Well, all right, you’ve got some money in your pocket, and you feel like unleashing your own personal stimulus program for Washington area theaters. You know the primary benefit of your tax-deductible contribution: quality theater, DC-style. But what’s the icing? How are you going to have fun at the same time you’re handing cash over to your favorite theater?

Well, there’s wearable architecture over at Spooky Action. And at WSC Avant Bard, you can hear Shakespeare spoken in Klingon. Or at Woolly, you can go back to the wild west days right after the Civil War. And – this may be hard to believe – the late Ann Landers will appear before your eyes in the person of Judith Ivey at Theater J. And there’ll be eating, eating, eating and auctions and—whew! I get exhausted just thinking about it.

So I wrote it all down. Below we have a list of benefits, galas and fundraisers being put on from now through spring. It’s good to give to theatres anytime. (That’s what those ‘Donate’ buttons are for.) But  if you’re in the mood to have fun while showing a little love for your favorite  theaters – why, just dig in.

—————

Feb 11, 2012  “Washington Savoyards’ All Stars Show & Party”
Benefits: Washington Savoyards
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington, DC.

Washington Savoyards is celebrating their 40^th anniversary with a gala evening featuring “Taste of H Street,” food from their favorite H Street restaurants and performances by Marilyn Moore, Jean Cantrell, John Dellaporta, Annie Gill, Kristina Granados, Liz Isbell, Stacey Mastrian, Rob Ritter, Guillaume Tournaire, David Williams.

Tickets:  $125
(Notes: Tickets for three performances of the show only, Feb 10 – 12. Tickets $15 – $40)
More information

—————

Feb 13 – 26, 2012  Baltimore Sun Online Auction for CenterStage
Benefits: CenterStage, Baltimore, MD

No need to dress up for this one.  CenterStage’s 35^th annual auction is now exclusively online. More than 600 items ranging from furniture to food, trips, tickets, hotel getaways, sports memorabilia, classes, artwork are available for preview now. Click here, then ‘Bid Now’ to view them. Bidding opens Feb 13 and closes the 26^th.

—————

March 3, 2012  The Charlie Brown themed “Happiness Is …” gala
Benefits: Olney Theatre Center’s educational and outreach programs
Where: Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Includes cocktail hour, seated dinner and desert, live and silent auction, live performances and a special awards ceremony.
Tickets:  $250
For more information, contact David Frankenberger at 301.924.4485 ext. 128

—————

March 4, 2012  “Shakespeare in Klingon II: The Wrath of (Michael) Kahn”
Benefits: WSC Avant Bard
Where: Rosslyn Spectrum, Arlington, VA

As in the classic movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” WSC Avant Bard is staging a one-night fête with a Khan of our own – Michael Kahn, the long-time Washington arts icon and Artistic Director of DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company. Kahn will join WSC Artistic Director Christopher Henley, Board President Marc Okrand, creator of the original Klingon language, their crew of Shakespearian Klingons and other special guests.

Tickets:  $85 and $250
More information here

—————

Monday, March 26, 2012  “The Golden Gala: A Glittering Evening of American Musical Theater”
Benefits: Arena Stage’s Community Engagement Programs
Where: Mead Center for American Theater, Washington, DC.

The evening features cocktails, dinner, auction and a special performance by Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and legendary composer Sheldon Harnick, and the presentation of American Voice Awards by Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith to Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

Tickets start at $1,400, half tables start at $7,500 and full tables start at $15,000.
More information here.

—————

April 16, 2012 “Adventure Theatre’s 60^th Anniversary Gala & Auction”
Benefits: Adventure Theatre
Where: Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring, MD

A cocktail reception and silent auction will be followed by a seated dinner, entertainment and presentation of  ’The Spirit of Adventure Award,’ honoring Past Presidents of Adventure Theatre

Tickets:  $250
For more details, contact Janet Berry at Adventure Theatre, 301 634-2270 or check their website.

—————

April 21, 2012  “Wild, Wild Woolly”
Benefits: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Where: the newly renovated grand ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel, Washington, DC

Woolly celebrates its pioneering spirit by traveling back to the days of the Wild West. “The Civil War had ended, there was the expectation of ‘gold in them hills,’ and  the telegraph was fighting the pony express for supremacy. So pack your best Victorian-era hat and boots, book your seat on the transcontinental railroad, gather the wagons, or see if a stagecoach has an open spot.”
Cocktails, three course dinner, live auction and after party Wil Gravet Band presented by Hill Country Barbeque.

Look for special online raffle tickets available soon.
Tickets to the event:  $300 until February 19^th. $350 after.
More information here.

—————

Friday, April 27, 2012  “Yankee Doodle Dandy”
Benefits: Washington Improv Theater
Where:  Room & Board, Washington, DC.

Celebrating the 3 Cs of the improv revolution—creativity, collaboration, and community—on the spacious fourth-floor showroom of Room & Board, WIT’s neighbor and gala partner. The evening will include American Revolution-themed cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, and an improv performance.

Tickets: $85 through March 1^st. $125 after that.
More information here.

—————

Saturday, April 28, 2012  “2012 Cultural Development Corporation Gala”
Benefits: Cultural Development Corporation
Where: The Liaison Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.

CuDC’s Annual Gala raises funds that allow us to continue providing services to artists – performing and visual arts programs, artist housing, professional development and more. These programs benefit nearly 700 local artists and reach an average of 30,000 residents and community members every year. Includes cocktails, seated dinner, art and dancing

Tickets:  $250 – $2500
More information here

—————

May 1, 2012  “A Decade of Round House in Bethesda”
Benefits:  Round House Theatre’s education and outreach programs
Where:  Round House Theatre, Bethesda, MD

An evening of celebration featuring delectable food, a lively silent auction, wine raffle and a special performance in the theatre of favorite scene from the past 10 years performed by veteran Round House artists including Will Gartshore, Edward Gero, Mitchell Hébert, Marty Lodge, Kathryn Kelley… and many others. The silent auction is open now, with more items added April 5^th.

More information here.

—————

Monday, May 7, 2012  “The Lady With All the Answers”
Where:  Theater J, Washington, DC.

Broadway Star Judith Ivey is Ann Landers in  “The Lady With All the Answers”, a solo show by David Rambo. The Lady With All the Answers follows ‘America’s confidante,’ as she sits down to write “the most important column of her life.” Spend an hour with this fascinating, indomitable woman!

Tickets (early bird prices thru March 15):
$150 Performance with a Post-Show Dessert Reception.
$225 includes Pre-Show Hors d’oeuvres and Drinks and Post-Show Dessert Reception
For more information, call 202 777-3225.

—————

Saturday, May 19, 2012  “Project Runway”
Benefits: Spooky Action Theatre
Where: Spooky Action Theatre, Washington, DC.

DC actresses will walk the runway modeling designer clothing from the mid-70’s to now, most by Amsterdam-born designer Ronaldus Shamask, best known for his Japanese-inspired “wearable architecture.”

Look for more details on the Spooky Action website in March.

- If we missed your event, you are welcome to add it to the comments below.