(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) today announces an exciting
conclusion to its 2016–2017 season: the 2017 WNO Opera Gala, celebrating WNO
Board Chairman Jacqueline Badger Mars, who will step down as Chairman this
summer. The Gala, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, will include a concert in the Kennedy
Center Opera House featuring the WNO Orchestra and an array of musical stars who
will pay special tribute to Jacqueline Mars’s visionary leadership of WNO: legendary
soprano Renée Fleming, superstar mezzo-soprano and D.C. native Denyce Graves,
and Hamilton Tony Award® winner Leslie Odom Jr. The Gala is presented as part of
JFKC, the Kennedy Center’s season-long celebration of John F. Kennedy’s centennial,
and explores the themes of service and gratitude, which are often associated with
President Kennedy.
The Co-Chairmen of the WNO Opera Gala are WNO Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B.
Casey and Mrs. John F. Mars. The Opera Gala pays tribute to Jacqueline Badger Mars
for her six seasons of leadership of the WNO Board of Trustees. Highlights of her
tenure include the founding of the American Opera Initiative, which for the last five
seasons has helped identify the brightest rising American composers and librettists and
has added their work to the repertory; the programming of an annual opera for families
at the holiday season, including Hansel and Gretel, The Little Prince, and the world
premiere commission of The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me; and the presentation of WNO’s
first-ever complete Ring cycles in 2016, a feat that put WNO into a very elite group of
American opera companies.
“I have been honored to work with Jacquie Mars since 2008, and her imaginative
leadership and guidance have brought WNO unparalleled growth and success while
also making the opera more accessible to a broader audience,” said WNO executive
director Michael L. Mael. “Our next Chairman will certainly have big shoes to fill, but I
am happy that Jacquie will continue to steer this company as a WNO trustee.”
Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are on sale now to Kennedy Center
members. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10 a.m.
For those who wish to purchase special Gala packages, the evening will begin with a
VIP cocktail reception on the Kennedy Center’s River Terrace at 5:30 p.m., followed by
the Gala concert at 6:30 p.m. After the performance, Gala package holders will depart
the Kennedy Center for elegant black-tie dinners hosted by many ambassadors at their
embassies or residences throughout the city, a longtime tradition of the Opera’s season-
ending social gathering.
The Opera Gala is WNO’s largest fundraiser and one of Washington’s most anticipated
events of the year. Proceeds from the Opera Gala will play a crucial role in advancing
the Opera’s award-wining artistic, educational, and outreach programs.
While the 2016–2017 season is coming to an end, the new season promises
excitement. WNO’s 2017–2018 season includes new productions of Verdi’s epic drama
Aida, the company premiere of Handel’s magical baroque opera Alcina, and Verdi’s
towering masterpiece Don Carlo, plus Rossini’s delightful comedy The Barber of Seville
and Bernstein’s biting satire Candide. The season also features a festival weekend of
four world premieres as part of the American Opera Initiative, the return of the holiday
family opera The Little Prince, two special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist performances,
and more. Subscription packages are available now.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are available online, in person at the
Kennedy Center Box Office, and by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. For all
other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at
(202) 416-8540.
Shakespeare Theatre Company will once again welcome Members of Congress and distinguished Washington influencers onto its stage to perform in Will on the Hill, a lively show infused with comedic references to contemporary politics. Now in its fifteenth year, the much-loved bipartisan event for theatre and political fans alike will return to STC on Monday, June 12 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) at 7:30 p.m.
Written by Peter Byrne with assistance from D.C.’s West Wing Writers, the event will be directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul and will star 47 Members of Congress and notable Washingtonians led by Maulik Pancholy, best known for playing Alec Baldwin’s intrepid assistant Jonathan on the classic NBC comedy 30 Rock.
“We are grateful that some of the nation’s well-known political faces are so willing to donate their time to help raise funds for our education and outreach programs. While these men and women tread the boards to showcase their acting skills and poke fun at the political landscape they are helping the theatre provide access to the arts for the entire D.C. community,” said STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn.
Proceeds from this event support STC’s many education, artistic and community engagement programs, including in-school workshops and educational resources that inspire new and diverse audiences and deepen the connection to classical theatre in learners of all ages.
