Shakespeare Theatre Company 2021 Gala

Client: Shakespeare Theatre Company

Venue: Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts

Date: October 4, 2021

Event Challenge: Reinventing the event to fit the ongoing health and safety needs of all, as well as adjusting the traditional gala to fit the new outdoor venue. 

Link to event website here!

For more than 30 years, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) has dedicated itself to being the nation’s premier classic theatre. STC has produced and hosted more than 150 productions, entertaining more than 2.5 million audience members in its two theatre spaces located in Washington, DC: the Michael R. Klein Theatre and Sidney Harman Hall.

This year, Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomed guests back in person for a gala unlike any other. Guests travelled to Vienna, Virginia to visit the beautiful grounds of Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts where the gala was held across three separate pavilions. The progressive event model opened up an endless amount of opportunities for unique and distinctive engagement for guests. Through the use of creative transitions guests moved between pavilions seamlessly.  

Guests started their evening at the first location, the Terrace Pavilion. After going through registration, guests were greeted with cocktails at the 4 sided bar in the center of the pavilion. Here, silent auction items accompanied with QR codes were on display for guests to bid remotely. While guests mingled over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, a performance from Howard University Marching Band emerged to lead guests to their next destination of the evening, the Ovations Pavilion.

The Ovations Pavilion was where the main program was held. Seats were set throughout the pavilion positioned in the direction of the main stage. The program was filled with live performances and remarks from celebrities including Frenchie Davis, Justin Guarini, and the remarkable Phylicia Rashad. Additional pre-recorded remarks were also shared from the 2021 Arts on the Hill Awardees Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  A surprise performance from the Chuck Brown Band helped to close out guests’ time at the Ovations Pavilion and signaled that it was time to move to their final stop of the evening. As guests arrived at the Associates Pavilion, they were seated for a 3 course meal provided by RSVP Catering. 

With the use of signage from the STC and direction from RJ Whyte team members throughout the event, guests navigated this progressive seamlessly. With the unique twist on a classic gala, we were able to create a dynamic program that changed the ways we will view galas in the future. 

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