The 14th annual record of notably social individuals from politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
Enrico and Andrea Cecchi (Photo by Joseph Allen)
A
Mr. and Mrs. JAMES ABDO (Mai)
Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM ABEL-SMITH (Mimi)
The Honorable and Mrs. TYLER ABELL (Bess)
The Honorable DAVID C. ACHESON
Mr. GLEN ACKERMAN and Mr. ERNESTO SANTALLA
Mr. THEO ADAMSTEIN and Ms. OLVIA DEMETRIOU
Arena Stage will reopen in the new Mead Center for American Theater in fall 2010, thanks to some of Washington’s most forward-thinking women.
Jaylee Mead, Molly Smith, Arlene Kogod, Michele Berman, Beth Newburger Schwartz (Photo by Joseph Allen)
Currently undergoing a facelift of facelifts, Arena will reopen as Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater in fall 2010 with the 683-seat Fichandler Stage, the 514-seat fan-shaped Kreeger Theatre, and the new Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle, a 200-seat theater with all the bells and whistles to make it one of the most dramatic spaces in Washington.
The Fantasticks is a fanciful take on the traditional boy-meets-girl story.
Sebastian La Cause, Timothy Ware, and Addi McDaniel in The Fantasticks at Arena Stage, November 20- January 10. (Photo by Scott Suchman)
The Fantasticks is a fanciful take on the traditional boy-meets-girl story. After their fathers forbid their love and build a wall to separate the two, Matt and Luisa are led by El Gallo from the wistfulness of “when life was slow and oh so mellow” to the reality that “without a hurt the heart is hollow.”
Popular songs, such as “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” fill the score. Loosely based on the play The Romancers (Les Romanesques) by Edmond Rostand, the story is centered around youthful love and learning to face the realities the world presents.
“The Fantasticks is profoundly about how to be human,” Dehnert said. “The show comes from a place of innocence. It teaches us how to live with both the happiness and the hurt that life can introduce, while at the same time it dares us to face both and find our way in the world.”
What We've Learned About Giving: "Be Wary if you hear of a program or idea that is too good to be true. There are no 'silver bullets' that can fix entrenched social problems with one, swift, inexpensive intervention. The real solutions generally come at a problem from multiple approaches, and they take time, money, copious talent, and long-term commitment." - David and Katherine Bradley
When Warren Buffett’s staggering donation of $36.1 billion was added to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s coffers (which already had $30 billion), many proclaimed this to be a new golden age of philanthropy, harkening back to the days of the Rockefeller, Mellon, and Carnegie endowments of countless worthy causes across a broad spectrum of American life. Yet, just a few years later, we are in an economic recession with the contributions of wealthy local residents now shrinking. Some generous donors were hard hit by the Madoff scandal, many others have had major losses in real estate or because of the stock market’s broad decline. As the local supply of capital has fallen for both individuals and private foundations, the need for philanthropy has correspondingly increased. Plus, much giving was directed towards political campaigns in 2008, with many charitable contributions taking a backseat to the historic election. But the tide will turn again.
Trish and George Vrandenburg
Location: Four Seasons Hotel
Photos by Tony Powell
PLAYING A PART: It was a night for actors and seriously high-end auction items to raise funds for education and audience-building programs on behalf of the 60-plus professional theater companies operating in the capital region.
ACTING UP: Susan and Mike Harreld, Tom Foster, Jane and Calvin Cafritz, Bill Largess, Bob Levey, Jaylee Mead, Trish and George Vradenburg, and actors James Kronzer and Naomi Jacobson.
The 13th annual record of notably social personalities from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
By Kevin Chaffee
John Pyles and Barbara Harrison
This roster is neither the first, nor will it (inevitably) be the last to single out certain individuals, who, by virtue of birth, rank, wealth or accomplishment, take part in the social life of the nation’s capital. Estimable precursors – drumroll here – include The Green Book,” so-called for its faux green suede cover, which has appeared continuously since 1930; and the Blue Book of Washington, D.C., which ceased publication around 1990 after a century in print. The Social Register, sometimes called the “Black Book,” also contains the names of numerous prominent local figures, many hailing from so-called “blue blood” families, although it merged its thin Washington volume into a much larger 12-city national version back in the 1980s.
A major difference separating Washington Life’s list from the others – apart from having no discernible color – is that we do not publish a “phone book” containing addresses and contact information, much less schools attended, club memberships and yacht listings. Ours is merely an alphabetical nomenclature of people who make a difference by adding immeasurably to their city, and by extension, their country and the world. Another point of contrast is size. Compared to the many thousands of entries contained in other directories past and present, WL’s Social List, currently about 700 names and counting, is relatively small. We do not see the need to include every member of the Congress, Cabinet or Court (i.e., Supreme), much less all those with top jobs listed in the “Plum Book” of political appointments.
Roger and Vicki Sant with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Location: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
WL EXCLUSIVE – Photos by Tony Powell
DIVING IN: The opening of a spectacular new exhibit showcasing the ocean as a vast ecosystem that is essential to all planetary life. CRUISING ON: Two hundred pals toasted Roger and Vicki Sant for their $15 million endowment at the VIP-only pre-party before floating off to sample an Occasions Caterer’s “sustainable seafood” buffet that included bronzini, barramundi and other exotic fruits de mer. An additional 1,000 guests swarmed in later to view the giant squid carcass and “Phoenix,” a replica of a North Atlantic right whale, that dominate the 23,000-square-foot hall. THE CREW: Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Adrienne Mars, Tim Wirth, Philippe Cousteau, Jaylee Mead, Leslie Hayes, Adm. James Watkins, Edward Luttwak, Brent Glass and Cathryn Keller.
WL tips its hat to the areas biggest philanthropists and donors.
While charity famously depends on left hands not knowing what their right-side partners do, we’ve nonetheless chosen to pay tribute to some of the more generously-handed givers in Washington. There are different reasons for inclusion on this (by no means comprehensive) rundown of big-time donors: some, like the Rockefellers and Mellons, are notable for amounts given over a long period of time; others leave lasting legacies in the form of museums, concert halls, and other university buildings. The men and women on this list are notable for their commitment to causes, involvement on multiple levels of local charity, and largeness of spirit.
WL Photos WLTV
