What if the Beatles had reunited 10 years after their break-up? This revamped production of LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES answers that question, and brings you the show that you never got to see. While the first half of the theatrical performance is comprised of favorites from the Beatles career, the all new second half imagines a world in which the Beatles re-united.
LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES comes to Washington, D.C.’s National Theatre on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Tickets for the 8:00pm performance on that day sold out within hours after going on sale. Due to popular demand, a second performance has been added on April 14 at 3:00pm.
Tickets may be purchased at TheNationalDC.com, in person at the National Theatre Box Office (Monday thru Friday from Noon to 6pm), or by calling 800-514-3849. The National Theatre is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in downtown Washington, D.C.
Relive the past from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road, with favorite hits including “Hard Day’s Night,” “Day Tripper,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Twist and Shout,” “Get Back,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Strawberry Fields,” and then imagine the reunion that never was.
The end of the Beatles era was not thought to be in sight when the group played their last show on the roof of the Apple Offices in 1969. Imagine what would have been if The Beatles had continued their journey. Travel back to what would have been John Lennon’s 40th Birthday – October 9, 1980. For one night, the Fab Four reunite on stage after a decade apart performing hits like “Back in the USSR,” “Live and Let Die,” “Got to Get You Into My Life,” “My Sweet Lord,” “Hey Jude,” and many more they had never before performed live, along with other classics.
Seen by more than two million people worldwide, LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES made its North American debut in 2015 across the U.S. and Canada. Audiences can now enjoy the new, revamped “part two,” based on the Broadway show praised as “by far the best Beatles show yet” by the New York Times.
The original production established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows when it opened in London in 2012. Showcasing the music of the world’s most successful rock’n’roll band, it charted The Beatles meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces.
Praise for LET IT BE:
- “The Beatles are back sending theatre audiences dancing into the aisles” — Reuters, New York
- “Winning over an Empire full of Liverpudlians (including, last night, John Lennon’s sister Julia) is no mean feat. But one that Let It Be happily achieves” — Liverpool Echo
- “Fab for all the family” — The Times of London
- “Pure Beatles magic back on stage” — The Public Reviews, Liverpool
- “Does everything and more to recreate that magic era” — Manchester’s Finest, Manchester
America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, will honor six exceptional leaders with its Promise of America and Promise Hero Awards on April 18. The awards will be presented by General Colin Powell and Alma Powell, the founding chair and chair of America’s Promise, at the fourth annual Promise Night Gala which will be held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
The Promise of America award, the organization’s highest honor, recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made an exceptional difference in the lives of young people and, through their work, have demonstrated the power of the Five Promises – caring adults, safe places, a healthy and safe start, an effective education, and opportunities to serve – to change the odds, transform lives, and build positive futures.
“Our honorees are extraordinary leaders, working diligently to make the promise of America real for every child,” said Alma J. Powell, chair, America’s Promise. “As we enter our third decade of work on behalf of young people in this country, these individuals remind us of the impact we can have if we use our time, talents and influence to make life better for the next generation.”
“Promise Night is an opportunity for us to celebrate the successes of our honorees while being inspired by their community and national impact,” said John Gomperts, president & CEO of America’s Promise. “Their commitment to the advancement of young people is essential to keeping youth on the path to adult success. America’s Promise is proud to recognize such a dedicated group.”
2018 Promise of America Honorees
- Katherine and David Bradley are co-founders of the CityBridge Foundation, a private family foundation based in Washington, D.C. In 2000, CityBridge began investigating successful practices for combating entrenched, multigenerational poverty—all with the intention of launching a new, signature program in Washington, D.C. CityBridge Education, a nonprofit enterprise dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for all children, was launched out of CityBridge Foundation as an education incubator that seeks out the teachers, leaders, and school teams with the ideas and the drive to create new, better models of school in Washington, D.C.
- Dr. Michael Lomax is president and CEO of UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students and a leading advocate of college readiness: students’ need for an education, from pre-school through high school, that prepares them for college success. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised more than $2.5 billion and helped more than 92,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers.
- Sondra Samuels is the president & CEO of Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a collaborative of over 40 partner non-profits and schools. Along with parents, students, partners, and staff, Ms. Samuels is leading a revolutionary culture shift in North Minneapolis that is focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education and family stability. The NAZ collaborative is working toward a single goal—to prepare low-income North Minneapolis children to graduate from high school college and career-ready.
- Jeff Weiner is the CEO of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 546 million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Under his leadership, LinkedIn for Good has reached more than 1 million underserved youth, veterans, refugees, employees and nonprofits, connecting them to greater economic opportunities. Most recently, they’ve introduced LinkedIn Coaches, their signature program to connect underserved young adults and other underrepresented communities to the mentors, networks, and jobs they need to succeed.
