Avalon Theatre Gala
May 3 was a special evening for the Avalon as we celebrated our 14th Gala with nearly 400 members of our community. This year’s gala raised over $190,000 to support the theater and our investment in laser projection technology.
The program took us on A Trip Down Sunset Boulevard in celebration of the film’s 75th anniversary, featuring a screening of the iconic masterpiece followed by a discussion of its production history and lasting impact.
If you were unable to attend the gala, please consider contributing toward our adoption of next generation laser projection systems. This upgraded technology will allow us to continue offering the best possible visual presentation and to deliver upon our commitment to sustainability by significantly reducing energy costs.
There are many people to thank for making the evening such a success. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who joined us, as well as those who could not attend but generously made donations.
We would especially like to express our appreciation to the event underwriters for their invaluable support. The list of underwriters appears below.
Featuring Special Guests
David M. Lubin, the Charlotte C. Weber Professor Emeritus of Art at Wake Forest University, is the author of eight books on topics ranging from American art during World War I to photojournalism during the Kennedy era.
His most recent work, Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of “Sunset Boulevard” and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream, was listed by The New Yorker as one of the “Best Books of 2025.”
Lubin’s many lecture and interview appearances include NPR, CBS, C-Span, and the BBC. He holds a doctorate from Yale University.
For more than three decades, Bob Mondello has reviewed movies and covered the arts for NPR. He has also written about the arts for USA Today, The Washington Post, Preservation Magazine, and other publications, with additional appearances as an arts commentator on commercial and public television stations.
Before becoming a professional critic, Mondello learned the ins and outs of the film industry by heading the public relations department for a chain of movie theaters, and he reveled in film history as advertising director for an independent repertory theater.
About the Avalon Theatre
The Avalon Theatre, a 103-year-old community-supported art house film center, is dedicated to the exhibition of film, film education, and preservation of our historic 1923 building. After closing abruptly in 2001, a grassroots campaign saved the theater, and it reopened as a nonprofit in 2003. Our mission is to showcase the art form of film while entertaining, educating, and inspiring the greater Washington, DC community in a welcoming space for all.
The Avalon cinematic experience is about communal film viewing on the big screen. From carbon-arc projection in the silent film era to 35mm film and digital systems, laser projection is the next technological leap—bringing great films to our community with extraordinary brilliance.
WE THANK OUR GENEROUS UNDERWRITERS!
Producer
Lynn & Bill Choquette
Donetta George
Jodie Levin-Epstein & Barry Zigas
Kathleen A. Maloy & Heather L. Burns
Beth Wehrle & Matthew Miller
Cinematographer
Lisa Banks & Linda Correia
Christine Bedoret & Robert Doubek
Carl & Courtney Bergeron
Lisa & Alvin Dunn
Patricia P. Karp & Judith A. Powers
Annie & Paul Mahon
Ann Pelham & Bob Cullen
Screenwriter
Marion C. Blakey
Connie K.N. Chang & Nathaniel G. Pearlman
Chevy Chase Farmers Market
Counterpart International
Sally Courtney
Heather & Chris Davenport
Diane Lazarus Eichner & Ron Eichner
Martin Hahn & Colleen Martin
Sarajane Johnson & Arthur Goldberg
Chris & Tomi Landis
Joshua M. Levin & Debra Fried Levin
Cathy MacNeil-Hollinger & Mark Hollinger
Chris & Kathleen Matthews
Peggy Parsons
Connie Rosemont & Jon Greenberg
Elias Savada
Daniel & Jane Solomon
Randy Speck & Samantha Nolan
Dr. Maria Turner
Warner Bros. Discovery
Dorothy & Ken Woodcock
Host Committee
Lisa Banks & Linda CorreiaSubhashini Bollini & Frank RuggieroGina & Arch CampbellSally CourtneyLisa & Alvin DunnStephanie & Tope FolarinJon Grossman & Jaime BanksCindy & Bill Kelly
Aviva Kempner
Kathleen A. Maloy & Heather L. BurnsMary Louise MitterhoffLynn Palmer & Bob PeckJohn Pappajohn & Lalita SubramanianConnie Rosemont & Jon GreenbergJan Solomon & Kenneth SimonsonDaniel Spealman & Kristi Maasjo
As of 4/15/26