Arena Stage Gala Dazzles with Tony Award Winner Laura Benanti

The 2025 Arena Stage Annual Gala featured a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, award presentations, and a performance by Tony Award winner Laura Benanti. Benanti took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in The Sound of Music and has subsequently starred in ten more Broadway shows, including Into the Woods, Nine, Gypsy, She Loves Me, My Fair Lady, and Steve Martin’s Meteor Shower. Benanti co-starred in the hit film No Hard Feelings and guest stars in Max’s The Gilded Age, Hulu’s Life & Beth, and Elsbeth on CBS. 

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) took home the Beth Newburger Schwartz Award. A third-generation Washingtonian, Congresswoman Norton’s work for full congressional voting rights and complete democracy for the people of D.C. continues her lifelong commitment to human and civil rights. 

Deborah Rutter received the Arena Stage American Voice Award. Former President of the Kennedy Center, Deborah Rutter is one of the leading voices in arts administration today. As the first woman leader of the national cultural center, Rutter oversaw programming across all genres, as well as a global network of education initiatives. She expanded the Kennedy Center’s programming to fully represent the diversity of art in America and introduced social impact and wellness programs across communities. 

The evening was emceed by TheatreWashington’s Felicia Curry (Broadway’s In the Woods, Arena’s The Age of Innocence). 

All proceeds supported Arena Stage’s award-winning Artistic Productions and Community Engagement Programs. 

A photo gallery of the evening is below.

tagsArena Stagearena stage galaDeborah RutterEleanor Holmes NortonFelicia CurryLaura Benantisocial scene