'An Evening With Ana Gasteyer' Benefits Arena Stage

On Monday, May 9, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie present "An Evening with Ana Gasteyer," an exclusive celebration that includes the inaugural presentation of the Beth Newburger Schwartz Award at the Mead Center for American Theater.

Born and raised in D.C., Gasteyer has appeared on Broadway in "Wicked" and "The Threepenny Opera" and is widely known for her memorable roles in film and TV, including six seasons on "Saturday Night Live." For the benefit cabaret performance, the comedienne will perform hits from her new jazz album "I'm Hip" with members of her band, delivering saucy and fun-loving renditions from the American songbook.

The evening kicks off with a VIP cocktail reception and three-course seated dinner, followed by the performance, after which guests will enjoy a music, wine and dessert reception.

Dinner will feature the presentation of the inaugural award in Arena Stage Board Chair Beth Newburger Schwartz's honor, for her invaluable work at Arena Stage and throughout her career to promote and recognize women's roles throughout American history. This will be awarded annually to a female leader who strives to better the community in which she lives through her own unique strengths and talents.�

All proceeds from the evening support Arena Stage's award-winning artistic and community engagement programs. Space is limited. Complimentary valet parking will be available. The event is sponsored in part by GEICO.

Ana Gasteyer was a violin player from the tender age of five and always had an ear for music and a knack for timing. Years later, after a formal education as a classically-trained singer, she made the fateful discovery that she could get people laughing -- and laugh they did every Saturday night at NBC's Studio 8H. Audiences fell in love with Gasteyer's flair for irony and character-driven comedy on six seasons of "Saturday Night Live," where she unabashedly played, and often sang, at full-tilt.

Eventually, Broadway came calling and Gasteyer spent several years belting out superstar vocals in shows like "Wicked," "The Threepenny Opera" and "The Rocky Horror Show." But she felt most at home crooning and chirping with a big band in a nightclub, amidst laughter and the inviting clink of ice in a glass. Her acclaimed shows, "Let it Rip" and "Elegant Songs from a Handsome Woman," earned praise from audiences and critics alike who hailed the acts as "exuberant and rollicking entertainment" with "high-octane vocals" and "a topnotch swingin' ensemble."

So the recent star of ABC's "Suburgatory" (and vampy Weight Watchers spoke-singer) teamed with producer and "New York Nightclub Supernova" Julian Fleisher to make "I'm Hip," a moxie jazz album with an eclectic range of covers and reimagined classics.

When Gasteyer steps up to the mic, she evokes the swagger of an era when a lady ruled a nightclub and an audience knew they were in for a good time. From songs like "One Mint Julep" and "Proper Cup of Coffee" to a surprisingly smooth rendition of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," Gasteyer's saucy selections tell stories with humor, heartbreak... and just a little splash of soda.

Her vibe recalls that of a time when entertainers truly entertained, an era when a broad could bring home the bacon, swing a set of sultry standards and still be a gracious hostess. Her heroes are those fun-loving dames who downed a cocktail, donned a dress and fronted a band of dapper gents in sharp suits wielding shiny horns -- think Barbara Stanwyck in "Ball of Fire" as she captures Gary Cooper's heart. And then breaks it.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena Stage produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and ground-breaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Arena Stage is committed to commissioning and developing new plays through the American Voices New Play Institute. Arena Stage impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement. Now in its seventh decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. arenastage.org.

Event Schedule
Monday May 9, 2016
5:30 p.m. Cocktail reception and seated dinner
8:30 p.m. Cabaret performance by Ana Gasteyer
Post-show music, wine and dessert reception following the performance

Individual Tickets
Dinner Ticket - $1,000
Performance Ticket - $500
Young Professional Ticket (35 or under) - $150

For information on individual ticket or table purchases please contact Maria Corso at 202-600-4025 or email [email protected].
For information on corporate sponsorship packages, please contact Char Manlove-Laws at 202-600-4030 or email [email protected]

"An Evening with Ana Gasteyer" will be held on Monday, May 9, at the Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 Sixth St., SW in Washington, DC.

For information or tickets, visit arenastage.org/donate/special-events/an-evening-with-ana-gasteyer