2024 Avalon Theatre Gala
A special evening to benefit the theater and its Cinema Classroom at the Avalon student film education program.
Join us as gifted concert pianist and film music expert Rachel Franklin, accompanied by her grand piano and selected film clips, explores 90 years of Oscar-winning film scores.
Reception begins at 5:00 PM
Musical Program begins at 7:00 PM
Patron Ticket $300
- 1 ticket to the catered reception and program
- Reserved seating for the program
- Name listed in the printed program (print deadline April 19)
Program Only Ticket $65
- 1 ticket to the program
- Reserved seating for the program
- Event admission at 6:45pm (7:00pm start)
Cinema Classroom at the Avalon is a free program teaching visual literacy and critical thinking to 6th-12th grade students from across the District of Columbia.
Twelve films are presented each school year, each focusing on social justice and human rights issues. In advance of each screening, we offer curriculum guides linked to DCPS standards. Each screening is followed by an interactive discussion with a subject matter expert.
About Rachel Franklin
British-born classical and jazz concert pianist Dr. Rachel Franklin is a renowned performer and public speaker. Her acclaimed wit, scholarship and insights about music have led to countless speaking engagements for such distinguished organizations as the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and National Public Radio.
She’s particularly fascinated with movie music, its storied composers, social history and irresistible gossip.
Rachel’s great passion is provoking connections and sparking imaginative pathways for her listeners and students, so their own creativity can be inspired by extraordinary musical art. Besides appreciating her performing artistry, her listeners rave about her warm, engaging style as she illustrates on the piano.
We Thank Our Generous Underwriters!
CORPORATE UNDERWRITERS
Screenwriter
INDIVIDUAL UNDERWRITERS
Gala Star
Anonymous
Producer
Donetta George
Jodie Levin-Epstein & Barry Zigas
Live to Give Equity & Justice Fund
Cinematographer
Carl & Courtney Bergeron
Lynn & Bill Choquette
Circle Yoga & Opening Heart Mindfulness
Patricia P. Karp & Judith A. Powers
Ann Pelham & Bob Cullen
Margaret Parsons & Lawrence Gray
Screenwriter
Lisa Banks & Linda Correia
Phyllis & Barry Caldwell
Connie K.N. Chang & Nathaniel G. Pearlman
Heather & Chris Davenport
Bernard S. Gewirz
Sarajane Johnson & Arthur Goldberg
William & Heidi Maloni
Kathleen & Chris Matthews
Elias Savada
Dr. Maria Turner
Dorothy & Kenneth Woodcock
Host Committee
Cynthia Baker & Jonathan Zeitler
Lisa Banks & Linda Correia
Carl & Courtney Bergeron
Claire Bloch & Geoffrey Griffis
Sally Courtney
Toby & Daniel Edelman
Donetta George
Peter Halle & Carolyn Lamm
Aviva Kempner
Joshua M. Levin & Debra Fried Levin
Andrew & Amy Mack
Mary Louise Mitterhoff
Adam Nemzer & Vali Tschirgi
Lynn Palmer & Bob Peck
Susan & David Reichardt
Jan Solomon & Kenneth Simonson
Daniel Spealman Jr & Kristi Maasjo
Randy Speck & Samantha Nolan
Lalita Subramanian & John Pappajohn
Patron Level Supporters
Janice & Kim Abraham
Joanne Barrett
Annie Burns & John Monahan
Gina & Arch Campbell
Jeanne Cohn & Mark Wolfe
Colb Family
John Cole & Nancy Guinn
Sally Courtney
Alexander D. Crary
Joan Danzinger
Toby & Daniel Edelman
Tom & Eileen Ehrgood
Sherry Fizdale
Mary L. Froning
Matt Frumin
Maureen Gardner & Bill Oberdorfer
Nancy Gifford
Martha Gil-Montero & Joseph A. Page
Gerry Gingrich
Jenny Goldstein & Dave Wachtel
Teresa Grana
Martin Hahn & Colleen Martin
Harold & Bonnie Himmelman
Charlotte Jones-Carroll
Aviva Kempner
Margo Kingston
Peter Kolker
June Kress
Chris & Tomi Landis
Joshua M. Levin & Debra Fried Levin
Jerry Levine
Cathy MacNeil-Hollinger & Mark Hollinger
Chase & Chris Maggiano
Wendy W. Makins
Carol McGarry
Elizabeth A. McGrath
Judith & Richard Meltzer
Kent Morrison & Dale Clayton-Morrison
Henrietta Morse
National Trust Insurance Services, LLC
Adam Nemzer & Vali Tschirgi
Tom Oberdorfer
Inci Otker
Lynn Palmer & Bob Peck
Mark & Dori Paster
Ruth Robbins
Barbara & Sherman Robinson
Christina H. Schoux
Anne Shields
English & Elaine Showalter
Jan Solomon & Kenneth Simonson
Randy Speck & Samantha Nolan
Janet St. Amand
Jim & Cindy Tuite
Katharine Weymouth
About the Avalon Theatre
The oldest operating movie house in the Washington, DC region, the Avalon Theatre has been a cornerstone of its community since opening in 1923.
After the theater was abruptly closed in 2001, a grassroots effort by the newly formed Avalon Theatre Project successfully restored the theater and it reopened in 2003.
The non-profit, historic Avalon Theatre is a 101-year-old community-supported film center in Chevy Chase DC that entertains, educates, and inspires the people of metropolitan Washington, DC through the magic of cinema.