2018 Promise Hero Honoree
In addition, this year America’s Promise will also recognize one individual who has made a sustained commitment and unheralded contributions to young people.
- Dr. Wintley Phipps is founder and CEO of US Dream Academy, an organization dedicated to helping the nation’s children reach for their dreams through academic, social, and values enrichment; empowering young people most at risk of incarceration to believe in themselves and to succeed. In addition to his role with the US Dream Academy, Dr. Phipps is a world-renowned vocal artist, education activist, motivational speaker, pastor. For his work at the U.S. Dream Academy he has received numerous service awards, among them: The Excellence in Mentoring for Program Leadership Award from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnerships; the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Use Your Life Award; and Philanthropist of the Year Award from The National Center for Black Philanthropy, Inc.
Last year’s Promise of America Award recipients included Kenneth I. Chenault, former chairman and CEO of American Express Company; Common, hip-hop artist, actor, and founder of the Common Ground Foundation; Arne Duncan, managing partner of Emerson Collective; Bryan Stevenson, executive director of Equal Justice Initiative; and Dorothy Stoneman, founder of YouthBuild.
In 2017, the Promise Hero Award was given to singer and songwriter Andra Day, and New England Patriot Malcolm Mitchell.
The title sponsor for the 2018 Promise Night Gala is the Ford Foundation. This year’s platinum sponsor is Salesforce. Gold sponsors include Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, College Board, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Say Yes to Education, State Farm and the Walton Family Foundation.
Shaw Main Streets will host its annual A Taste of Shaw Gala on Thursday April 18, 2018, from 7pm to 9pm. The annual event celebrates the neighborhood’s status as a nationally-recognized dining and drinking destination and is a fundraiser for initiatives that enhance and promote commerce within the Shaw neighborhood, such as the two neighborhood-wide open house events and Art All Night in Shaw.
A Taste of Shaw returns to the Howard Theatre which will be the backdrop for live music by internally-renowned Ethiopian artist Yehuni Belay ad his band, libations and delicious bites from some of DC’s best bars and restaurants. Proceeds from the event support Shaw Main Streets’ economic revitalization and historic preservation activities in the Shaw neighborhood of DC, which have helped bring about the transformation of central Shaw since 2003. Shaw’s hashtag #LoveShaw, represents the comradery of Shaw’s business owners and the citywide support and accolades the neighborhood continues to receive. Yehuni Belay
A hospitality renaissance led by top chefs and mixologists has been under way in recent years, bringing fresh concepts and perspectives in cuisine and beverage, as well as a host of new talent, making Shaw the city’s top dining and imbibing destination. This year’s A Taste of Shaw welcomes new arrivals Gaslight Tavern by the Hilton Brothers, an expansion of Po Boy Jim from H Street, the District’s only Georgian cuisine restaurant; Supra and the latest additions to the Convention Center, The Morris American Cocktail Bar and Unconventional Diner.
Shaw Main Streets invites the entire region to explore some of the best the neighborhood has to offer at one venue, on one special evening. The full list of 2018 A Taste of Shaw host committee members providing sips and noshes include the following bars and restaurants: Beau Thai & BKK Cookshop Espita Mezcaleria Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee Chercher Ethiopian Cuisine Etete Supra Declaration Gaslight Tavern The Dabney & Dabney Cellar Dino’s Grotto La Jambe Farmers & Distillers Drink Company Pop Up Bar PoBoy Jim Fish Scale Dolci Gelati Service Bar DC The Morris American Bar Seylou Bakery & Mill Unconventional Diner
Tickets are $80 in advance and can be ordered online at www.smsgala18.eventbrite.com. On the day of the event, tickets will be $100. Tickets include unlimited food and cocktail tastings, beer and wine, and complimentary valet parking.
Washington D.C. philanthropists, lung cancer survivors, scientists and friends will gather and boogie to the hits of disco at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium Friday, April 20, for LUNGevity Foundation’s 7th Annual Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, Follow the Call of the Disco Ball.
The disco-themed gala benefiting LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit, will celebrate the extraordinary progress in lung cancer research and the improved quality of life patients are now experiencing due to earlier detection and new treatments for lung cancer.
For the first time, the annual event will be chaired by two lung cancer survivors, former ABC7 Anchor Greta Kreuz and King Automotive owner, Larry Aschenbach. Longtime LUNGevity supporter and NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer will return as the emcee for the evening recognizing individuals and organizations who have demonstrated remarkable leadership in the fight against lung cancer.
Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and 2015’s Face of Hope Recipient, will present the 2018 Face of Hope Award to Dr. Philip Bonomi, Alice Pirie Wirtz Professor of Medical Oncology at Rush University Medical Center, for his work to improve outcomes in lung cancer and how people live with the disease.
