Join us for an entertaining evening of casino games, food, music, and prizes at the Keegan Theatre’s eighth annual gala! This is our largest fundraising event of the year and your chance to support your favorite neighborhood theater and our award-winning productions, growing education program, and initiatives that champion new work and emerging artists.
Come for a social evening with the Keegan community to play (and learn – check out our House Rules here!) blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps. Tickets for the event start at $150 and come with starting chips to play the tables. Returning this year is our silent auction featuring many incredible items from art to wine to experiences in DC and beyond. Plus, every dollar benefits The Keegan Theatre! The evening will also feature live entertainment, the chance to win prizes by playing the tables, and our famous silent auction with unique and exciting items up for auction!
Browse the catalog of items and experiences up for bid, including one-of-a-kind artworks, live theater and sports tickets, vacation packages, and the highly coveted walk-on role in Keegan’s holiday tradition, AN IRISH CAROL!
Make your bids before the auction closes on November 9 at 9:30 pm. (Bidders do not need to be present at the Gala)
6:00 pm - Cocktail Hour for VIP Ticketholders
7:00 pm - General Ticket Admission
9:30 pm - Gaming Ends & Silent Auction Closes
10:00 pm - Gala Ends
** TICKET SALES CLOSE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 **
GENERAL ADMISSION - $150 Single ticket to attend the gala; includes starting chips to play, food, drinks, and the chance to win prizes
VIP TICKET - $250 Single ticket PLUS early entry for exclusive cocktail hour including drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and additional gaming time
♠️ SPADES SPONSOR (Presenting Sponsor) - Whitaker Stone
♥️ HEARTS SPONSOR - Barney Shapiro & Susan Walker
♣️ CLUBS SPONSORS - Megan & Daniel Doiron, National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
IN GOOD COMPANY SERVICE AWARD
Bill Raskin, for bringing the legacy of special operators to the stage through his new play THE TEAM ROOM
BREAKTHROUGH ARTISTS
Drew Anderson and Dwayne Lawson-Brown, for advancing the field of Theater for Young Audiences through educational and performance experiences that blend theater, hip hop music, and spoken word poetry
EMCEE
Keegan Theatre favorite, Katie McManus!
LIVE MUSIC
24K Event Band, the DMV's premier event band
WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE? Creative black tie! We are a theater after all so we encourage you to make your black tie ensemble playful. Taking inspiration from our speakeasy theme is also welcome, but not required.
I'VE PURCHASED A SPONSORSHIP, NOW WHAT? Our Development Manager will be in touch to confirm which gaming table you prefer to sponsor. Choices are subject to availability and selections will be honored on a first come, first serve basis. We will also confirm the number of guests you will be bringing.
WILL DINNER BE SERVED? While there will not be a seated dinner, passed hor d’oeurves and reception stations will be available throughout the evening.
I HAVE A DIETARY RESTRICTION. WHAT SHOULD I DO? All menu items will be labeled accordingly and staff members on site will be able to direct you accordingly. For a complete ingredient list, check back here closer to the event.
HOW DO I SHOW MY TICKET FOR THE EVENT? There is no need to provide a ticket of any kind at the event. Simply give the name that you purchased the ticket(s) under at the door and you will be admitted.
WHAT IF I LOSE ALL MY CHIPS AT THE TABLE? Have no fear! Additional gambling chips will be available for purchase at the event to continue playing. All additional chips purchased benefit The Keegan Theatre.
Not available to attend? Please consider making a donation to our 2023 Gala fund today to support Keegan’s 27th season and programming that celebrates storytelling, community, and connection.
Questions or Inquiries? Email Alexis Hartwick, Managing Director at ahartwick@keegantheatre.com.
BILL RASKIN served as a career Army Special Forces officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years on active duty. This included multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and wide-ranging overseas deployments. Bill led and commanded special operators at every level from small teams to command of a Special Forces battalion and battalion level task force. He continues to consult to the national security community, and holds an MA in Security Studies and a BA in History from Georgetown University. In 2019 he published “Cardiac Gap,” a novel, and this fall he produced the World Premiere of his first play, “The Team Room,” at The Keegan Theatre. A Dallas, Texas native, Bill now lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his loving wife, a college student (when he’s passing through), and an awesome dog. Together they pursue many adventures.
A science teacher turned teaching artist, poet/parodist turned playwright, and marathon runner turned motivational speaker, DREW ANDERSON is founder and co-host of Spit Dat (the longest-running open mic in the nation’s capital) and co-creator of the critically-acclaimed stage productions Push The Button and From Gumbo to Mumbo (nominated for the 2020 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences, winner of “Best Of” at the 2019 Charm City Fringe Festival). A nationally-credentialed teaching artist and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow, Drew has merged his passions for entertainment and education into such arts integration initiatives as Spoof School and C.R.U.N.K. Academy, bringing his unique spin on hip hop, comedy, parody, drama and poetry to stages virtual and physical, local and international.
DWAYNE LAWSON-BROWN, aka the Crochet Kingpin, is co-host of Spit Dat, the longest running open mic in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., they have performed and hosted at The Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theater, Keegan Theatre, The Strathmore, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and others. In addition to various poetic accomplishments, Dwayne is a Helen Hayes nominated playwright, competitive karaoke champion, and CEO of Crochet Kingpin Designs.