About the Cast
The production will feature 30 Rock star Maulik Pancholy. The NBC show garnered 80 awards and 310 nominations. He is also widely recognized for playing Sanjay over six seasons of the Showtime hit series Weeds, created by Emmy Award-winner Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black). He will soon appear on the upcoming CBS series Star Trek: Discovery, which will be the first Star Trek series to air since 2005. He played Katherina in STC’s The Taming of The Shrew in 2016. Rounding out the cast are British Ambassador to the U.S. His Excellency Kim Darroch and many Members of Congress including Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Daniel M. Donovan (R-NY), Jim Himes (D-CT), George Holding (R-NC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Darren Soto (D-FL), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Michael Turner(R-OH) and Peter Welch (D-VT). Other illustrious cast members include Wa’el Alzayat (Executive Director, EmergeUSA), Gregory Angelo (President, Log Cabin Republicans), Jess Bravin (Supreme Court correspondent, The Wall Street Journal), Linda Chavez (Chairman, Center for Equal Opportunity), Ron Christie (Political Strategist), Steve Clemons (Editor At Large, The Atlantic), Maggie Coons, Bob Cusack (Editor in Chief, The Hill), Jon Decker (White House Correspondent, Fox News), Johanna Derlega (Publisher, The Hill), Karen Dunn (Partner at Bois, Schiller, & Flexner LLP, consultant for House of Cards), Dr. Michael Eric Dyson(Georgetown University professor, host of The Raw Word, and author), Paula Fitzgerald (Executive Director, Ayuda), Taegan Goddard (Publisher, Political Wire), Richard Haass (President of the Council on Foreign Relations), Rick Klein (Political Director, ABC News), Maria Teresa Kumar (President, Voto Latino), Dana Milbank (Columnist, The Washington Post), Erica Moody (Deputy Editor, Washington Life), Grover Norquist (Americans for Tax Reform), Hilary Rosen (Partner and Managing Director, SKDKnickerbocker), Christina Sevilla (Deputy Assistant, USTR), Rina Shah (Political consultant at Run with Rina), Ari Shapiro (Host, NPR), Pamela Lynne Sorensen (Pamela’s Punch), Kelly Jane Torrance (Deputy Managing Editor, The Weekly Standard), Crystal Wright (Communications consultant at Baker Wright Group), and Tim Young (Political Comedian).
* Cast members subject to change.
Christian Heurich’s granddaughter, Jan Evans, will host a special History & Hops at the Heurich
House Museum on July 20 th from 6:30-8:30pm. Mrs. Evans was very close to her grandparents,
Christian and Amelia Heurich, and lived with them for a time in their Dupont Circle mansion. She
will discuss her time in Washington, D.C. as well as her family’s history and legacy. Guests will
be able to speak directly with Mrs. Evans as well as enjoy beer, snacks, and tours of the historic
Heurich House Museum.
Born in Hawaii, Mrs. Evans has lived in Japan, Cuba, Florida, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. A
local business-woman, she is a current board member of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants
of Washington, D.C. and Director of the Friends of the National World War II Memorial. Mrs.
Evans was also instrumental in establishing her grandparents’ home as a museum. Together
with her cousin Gary Heurich, she created the Heurich House Foundation and helped the
organization purchase the Heurich mansion in 2003, from the Historical Society of Washington,
D.C. The Heurich House museum would not exist today, in its intact form, without her
intervention.
Guests at History & Hops will have the chance to meet and speak with Mrs. Evans as she
recounts her time spent in Washington, D.C. with her grandparents between 1930 and 1956.
The museum will also feature a variety of drinks to celebrate Mrs. Evans’ time spent traveling
the world.
Tickets for History & Hops hosted by Jan Evans are $30 per person and include tastings,
snacks, and tours of the Heurich House Museum. For more information and to purchase tickets,
please visit http://bit.ly/HHJuly2017. Guests must be 21 or older.
All proceeds benefit the preservation and growth of the Heurich House Museum.
