Arena Stage Gala To Recognize Lindsey Brittain Collins As Emerging Leader

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie are pleased to recognize Lindsey Brittain Collins as an Emerging Leader at the 2019 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street, SW).

Brittain Collins is a fine artist working primarily with oil, acrylic, found objects and building materials. She examines economic and social issues, including race, religion, gender and sexuality through painting, assemblage and collage. Her goal is to induce associations in the psyche of the viewer in order to complicate the link between self-hood and larger societal constraints. Her work is most influenced by the works of Whitfield Lovell, Glenn Ligon, David Hammons and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. Brittain Collins received her B.A. from the University of Virginia. She then went on to study Fine Arts at Parsons School of Design and completed her graduate studies at Columbia University. Brittain Collins has been awarded residencies at Vermont Studio Center and Columbia University. In 2018 she was appointed to the Art & Architectural Review Board for the state of Virginia on which she will serve until 2022. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States.

"I admire that Arena Stage promotes the arts through programming that reflects the diversity of Washington, D.C. and the American spirit," shares Brittain Collins. "Through my work, I try to present a portrait of America that is inclusive of all of the groups that have helped shape it, specifically those that have been the most underrepresented. It is a distinct honor to receive this award."

The Gala will include the presentation of the fourth annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to National Public Radio's Nina Totenberg. Actor and performer Kathleen Turner will headline the Gala, as well as host an intimate reception the evening before.

Lavern Chatman, Arena Board of Trustees member, serves as the Gala's chair, and Annie Simonian Totah, Armenian Assembly of America's Board of Trustees member, serves as the honorary chair.

This year's Gala is supported by Platinum Sponsors Exelon and AT&T. Arena Stage is grateful to have the support of these generous companies who are leaders in their dedication to support the communities they serve.

"Exelon is proud to power the spotlights that shine, night after night, on the remarkable performances at Arena Stage," says Maggie FitzPatrick, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs.

"For more than 70 years, Arena Stage has been depicting our American journey through theater," adds Marc D. Blakeman, president, AT&T Mid Atlantic. "Their productions not only entertain thousands every year, they're also introducing young audiences to the power of theater. At AT&T, we're proud to support Arena Stage - an organization that enriches our lives and communities in so many ways."

All proceeds from the Gala will benefit all Arena Stage artistic and educational programs. Arena Stage is one of the only theaters dedicated to producing American plays and playwrights. Additionally, Arena Stage offers seven robust Community Engagement programs that provide arts education activities to more than 10,000 young people in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan community, as well as internationally with its Voices of Now program.

For additional event details visit arenastage.org/gala.

For information on individual ticket or table purchases please contact Maria Corso at 202-600-4025 or email RSVP@arenastage.org.

For information on corporate sponsorship packages, please contact Char Manlove-Laws at 202-600-4030 or email cmanlove-laws@arenastage.org.

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