2023 Theatresquared Gala For Education and Access
Presiding co-chairs Danyelle Musselman and Kathryn Mclay Jane Hunt to receive the 2023 Arts Advocate Award Meredith Lowry, Emma Willis to receive the special Entrepreneurship in the Arts Award May 18 at the Fayetteville Public Library
FAY E T T E V I L L E , ARKANSAS — Theatresquared’s signature annual celebration supporting education and access to remarkable live theatre will be held on May 18, at 6:00pm at the Fayetteville Public Library.
Presiding co-chairs this year are Danyelle Musselman and Kathryn Mclay, President and CEO of Sam’s Club.
"Theatresquared has been a transformative force in Northwest Arkansas for the past 18 years," notes Mclay. "The company's contribution to education and access to the arts across three states has made a positive change in the lives of hundreds of thousands of young students. I'm a supporter of the theatre myself, and I hope the community will join me on May 18 to celebrate the work of this incredible organization."
"I am such a fan of Theatresquared," says Musselman. "The environment, food & beverage selections and shows offered make for an incredible evening. Northwest Arkansas is fortunate to have such an amazing option for the arts."
The evening will feature a command cabaret performance by Ramone Nelson and Elisabeth Evans. Nelson is currently performing in MJ the Musical on Broadway and is stepping away to perform in T2’s upcoming production of Violet. Evans—veteran of Broadway’s Once—starred in Once and Matilda at Theatresquared. They’ll entertain us with some numbers from T2 seasons past and some of their own. Chef Matthew Cooper, chef/owner of Conifer in downtown Bentonville, will create a three-course summer menu.
Several raffle items will be up for grabs at the celebration. One prize includes a $2,500 gift certificate from Romance Diamonds Co. and a selection of top-flight wines from Atlas the Restaurant. A second raffle item is a Crystal Bridges Experience Package for Four, including a four-course dinner with wine at Eleven Restaurant by Chef Timothy Ordway as part of the Wednesday Over Water series; four tickets to a Momentary Concert on the Green; and a private tour of the Crystal Bridges Vault, offering a peek at some of the thousands of artworks in the permanent collection not currently on display in the galleries, personally led by Executive Director Rod Bigelow.
For the first time, T2 will throw a fun, music-filled afterparty featuring Joshua Asante, a multi-disciplinary artist who explores themes of identity and possibility from an Afrofuturist perspective. As a musician and composer, Joshua describes his sound as "astral soul," a blend of electronic and soul music that fuses many stylistic influences. He released two singles in 2021 and a collection of 18 field recorded songs in 2022 and is set to release his debut full-length album this spring. Asante is currently the keyboardist for the Shreveport-based band Seratones. Hors-d’oeuvres from Tula Restaurant will be served at the after party.
All proceeds support the company’s education and access programs serving 35,000 Arkansans each year. The evening’s presenting sponsors are Bob and Becky Alexander and the Mcgaugh Family Fund.
Lead Sponsors for the event include Newroad Capital Partners. Class Sponsors are Underwood's Fine Jewelers, Susan and Orville Hall, Bill and Judy Gregson Schwab, and The Starling Family. Student Sponsors are Conner and Winters, Wright Lindsey Jennings, University of Arkansas, Hunt Ventures, and Esther Silver-parker and Ronald Parker.
Jane Hunt will receive the 2023 Arts Advocate Award recognizing her longstanding dedication to arts and education in Northwest Arkansas. Meredith Lowry and Emma Willis will receive the special Entrepreneurship in the Arts
Award, and Pulaski Academy theater educators Drew and Sheridan Posey will receive the 2023 Arts Educator Award.
Individual tickets to the evening’s event start at $185; guest tables of eight start at $2,000. Individual sponsor tickets start at $300 and sponsor tables start at $3,500 for tables of eight. Please RSVP by calling (479) 445-6333 or online at theatre2.org/gala.
Theatresquared’s signature offering of bold new plays in an intimate setting has driven its growth to become the state’s largest theatre, offering more than 350 performances annually in an intimate setting. Its pioneering work has been recognized with the 2022 Obie Award as well as critical acclaim from the New York Times ("Best Theater of 2020" list), The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal. The playwright-led company is one of mid-america’s leading laboratories for new work,
About Theatresquared
having launched more than 70 new plays. Notable collaborators have included Candrice Jones, Bryna Turner, The Kilbanes, Sarah Gancher, José Cruz Gonzales, Mary Kathryn Nagle, Qui Nguyen, Mona Mansour, Amy Evans, and many others. Theatresquared’s home—winner of the 2021 International Architecture Award—is a cultural landmark. Offering far-reaching access and education programs and an open-all-day gathering space, the Commons Bar/café, Theatresquared remains rooted in its founding vision, that "theatre—done well and with passion—can transform lives and communities."