The 2018 Hope Award for Corporate Leadership will be presented to Foundation Medicine for their demonstrated exceptional commitment to the health and well-being of lung cancer communities in the United States and globally.
LUNGevity will also recognize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the 2018 Public Service Face of Hope Award for their progress in improving access to high-quality care for veterans living with and at risk of lung cancer.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, awards presentations, and dancing.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.lungevity.org/hopegala
The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF)is hosting its annual Tennis Ball on Saturday, April 21 at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. to support underserved DC youth becoming champions on and off the court.
This premiere event will kick off with a VIP Round Robin Tennis Tournament at WTEF’s East Capitol Campus, 200 Stoddert Place, SE and will culminate with an elegant evening of silent and live auctions, dinner and an awards program. This gala supports WTEF’s academic and athletic enrichment programs for youth in need in the District.
Willis Thomas Jr., a founding father of WTEF and the first African-American tennis talent from the DC area, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his life’s work of coaching and mentoring WTEF scholars and building tennis programs in the community. Donald Dell, co-founder of the Washington Tournament now known as the Citi Open, will also receive the Champion of Tennis Award. As the Washington Tournament celebrates its 50thedition this year, the WTEF honors Dell for his contributions to tennis, and his foresight of giving the tournament’s charter to the Foundation to help DC-area children learn to love tennis while excelling in school.
This year’s gala is generously presented by Citi.
WHAT: 2018 Tennis Ball
WHEN: April 21, 2018; 6 -10 p.m.
WHERE: Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. – 1150 22ndSt. NW
WHO: Willis Thomas, Jr.
Donald Dell
The Global Good Fund, a social enterprise accelerating the leadership development of high-potential social entrepreneurs, will host its sixth annual Gala and Summit to present its 2018 class of fellows.
Who: Daniel Lubetzky, CEO and Founder of KIND, Gala Keynote Speaker (by video)
Former Governor Terry McAuliffe, Gala Veteran Leadership Program Remarks
Carrie Rich, CEO and Cofounder, Global Good Fund (GGF)
What: The Global Good Fund Gala (April 26, 2018, 7:00pm-9:30pm)
Inova Center for Personalized Health
The Global Good Fund Summit (April 25-28, 2018, 8:00am-5pm)
Convene
Following a rigorous three-stage selection process, the Global Good Fund selects twelve fellows each year from thousands of applications and matches them with high profile mentors from the business world, $10,000 in capital funding and experiential learning to boost their leadership skills, grow their enterprises, and achieve social impact. At The Global Good Fund’s annual summit and gala, they will have the opportunity to meet each other, network with other fellows, coaches, staff and alumni, and take part in leadership coaching, goal setting and monitoring.
The diverse 2018 cohort of Global Good Fund fellows is comprised of nine women and three men representing six nationalities who are working to solve complex social problems in six different sectors, including poverty, hunger, disability services, education, workforce development, and STEM careers. They are already driving social change on every continent, with about 75% of their collective impact outside the U.S. This international group will unite for the first time in-person in Washington, DC during The Global Good Fund Annual Summit April 25-28, 2018, and will be celebrated on April 26th at the Fund’s Annual Gala.
To date, The Global Good Fund has supported 85 social entrepreneurs from 25 countries around the globe. Their board of advisers, directors and mentors include Jeremiah Buckley of BuckleySandler LLP, EY executive Marc Andersen, Johnson & Johnson Vice President Michael Sneed, Northrop Grumman Corp. CEO Wes Bush, BET co-founder Sheila Johnson, Ted Leonsis of Monumental Sports and Entertainment and more.
Funders for the 2018 Gala and Summit include EY, Johnson & Johnson, SILA, Swan & Legend, Getwell Network, and Northern Trust. The Good News Network is the exclusive online media partner for the 2018 Global Good Fund fellows.
Crystal City’s summertime happy hour is back, opening a month early and announcing a new partnership with The Stand bringing food and beverage from local restaurants and an exciting live music lineup. Starting on May 4, each Friday from 5-9 pm, attendees can listen to live music from a variety of bands while enjoying local bites and drink.
What: Fridays at the Fountain
When: Every Friday May – October from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Crystal City Water Park – 1751 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
Live Music Schedule:
May 4 Revelator Hill
May 11 Whiskey Pull
May 18 Zach Cutler & Friends
May 25 Gordon Sterling 3
June 1 Big Bad Juju
June 8 Mary El Band
June 15 Revelator Hill
June 22 Jonathan Sloane Trio
June 29 Holly Montgomery
July 6 The Jogo Project
July 13 The Jon Miller Band
July 20 Gordon Sterling and the People
July 27 Big Bad Juju
**Later dates to be announced**
Admission: 100% Free to enter, listen, and relax; food and drink for purchase (credit cards accepted) – $5 for beer/wine. $20 to join the Mug Club and receive a branded, reusable mug.
Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that Broadway legend Maurice Hines will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and international touring artist and global humanitarian Mary McBride will headline the 2018 Arena Stage Gala honoring Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). As previously announced, the Gala features the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and will recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick.
Maurice Hines, an actor, director, singer and choreographer, returns to Arena Stage to emcee the 2018, and will perform a couple of numbers. At Arena, he has performed in Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life, Sophisticated Ladies and Guys and Dolls. Launching his career at the age of five, his Broadway credits include Eubie!, Bring Back Birdie with Chita Rivera and Donald O’Connor, Sophisticated Ladies, conceived/directed/
Singer Mary McBride and her band have performed in more than 30 countries, taking audiences on a roller coaster ride with their fiery blend of blues, gospel, country and old school rock ’n roll. The Washington Post described her voice as a “rugged, force-of-nature voice [that] unpacks the old spiritual like some distant relative of gospel legend Marion Williams.” McBride is also the Founder of The Home Tour, which brings high energy, high impact, live shows to audiences where they least expect it, including orphanages in Pakistan, disability centers in Vietnam, senior centers on the Estonian-Russian border and women’s prisons in Albania. CNN acknowledged McBride’s contribution to the global community: “McBride is on a mission. She is performing and touching hearts, reaching out and connecting people through music.” A native Washingtonian, she recently sang the National Anthem at Nationals Park. She appeared on both the soundtrack and in the film, Brokeback Mountain; released four albums; and has been profiled by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
“I launched the Home Tour as a way to reinforce the fact that people, no matter who they are or where they are living, have a right to live music, and to be surrounded by art,” McBride says. “I am honored to be performing in my hometown in Washington at Arena Stage, which, through its tremendous performances and generous spirit, makes every single person who walks through its doors feel instantly at home.”
“I am thrilled to honor Mayor Bowser at the Gala,” says Newburger Schwartz. “She exemplifies the best qualities of leadership in the ways she has brought disparate groups of citizens together to move our city forward. From her groundbreaking work that has given new life to the Southwest Waterfront, to her thoughtful policies that produce better schools and housing for our children and their families, she has created the vibrant community that is Washington today and it is my pleasure to present her with this award.”
The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception, followed by a performance and a three-course seated dinner. The performance will feature the presentation of the Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to Mayor Muriel Bowser, in recognition of her unparalleled commitment to and support of the arts throughout Washington, D.C. The award was first presented to Arena Stage board chair Newburger Schwartz in 2016, and Arlene Kogod in 2017, and celebrates a female leader who strives to better the community in which she lives through her own unique strengths and talents. In addition, Jessica Stafford Davis will be honored as an Emerging Leader in recognition of her passion and entrepreneurial support of the arts. Davis is the founder and CEO of The Agora Culture, a multi-cultural arts platform that connects emerging and well-known artists with collectors.
All proceeds from the evening support Arena Stage’s award-winning artistic and community engagement programs.
Space is limited.
Event Schedule
Thursday, May 10, 2018
5:30 p.m. Cocktail reception
6:30 p.m. Award presentation and performance
8:00 p.m. Seated dinner
Individual Tickets
Dinner Ticket – $1,000
Young Professional Ticket (35 or under) – $300
For additional event details visit arenastage.org/donate/special-
Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, as well as recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader at the 2018 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick, and will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).
The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception, followed by a performance and a three-course seated dinner. The performance will feature presentation of the Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to Mayor Muriel Bowser, in recognition of her unparalleled commitment to and support of the arts throughout Washington, D.C. The award was first presented to Arena Stage board chair Newburger Schwartz in 2016, and Arlene Kogod in 2017, and celebrates a female leader who strives to better the community in which she lives through her own unique strengths and talents. In addition, Jessica Stafford Davis will be honored as an Emerging Leader in recognition of her passion and entrepreneurial support of the arts. Davis is the founder and CEO of The Agora Culture, a multi-cultural arts platform that connects emerging and well-known artists with collectors.
All proceeds from the evening support Arena Stage’s award-winning artistic and community engagement programs.
Space is limited. Performers to be announced at a later date.
Event Schedule
Thursday, May 10, 2018
5:30 p.m. Cocktail reception
6:30 p.m. Award presentation and one night only performance
8:00 p.m. Seated dinner
Individual Tickets
Dinner Ticket – $1,000
Young Professional Ticket (35 or under) – $300
For additional event details visit arenastage.org/donate/special-
