Photo Flash: Shakespeare Theatre Company Gala Celebration

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's celebrated the opening of their new $89 million Harman Center for the Arts in downtown Washington, DC at a Gala Celebration on Monday, October 1.

The evening, which raised $2.8 million for the Shakespeare Theatre Company, brought together on the new Harman stage stars from the theatre (Patti LuPone and Sam Waterston),  ballet (Julio Bocca and Nina Ananiashvili), jazz (Wynton Marsalis) and classical music (violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter), before a star-studded audience including Chelsea Clinton, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester and The Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor

While it will be used by a variety of national and international performing arts company each year, the new 775-seat theatre will principally be the newest (and second) performance venue for the Shakespeare Theatre Company as it expands its season from 5 to 8 productions each season, aiming to become a national destination for classical theatre in the US (STC's existing 450-seat Lansburgh Theatre, also in downtown DC, has been drawing patrons to the classics for 20 years.)

The Harman Center for the Arts is named after Sidney Harman, whose $20 million contribution kicked off the Shakespeare Theatre Company's fundraising efforts.

For more information, visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org

Photos by Carol Rosegg

Michael Kahn, artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company

Members of the Shakespeare Theatre Company (pictured clockwise) Kelly McGillis, Ted Van Griethuysen, Patrick Page, Jeffrey Carlson and Ed Gero

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and the Washington Performing Arts Society Gospel Mass Choir

Julio Bocca and Nina Ananiashvili in a scene from Swan Lake

The Washington Ballet