them by their community. Under the direction of Matthew Gardiner, Signature Theatre presents a story that speaks to the transformative power of theater—not merely as entertainment, but as a place where people can discover themselves, find their voices, and recognize that they are not alone.

With Gardiner’s fluid and inventive staging, scenic designer Paige Hathaway makes imaginative use of the space, with chairs and desks quickly rearranged to transform an office into a classroom. A four-sided column rotates to reveal different settings, including the bookstore and the school, seamless transitions that keep the action moving without interrupting the dramatic momentum.  Adding another poetic dimension, excerpts from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 are framed throughout the set, almost like thought bubbles. The sonnet’s meditation on the constancy of true love provides a fitting counterpoint to the characters’ struggles for acceptance and connection.

Erin Driscoll (Dede) and Kyle Sherman (Ricky)

Under the musical direction of Marika Countouris, the musicians provide sensitive accompaniment that supports the singers while allowing Gwon’s melodies and lyrics to take center stage. The musical accompaniment is also cleverly integrated into the staging. The band remains partially visible behind the bookstore bookcase backdrop, a subtle but effective design choice that allows the musicians to be present without distracting from the action. Though not always seen, the music is always heard and felt, becoming an integral part of the storytelling and adding warmth and emotional texture to the production.

The musical numbers give each character an opportunity to reveal another facet of their personality. Callum Francis brings a particularly appealing energy to Michael, the bookstore owner and Ricky’s love interest. His sassy, sexy, and wonderfully playful rendition of “I’m Your Man” is an absolute delight, injecting the production with humor, flirtation, and infectious charm. It is a standout number that gives the audience a chance to enjoy the lighter, more mischievous side of romance.

Callum Francis (Michael)

In striking contrast, Deema Turkomani delivers a heartbreaking performance of “Other Lives.” The song captures Sam’s loneliness and her painful awareness that belonging seems to come more easily to others. Turkomani conveys the anguish of a young person longing to be seen and understood, underscoring the toll of being treated as an outsider.

Erin Driscoll offers a poignant portrayal of Dede in “I Don’t Ask,” a song whose title carries an unmistakable resonance with the era’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Beneath Dede’s warmth and outgoing personality lies a more complicated understanding of the unspoken rules governing people’s lives. The number reveals the painful compromises demanded by a society in which honesty can come at a price.

Deema Turkomani (Sam)

Kyle Sherman brings depth and vulnerability to Ricky through “Someone Found the Words” and “Pieces Together.” The former expresses the relief of hearing someone articulate feelings one has struggled to put into words. By contrast, the latter is bright and hopeful, suggesting that Ricky is beginning to reconcile the conflicting parts of his life. Together, the songs chart his progress from uncertainty toward a future in which he might finally live on his own terms.

At the heart of the musical is the relationship between art and self-discovery. Theater offers Ricky and Sam a space to explore identities that their community may not readily accept. Yet standing beside someone who challenges prevailing expectations can carry a cost, particularly when doing so risks the disapproval of family, colleagues, and neighbors.

Erin Driscoll (Dede)

The title invokes Shakespeare’s famous observation that the world is a stage and we are all performers upon it. But the musical asks a more urgent question: Who gets to play a part of their own choosing, and who is forced to conceal their true identity to survive?

That question feels particularly pertinent today, when the safety and freedom of queer people remain subjects of public debate. Set three decades ago, All the World’s a Stage is a reminder of how much has changed—and how much hasn’t. The musical suggests that theater can do more than reflect society’s prejudices; it can challenge them. And in Ricky’s mentorship of Sam, it shows how that challenge can begin: with a teacher who recognizes in a student’s isolation something of his own, and helps her find the words to confront it.

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photos by Christopher Mueller

All the World’s a Stage
Signature Theatre
The ARK, 4200 Campbell Ave. in Arlington, VA
1 hour and 45 minutes, no intermission
Tue–Wed at 7:30; Thu–Fri at 8; Sat at 2 & 8; Sun at 2 & 7:30 (schedule varies)
ends on December 20, 2026
for tickets ($47–$107), call 703.820.9771 or visit Signature Theatre

for more shows, visit Theatre in DC

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