Cameron Mackintosh, Terrence McNally, James Lapine, John Kander, and Fred Ebb are among those that have presented works here.

Since 1991, Signature has had a long relationship with Stephen Sondheim, having staged more than 30 productions of his musicals, revues and concerts—more than any other professional theater in the country.

Having rapidly outgrown the Gunston facility, Signature in 1993 acquired a defunct Auto Bumper Plating shop, AKA "The Garage", which was converted into a 136-seat black box theatre.

[3]: 32–40 In 2007, in partnership with Arlington County, Virginia, Signature moved into its current facility, a $16 million theater complex in The Village at Shirlington.

The inaugural award was presented on April 27, 2009, to its namesake at a benefit gala featuring performances by Bernadette Peters, Michael Cerveris, Will Gartshore and Eleasha Gamble.