Second Annual Summer Hummer Poised to Break Records, 8/19

The all-star Summer Hummer burlesque returns for a second triumphant year, with direction by Eric Schaeffer and performances by the best - and bawdiest - talent that Washington stages have to offer. Last year the event raised more than $16,000 for the Taking Care of Our Ownemergency fund, which provides short-term assistance to Washington-area theatre artists in unexpected need. Building on that success, this year's production features an added performance and an astounding line-up of top performers from Washington and Broadway.

theatreWashington President & CEO Linda Levy commented, "This has already become one of the hottest tickets in town - and I do mean hottest. It's an evening of constant surprises. Audiences are used to seeing many of these actors in serious, non-musical fare. If it's anything like last year, there'll be some eyes popping - and some buttons too."

At press, musical numbers and special appearances were slated to include Jay Ariel, Austin Colby, Carolyn Cole*, Matt Conner, Felicia Curry**, Robert Aubry Davis, Chris Dinolfo**, Michael Dove, Erin Driscoll*, Sherri Edelen*, Sam Edgerly, Kerry Epstein, Jefferson Farber, Philip Fletcher*, Catherine Flye**, James Gardiner**, Will Gartshore*, Tim Getman, Kimberly Gilbert**, Rick Hammerly*, Davis Hasty, Mitchell Herbert*, Naomi Jacobson*, Dana Krueger*, Nick Lehane, John Lescault, Emily Levey, Shane McCauley, Julie Meyer, Donna Migliaccio*, Angela Miller, Stephen Russell Murray, Nova Payton*, Maria Rizzo, David Sabin**, Jason Schlafstein, Kimberly Schraf**, Bobby Smith*, Stephen Gregory Smith*, Paul Tetrault*, Emily Townley, Holly Twyford*, Nicholas Vaughn, Vicki Vox, Craig Wallace**, and Lauren Williams**.

In addition to the Summer Hummer, theatreWashington funds Taking Care of Our Own through the sales of special merchandise - like last year's Divas of DC album and a forthcoming cookbook - as well as through the enormously successful summer Bucket Brigade. On a rotating schedule, actors at two or three theatres solicit donations during curtain speeches, and then walk among the crowd with bright orange buckets. The result, in 2013 alone, has been income totaling over $30,000, thanks to the efforts of over 22 theatres. "This is one of our greatest pleasures," Levy says. "Its success draws on our three core constituents - theatres, theatre artists, and theatre-lovers."

Produced at Signature Theatre, with every dollar donated to Taking Care of Our Own, Summer Hummer performances are on August 19, 2013, at 7 and 9 p.m. General admission is $35, premium reserved seating is $75. Tickets are available now at: http://www.theatrewashington.org. The theatre is located in Shirlington Village at 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206.

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