Photo Flash: Arena Stage Hosts 6th Annual Military Thanksgiving

Every year hundreds of D.C.-area military families must spend the Thanksgiving holiday away from loved ones. In gratitude for their service, Arena Stage invited wounded warriors, service men and women and their families to a complimentary dinner and performance of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW) on Friday, November 25. Since the first Military Thanksgiving in 2011, Arena Stage has served more than 1,000 military members and their families with the annual event. Scroll down for photos from this year's celebration!

The evening featured remarks from Rear Admiral Charles W. Rock, newly appointed as the 90th commandant, Naval District Washington, and began with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception featuring a performance by military musicians and the presentation of the colors. A seated, three-course dinner was prepared and served by Ridgewells Catering at 6:00 p.m., and guests enjoyed a performance of Carousel at 8:00 p.m.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie, is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena Stage produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and ground-breaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Arena Stage is committed to commissioning and developing new plays, and impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement. Now in its seventh decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. For more, visit arenastage.org.

Photo Credit: Cameron Whitman

Tables are set for the sixth annual Military Thanksgiving at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater on November 25, 2016.

Tables are set for the sixth annual Military Thanksgiving at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater on November 25, 2016.

Rear Admiral Charles W. Rock and Arena Stage Executive Director Edgar Dobie

The presentation of the colors at the sixth annual Military Thanksgiving at Arena Stage.

The presentation of the colors at the sixth annual Military Thanksgiving at Arena Stage.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith

Arena Stage Executive Director Edgar Dobie

LockheEd Martin’s Lawrence Duncan III

Rear Admiral Charles W. Rock

Rear Admiral Charles W. Rock

Rear Admiral Charles W. Rock