What: Kimberly Snyder & Well + Good Present DC Beauty Immersion Speaking Tour + Radical Beauty book signing
Where: Westin Washington D.C. City Center
1400 M St NW
Washington, DC 20005
When: Saturday, July 22nd from 12pm-2pm
Who: Kimberly Snyder, New York Times best-selling author and nutritionist
ABOUT: New York Times best-selling author and nutritionist Kimberly Snyder will kick off her Beauty Immersion Speaking Tour with an event in DC sponsored by Well + Good. The event will feature a discussion from Snyder followed by a Radical Beauty book signing and meet and greet, which will take place at the Westin Washington D.C. City Center on Saturday, July 22nd from 7:00pm-9:00pm EST. This event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased here: http://kimberlysnyder.com/events/
What:
“Happy Birthday, Mr. President”: An Obama Birthday Celebration in commemoration of President Barack Obama’s Birthday, with an outdoor screening of “Believe: The Story of Barack Obama.” Seating will be provided and guests may also bring their own folding chairs and lawn chairs.
Hosts Include:
T Street Development, Shaw Main Streets, Howard Theatre, One Love Massive, Monument Realty, Holland and Knight, Grindstone Universal, Right Proper Brewing
Entertainment:
DJ Black President aka DJ Black Santa
Speakers:
Community Advocates, Government Officials, and More
*Check Shaw Main Streets Website and Social Media for businesses offering Obama related specials and promotions: www.shawmainstreets.org and Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: shawmainstreets
Where:
The Cornerstone Lot
625 T Street, NW
When:
Friday, August 4, 2017 (Rain Date: Saturday, August 5, 2017)
7:00-10:00 pm
***Free and open to the public***
–“Have You Seen My Tail?” the new children’s book by author Kaitlin Puccio, is
now available for sale. The story will enthrall children as they join Corky the Corgi on a hunt for his missing
tail. At the heart of the tale is a timeless fable about accepting differences and being
comfortable in your own skin (…or fur).
The book’s message about compassion, acceptance, and companionship will appeal to
families looking for engaging tools to raise empathetic and confident children.
A portion of the proceeds from each “Have You Seen My Tail?” purchase will go to Paws of War, an
organization that matches rescue dogs with military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war.
Kaitlin’s first book, “The Adventures of Celia Kaye,” has been a useful tool for children’s organizations like The
Girl Scouts of Central Texas, with whom Kaitlin collaborated to create a curriculum to educate children about
celiac disease and food allergies, while also teaching the importance of accepting differences.
“Have You Seen My Tail?” was designed by Grammy-nominated record cover designer and artist Sarah
Larnach, who also illustrated “The Adventures of Celia Kaye.”
WASHINGTON, DC AREA BOOK EVENTS
Kaitlin will appear to read and sign “Have You Seen My Tail?” at DC area Pawties this summer. Join her at
Soapstone Market on August 5 from 10 to 11 AM.
THE SEARCH FOR THE REAL LIFE CORKY
Corky is so excited that he discovered the secret of his missing tail, and he wants to tell corgis everywhere!
Send in photos or videos of your corgi being paw-fect and Corky will post them on his Instagram.
The winner will get a mountain of toys, treats, and more pooch-related products for your Instafamous corgi.
Plus, your pup will be featured on Corky’s book page as Corky’s new friend. Give us a woof
at @CorkyWithNoTail and use #IRLCorky to submit. Visit @CorkyWithNoTail on Instagram for details.
On September 1st, the award-winning Hay-Adams, located steps from the White House at 800 16th Street, NW, 20006, will host its next Author Series luncheon honoring David McCullough to discuss his latest work, The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For. The Hay-Adams’ Author Series, where literary crowds honor literary masters, is an on-going event, which welcomes outstanding writers in a historic setting, directly overlooking the White House at the Top of the Hay. One will enjoy exceptional food, drink and lively conversation. Tickets are priced at $90 per person (all inclusive), which includes a three-course, prix fixe menu with wine pairings. The menu, themed around the book, will be created by Vice President & General Manager Hans Bruland and Executive Chef Nicolas Legret.
Additionally, Kramerbooks (http://kramers.com) will be on hand so guests will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For, which McCullough can sign and personalize after the luncheon. Tickets go on saleAugust 11, 2017 and will be available online at http://hayadams.com/author-
WHO: David McCullough has been acclaimed as a “master of the art of narrative history.” He is a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has spoken before Congress, The White House, colleges and universities, historical societies and other esteemed institutions.
