Photos: Sterling K. Brown, Julie Chen Moonves, and More at American Ballet Theatre’s Holiday Benefit
Proceeds from the Holiday Benefit support American Ballet Theatre, America’s National Ballet Company, and its education and engagement programs.
By: Stephi Wild Dec. 16, 2025
American Ballet Theatre returned to Los Angeles to host its annual Holiday Benefit. The special, one-night-only program celebrated the magic of the season with an intimate performance by ABT’s acclaimed dancers, highlighting beloved classics and contemporary works including an excerpt from the holiday favorite The Nutcracker, followed by dinner and dessert with the ABT’s celebrated artists. Check out photos from the event below!
The evening honored Stewart R. Smith with The Melville Straus Leadership Achievement Award.
Those in attendance included Chairs Alexandra & Alan Airth, Avery & Andrew Barth, Ellen & Harry Levitt, Connor Smith & Kell Adamski, Jamie & Graham Smith, Logan Smith & Tracy Beetler, MacKenzie & Saeed Teymouri and the Trustees of American Ballet Theatre; sponsored by The H. Russell Smith Foundation; performers including Principal Dancers Isabella Boylston, Skylar Brandt, Herman Cornejo, Calvin Royal III, and Christine Shevchenko.
Other attendees included Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathé, Ashley Everett, Chelsie Hill, Courtney Mays, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Julie Chen Moonves, Keltie Knight, Tori Evans, ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe and Executive Director Barry Hughson amongst others.
Proceeds from the Holiday Benefit support American Ballet Theatre, America’s National Ballet Company, and its education and engagement programs.
Photo Credit: Emma McIntyre and Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre
Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT
Calvin Royal III
(L-R) Ashley Hughson and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
(L-R) Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT and Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT
Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
Christine Shevchenko
Honoree Stewart R. Smith
Honoree Stewart R. Smith
Frederic Golchan
(L-R) Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT, honoree Stewart R. Smith and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
(L-R) Robin A. Ferracone and Stewart R. Smith
(L-R) Alex DiMattia and Christine Shevchenko
Kaylee Bays
Adrian Blake Mitchell
Roxanne Messina Captor
Challen Cates
Sterling K. Brown
Chelsie Hill
Rachel Moore
(L-R) Challen Cates and Jasper McPherson
T. Bankole
Jasper McPherson
Stacie Greenwell
Ashley Everett
Ariel Paredes
Isabele Mitchell
Jake Shelley
Courtney Mays
Tori Evans
Hannalorre Chaine
James Whiteside
(L-R) Isabele Mitchell and Alex Mitchell
(L-R) Jake Shelley and Hannalorre Chaine
(L-R) Jake Shelley and Hannalorre Chaine
(L-R) Ashley Everett and Keltie Knight
Sterling K. Brown
Claire Caudwell
Samantha De Castro
(2nd L-R) Christine Shevchenko, Alex DiMattia and Frederic Golchan
(L-R) Ryan Michelle Bathe, Challen Cates, Jasper McPherson and Sterling K. Brown
(L-R) Zhong-Jing Fang and Sterling K. Brown
(L-R) Isabele Mitchell and Alex Mitchell
Lily Kaplan
(L-R) Teddy Levitt and Julie Cohn
(L-R) Elizabeth Segerstrom, Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT and Ashley Hughson
(L-R) Honor McGee and Jay Lundy
Bj Korros
Zhong-Jing Fang
(L-R) Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT, Sterling K. Brown, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
(L-R) Keltie Knight and Julie Chen Moonves
(L-R) Ashley Everett and Keltie Knight
(L-R) Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT, Ashley Hughson and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
Chris Minev (L) and guest
Courtney Mays (R) and guest
(L-R) Chelsie Hill and Kaylee Bays
(L-R) James Whiteside and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
(L-R) Tori Evans and TJ Shaw
TJ Shaw
(L-R) Stewart R. Smith, Robin A. Ferracone and Harry Levitt
(L-R) Julie Chen Moonves and Wendy Goldberg
(L-R) Nick Gentile and Jorge Perez
(L-R) Paul Jackson and Corrie Jackson
(L-R) Chris Gorog and Kathy Taggares
Betsey Perez
Marilyn Welsh
Kimberly Steinberg
(L-R) Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT and honoree Stewart R. Smith
(L-R) Beverly Bautista and Ariel Paredes
Beverly Bautista
(L-R) Aldo Calleros and Ginger Siedschlag
Zhong-Jing Fang (R) and guest
(L-R) Wallace Santeem, Tara Santee, Crystal Fleming, and Derrick Gervin
(L-R) Jeff Conway and Tiffany Chao
Elizabeth Kim
Jessica Herlitz
(L-R) Rhonda Papell and Ron Papell
Noelle Abeyta
(C-L) Tori Evans and TJ Shaw
(L-R) Corrie Jackson and Paul Jackson
Bella Kaplan
Sofia Thomas
(L-R) Mario Fiumani and Michelle Fiumani
(L-R) Noelle Abeyta, Lily Kaplan, Sofia Thomas, Elizabeth Kim, and Jessica Herlitz
(L-R) Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT, Ashley Hughson and Andrew F. Barth
(L-R) Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT and honoree Stewart R. Smith
Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director, ABT speaks onstage during American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) Holiday Benefit at The Beverly Hilton on December 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre (ABT))
(L-R) Keltie Knight, Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe
Honoree Stewart R. Smith
Christine Shevchenko
(L-R) Calvin Royal III and Ashley Everett
Barry Hughson, Executive Director, ABT
(L-R) Keltie Knight, Skylar Brandt and Ashley Everett
(L-R) Ryan Michelle Bathe and Isabella Boylston
(L-R) Katherine Ross and Wendy Goldberg
(C-L) Andrew F. Barth and James Whiteside
(L-R) Sterling K. Brown, Christine Shevchenko, Ryan Michelle Bathe and Alex DiMattia
(L-R) Elizabeth Segerstrom, honoree Stewart R. Smith and Christine Shevchenko
(L-R) Keltie Knight, Skylar Brandt and Ashley Everett
Herman Cornejo (R) and guest
SunMi Park (R) and guest
Skylar Brandt (R) and guest
(L-R) Isabella Boylston, Rachel Moore
(L-R) Rachel Moore and Adrian Blake Mitchell
(L-R) TJ Shaw, Tori Evans, Ashley Everett, and Keltie Knight
(L-R) Andrew F. Barth and Christine Shevchenko
(L-R) Mark Cohen, Skylar Brandt and Rachael Worby
Los Angeles Awards - Live Stats
Best Musical - Top 3
1.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Hollywood Bowl)
9.4% of votes
2.
ORIGINALS (The Gardenia Club)
8.9% of votes
3.
HAIR (Conundrum Theatre)
4.5% of votes
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