Avalon Theatre Gala

A special evening benefiting the theater and its investment in laser projection technology

Join us for a memorable 75th anniversary celebration of Billy Wilder’s classic SUNSET BOULEVARD

RECEPTION

5 PM–7 PM

Program

7 PM–9:30 PM

A Trip Down Sunset Boulevard

Film Screening & Discussion

AVALON THEATRE

5612 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20015

DRESSY CASUAL ATTIRE

Featuring Special Guests

David Lubin currently serves as the Charlotte C. Weber Professor of Art at Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) and is the author of several books on topics ranging from American Art during World War I to film.

His most recent work, Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of “Sunset Boulevard” and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream, was published in 2025.

His lecture and interview appearances include NPR, C-Span, and BBC Radio, and he holds degrees from Ohio State and Yale Universities.

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.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

PATRON TICKET: $300

• 1 ticket to the catered reception prior to the program
• Preferred reserved seating for the program
• Name listed in the printed program

PROGRAM ONLY TICKET: $65

• 1 ticket to the program
• Reserved seating for the program
• Event admission at 6:45 PM
  (7:00 PM start)

Get your tickets

Ticket sales will begin on Friday, March 20!

UNDERWRITER BENEFITS

GALA STAR: $20,000

• 10 tickets total to the catered reception and program
• Special recognition during the event as a Gala Star
  Underwriter
• Complimentary rental of Avalon 2 at a mutually
  agreed upon time (Mon-Thurs only)
• PLUS all benefits at the Producer level

PRODUCER: $10,000

• 8 tickets total to the catered reception and program
• Exclusive onscreen recognition during
  the Avalon pre-show for one year
• Two complimentary Avalon passes for one year
• PLUS all benefits at the Cinematographer level

CINEMATOGRAPHER: $5,000

• 6 tickets total to the catered reception and program
• Recognition during the event as an Underwriter
• One copy of the book Ready for My Close-Up signed by author David Lubin
• PLUS all benefits at the Screenwriter level

SCREENWRITER: $2,500

• 4 tickets total to the catered reception and program
• Recognition in the event program and
  on Avalon website
• Preferred reserved seating for the program

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
Carl & Courtney Bergeron
Lisa & Alvin Dunn
Annie & Paul Mahon

Screenwriter

Sally Courtney
Heather & Chris Davenport
Diane Lazarus Eichner & Ron Eichner
Chris & Tomi Landis
Joshua M. Levin & Debra Fried Levin
Cathy MacNeil-Hollinger & Mark Hollinger

Peggy Parsons
Connie Rosemont & Jon Greenberg
Elias Savada
Randy Speck & Samantha Nolan
Dr. Maria Turner
Dorothy & Ken Woodcock

Host Committee

Lisa Banks & Linda Correia
Arch Campbell
Sally Courtney
Lisa & Alvin Dunn
Stephanie & Tope Folarin
Jon Grossman & Jaime Banks

Kathleen A. Maloy & Heather L. Burns
Mary Louise Mitterhoff
Lynn Palmer & Bob Peck
John Pappajohn & Lalita Subramanian
Connie Rosemont & Jon Greenberg
Daniel Spealman Jr & Kristi Maasjo

As of 3/12/26