Eric D. Schaeffer is an American theater director and producer based in Arlington, Virginia. He is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Signature Theatre., and is well known nationally for his re-invention of large American musicals for small black box venues. He has produced many of the works of Stephen Sondheim, stating that the Signature production of in the 1990-1991 season "put us on the map". Under his leadership, Signature Theatre was chosen to receive the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Over its 21-year history, Schaeffer has also led the Theatre to 70 Helen Hayes Awards and 283 Helen Hayes nominations for outstanding excellence in the theater. He created The American Musical Voices Project and The American Musical Voices Project: The Next Generation, which has awarded over $500,000 in commissions to writers for new American musicals. He has directed on Broadway, West End in London, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and served as the Artistic Director of The Sondheim Celebration at The Kennedy Center in 2002. Schaeffer is a graduate of Kutztown University. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from his alma mater. On June 24th, 2020, Schaeffer stepped down as Artistic Director of Signature Theatre amid accusations from numerous men of sexual assault.
Selected directing credits
;Signature Theatre Sunset Boulevard, Chess, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Glory Days, Merrily We Roll Along, The Witches of Eastwick, Saving Aimee, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, Nevermore, Assassins, The Highest Yellow, One Red Flower, Allegro, Twentieth Century, 110 in the Shade, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Gospel According to Fishman, Grand Hotel, The Rhythm Club, Over & Over, The Fix, Working, The Rink, Cabaret, First Lady Suite, Wings, Poor Superman, Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Passion, Company, Sweeney Todd, Follies, Pacific Overtures, Ace, Les Misérables, Showboat and “Sunday in The Park with George” ;Broadway
GigiMillion Dollar QuartetGlory DaysPutting It TogetherFollies ;National Tours
