Photo Flash: Phylicia Rashad, Katori Hall, Kamilah Forbes and More Celebrate THE BLOOD QUILT Premiere at Arena Stage

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater welcomed Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad with Event Chair and Arena Stage Board member Shawna Watley (Senior Policy Advisor with Holland & Knight) as the Honorary Chair for THE BLOOD QUILT World Premiere Celebration last night, May 7, 2015. The new play by Katori Hall (The Mountaintop, Our Lady of Kibeho) is directed by Kamilah Forbes and runs now through June 7, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater. Scroll down for photos from the opening celebration!

The evening included a pre-show cocktail reception, three-course seated dinner and the official opening night performance of THE BLOOD QUILT, followed by a wine and dessert reception with the production's cast and artistic team.

Inaugural resident playwright Katori Hall is once again "fearlessly redefining theater" (Washington Post) with this funny and fierce world premiere, THE BLOOD QUILT. Welcome to the Jernigan Gals' Quilting Corner. Gathering at their childhood island home off the coast of Georgia, four disconnected sisters meet to create a family quilt to honor their recently deceased mother. When their reunion turns into a reading of their mother's will, everyone must grapple with a troubling inheritance. Stitched with history and ritual, laughter and tears, will their "blood quilt" bind the family together or tear them apart forever?

Photo Credit: Cameron Whitman Photography

THE BLOOD QUILT Playwright Katori Hall with Phylicia Rashad, honorary event chair

Director Kamilah Forbes with Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad with the production's director Kamilah Forbes and Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith

Director Kamilah Forbes and Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith

Event Chair and Arena Stage Board member Shawna Watley (Senior Policy Advisor with Holland & Knight) with director Kamilah Forbes, playwright Katori Hall and Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad with Arena Stage Executive Producer Edgar Dobie and Artistic Director Molly Smith

Phylicia Rashad, honorary event chair, gives remarks during a seated pre-show dinner

Phylicia Rashad

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith

Phylicia Rashad (center)

Playwright Katori Hall

The cast of THE BLOOD QUILT takes their bows during curtain call on opening night. Pictured: Afi Bijou as Zambia, Nikiya Mathis as Cassan, Tonye Patano as Clementine, Caroline Clay as Gio and Meeya Davis as Amber.

The cast of THE BLOOD QUILT takes their bows during curtain call on opening night. Pictured: Afi Bijou as Zambia, Nikiya Mathis as Cassan, Tonye Patano as Clementine, Caroline Clay as Gio and Meeya Davis as Amber.

Actresses from THE BLOOD QUILT Meeya Davis and Nikiya Mathis

Actresses from THE BLOOD QUILT Afi Bijou, Meeya Davis and Nikiya Mathis

Actresses from THE BLOOD QUILT Tonye Patano and Meeya Davis

Kenny Leon with director Kamilah Forbes

Director Kamilah Forbes with Nikiya Mathis, Caroline Clay and Tonye Patano

The cast of THE BLOOD QUILT: Meeya Davis, Afi Bijou, Nikiya Mathis, Caroline Clay and Tonye Patano with playwright Katori Hall and director Kamilah Forbes

The cast of THE BLOOD QUILT with members of the creative team celebrating at the World Premiere Opening Celebration