In his latest book, The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For, McCullough has collected some of his most notable speeches in a brief volume designed to identify important principles and characteristics that are particularly American. It is a timely tome, reminding us of core American values to which we all subscribe, regardless of which region we live in, which political party we identify with, or our ethnic background. This is a book about America for all Americans, that reminds us who we are and helps guide us as we find our way forward.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McCullough was educated there and at Yale, where he received a degree in English literature. He and his wife, Rosalee Barnes McCullough, reside in Boston, Massachusetts.
WHEN: The luncheon will be held on Top of The Hay on Friday, September 1st, 2017, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.).
WHERE: The Hay-Adams is located at 800 16th Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006, across Lafayette Square from the White House. The historic Hay-Adams offers guests Washington’s most prestigious address with views overlooking the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John’s Church, the “Church of the Presidents.” The hotel is just minutes from the Smithsonian, the Museums, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, as well as convenient to Metro stations and the convention center. For reservations or more information call (202) 638-6600 or visit their website at www.hayadams.com.
Capitol City Brewing Company in celebrating the 18th annual Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest at Arlington’s Shirlington Village. Oktoberfest is from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and located at the outdoor streetscape at 4001 Campbell Avenue.
In honor of this tasty holiday Santa Rosa chefs Spike Mendelsohn, Max Albano and John Renninger have each created a limited-edition taco. On Wednesday, October 4th diners can order up the Three Amigos Taco Series, which will consist of one of each chef’s specialty taco.
Fried Green Tomato Taco
Cornmeal Fried Green Tomato │ Grilled Corn │ Chipotle Aioli │ Pico │ Cotija
Blackened Shrimp Taco with Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa
Blackened Grilled Shrimp │ Yellow Rice │ Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa │Crema
Steak & Peppers Taco
Grilled Mojo Steak │ Peppers/ Onions │ Jalapeño │ Avocado Crema
The Three Amigos Taco Series will be available for one day only and will be served from open to close (11:00 am – 10:00 pm.) While enjoying their tacos, guests can also try one of the Santa Rosa’s craft margaritas (on tap,) sip on a seasonal Agua Fresco or order up one of the restaurant’s numerous beers.
To add to the festivities, a Mariachi Band will be on hand from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm playing live music.
Santa Rosa Taqueria is located at 312 Pennsylvania Ave, SE in Washington, DC.
The Washington Women’s Leadership Initiative (WWLI.org) will host former FOX News anchor Gretchen Carlson at its October 16th speaker event. Each attendee will receive a copy of Gretchen’s new book, “Be Fierce – Stop Harassment and take Your Power Back” (release date: October 17th, 2017).
In 2016, Gretchen made a life changing decision to “walk off the set” and speak up about injustice in the workplace. The former Miss America, and mother of two, who became a star news anchor at FOX never imagined that she would become the face of the issue, but after she stood up, walked out, and spoke out, employees all over the world began to take the leap of truth and take back their lives, careers, and dignity, forever changing the way people fight harassment and anything else holding them back.
Gretchen will speak about her own experience and about injustice in the workplace at WWLI’s October event.
Registration is required for this event. Ticket pricing information is availablehere.
WHO Gretchen Carlson is one of the nation’s most successful and recognized news anchors and a tireless advocate for workplace equality and the empowerment of women. She most recently hosted “The Real Story” on Fox News for three years, and prior to that co-hosted the #1 rated cable morning news show, “Fox and Friends,” for more than seven years.
Carlson started her television career in Richmond, Virginia, as a political reporter, and later served as an anchor and reporter in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dallas. She moved to the national scene as the co-host of “The Saturday Early Show” on CBS in 2000 where she also served as a CBS News correspondent covering the G-8 Summit in Genoa, Italy, the Timothy McVeigh execution, 9-11 from the World Trade Center, the Bush-Gore election, and many other national and international stories. She reported and produced a 30-part series on domestic violence that won several national awards.
In 2015, Carlson’s first book, Getting Real, became a national best-seller.
WHEN Monday, October 16th
11:30am – 2:00pm
WHERE Sheraton Premier in Tysons Corner
