Imagination Stage’s Annual Gala: TELL YOUR STORY
Imagination Stage's Annual Gala took place on April 30, 2022 at The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC.

Photo by Noe Todorovich.
On Saturday, April 30, Imagination Stage’s Annual Gala: Tell Your Story was held at The Howard Theatre. This was the first gala to take place at the historic venue since the pandemic began. The event was chaired by Jessica Boger, Candice Tolliver Burns, Ginger Dietrich, and Tiffany Rose.
After a two-year hiatus, the Annual Gala was an energetic evening of exciting company and unique performances celebrating the stories of our young people. The evening included performances from Imagination Stage students and the Urban Nation Choir, directed by Rickey Payton; Soul in Motion African Dance and Drum, directed by Michael Friend; as well as a lively Flash Mob to end the evening featuring students, staff, and board members.

Photo by Noe Todorovich.
This year’s Imagine Award recipient was Cathy Bernard, who has been a key supporter and advisor to Imagination Stage since 2003 and serves on the Board of Trustees as a Vice President. Former Congresswoman and Ambassador Connie Morella, former First Lady of Montgomery County Catherine Leggett, and Imagination Stage Founder Bonnie Fogel were among those who presented her with the award and all in attendance celebrated her storied philanthropy and commitment to Montgomery County not-for-profit arts organizations.
The Imagination Stage Artist Honoree was Josh Andrés Rivera. This inaugural award recognizes an exemplary professional who can be a role model for students. Rivera can currently be seen as "Chino" in Steven Spielberg's critically acclaimed adaptation of West Side Story for Twentieth Century Studios. He is an advocate for immigrant rights and he feels passionately about organizations that empower kids, and help them amplify their voices.

Photo by Noe Todorovich.
The elegant and theatrical event raised nearly $330,000. All funds raised support Imagination Stage’s professional theatre and arts education programs, including their ground-breaking Theatre for Change programming, which uses theatre productions and workshops to bridge cultural divides and lift up historically underrepresented voices while exploring complex social justice issues.
You can support this vital work by texting TELLYOURSTORY to 44-321.

Photo by Noe Todorovich.
Event Producers: Chelsey Christensen and Emma Cummings
Director: Janet Stanford
Assistant Director: Kathryn Chase Bryer
Music Director: Rickey Payton, Sr.
Choreographer: Sandra Holloway
Assistant Choreographer: Ariarna Murphy
Gala Chairs
Jessica Boger
Candice Tolliver Burns
Ginger Dietrich
Tiffany Rose
Host Committee
Dr. Kim Barnette
Ashley Bronczek
Calvin Cafritz
Jane Cafritz
Camille Fesche
David Frederick
Julianna Goldman
Michael Gottlieb
David Harrison
David Hurwitz
Melissa Hurwitz
Benjamin Jacobs
Gail Jacobs
Matthew Killian
Host Committee (cont.)
Kristin and Hanan Kivett
Sachiko Kuno
Catherine Leggett
Lynne Lightfoote
Sophia Lynn
Arnold Polinger
Diane Polinger
Tena Nauheim
Margo Sadow
Michael Sadow
Carolyn Schugar
Frank Schugar
Chris Taylor
Anna Trone
Robert Trone
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Ginger and Richard Dietrich
Sachiko Kuno
Diane and Arnold Polinger
Musician
Ashley and Matthew Bronczek
Jane and Calvin Cafritz
Julianna Goldman and Michael Gottlieb
Melissa and David Hurwitz
Gail and Benjamin Jacobs
Matthew Killian
Lynne J. Lightfoote, MD
Sophia Lynn and David Frederick
Tena Nauheim and David Harrison
Margo and Michael Sadow
Carolyn and Frank Schugar
Anna and Robert Trone
Actor
Pennie and Gary Abramson
Dr. and Mr. Kim and Corey Barnette
Beam Suntory*
Bethesda Urban Partnership
Constance and Robby Brewer
Candice Tolliver Burns
Claire Duran and Nayel Urena
Foley & Lardner, LLP
Gigi and Jeff Godwin
Catherine S. and Ike Leggett
Jan Donohoe McNamara and Charles McNamara
PNC BANK
Nichole Francis Reynolds & Fred Reynolds, III
Jessica Springsteen
Debra Vodenos and Sam Boxerman
Ensemble
Sally and Paul Amoruso
Darren Braude
Ashley and Brendan Burke
City First Bank
Charlie Leftkowitz Crowley
Ann and Jon Davis
Starr and Fred Ezra
Colleen Fahey and Chris Hertz
Linda and J.J. Finkelstein
Bonnie Fogel
LaShelle and Dwight Franklin
Barbara J. and Thomas Gottschalk
Nancy Greenspan
Jordana Grodnitzky
Betsy Grossman
Julia Harman-Cain and Robin Reed
Bruce and Alia Johnson
Dianne and Edward Lee
Lerch, Early, and Brewer
Tina Martin and Mita Schaffer
McLean School
Lara Oerter and Brian Hale
Nancy Ordway
Malina and Mike Patel
Patricia Payne
Deborah Phillips and John Lawrence
Julie and Frank Allen Philpot
Delegate Lily Qi and Phil Peng
Amber and Warren Romine
Sally Rosenburg and Bruce Charendoff
Robin Sherman and Jeff Menick
Janet Stanford and Leo Stone
Angelie and Sunit Talapatra
Yasemin Washington and Khari Brown
Maura and Jim White
*In-kind donation