Once upon a time... into the future

Imagination Stage's 30th Anniversary Gala

An unprecedented celebration!

The 30th Anniversary Gala took place on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Imagination Stage. It was a spectacular event, beginning with a pre-show reception and silent auction co-chaired by Evonne Connolly and Amber Hsu and followed by an original and inspiring performance in the Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Theatre featuring Mo Rocca, Writer and Satirist and local philanthropists Jim and Carol Trawick making the single biggest gift in the history of Imagination Stage. The evening concluded with a celebratory buffet reception entitled "A Fresh Taste of Fall," generously provided by Ridgewells Caterer.

 

We are thrilled to announce that we raised $328,000. Proceeds from the Gala benefit Imagination Stage's theatre and arts education programs, which reach over 100,000 children and families in the Washington, D.C. region each year. Imagination Stage's programs are informed by our core belief in making the arts inclusive and accessible to all children, regardless of their physical or cognitive ability, or their economic status.

This special event would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our Gala Chairs, Gala Committee, Board Members, and generosity of donors. We genuinely appreciate all you did to make it so successful.

LEFT: Catherine Leggett, Kim Watson, and Carol Trawick.
CENTER: Guests place bids at the 2009 Gala Silent Auction.
RIGHT: Mo Rocca and young Imagination Stage performers.

 
"It's all about the children! We've seen Imagination Stage grow over the years, following it and supporting it for at least 25 of its 30 years. And the key is that it has remained true to its mission: to bring a wonderful light to children's lives--the arts, and all of the energy and creativity that it sparks within them. The future echoes the past: the children, the children, the children."

 - Carol Trawick