The Theatre Lab's Annual Cabaret Benefit Dinner + Auction
Mark your calendars — our most spectacular event of the year returns this fall. Tickets now on sale!
Sunday, November 8, 2026
The Ritz-Carlton Washington
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts presents our annual Cabaret Benefit Dinner + Auction on the evening of Sunday, November 8, 2026 at the elegant downtown Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC.
This fun and inspiring event draws together 500 prominent Washingtonians each year, features one of the largest silent live auctions in DC, and provides the greatest source of income for our scholarship fund and groundbreaking Life Stories® program. This year, The Theatre Lab is celebrating 34 years of making a dramatic difference in our community.
Join us from 5-7pm for an enchanting cocktail party and our silent auction, featuring fine dining, artwork, luxurious getaways, and hundreds of unique items. At 7pm, the party continues in the ballroom with a 3-course dinner, a live auction, and spectacular student performances, all hosted by emcees Deb Gottesman and Buzz Mauro.
2026 Cabaret Benefit Honoree
This year, we’re thrilled to announce our 2026 Cabaret Honoree: Alex Tang, a highly regarded music director, pianist, and arts educator who has spent decades shaping Washington’s performing arts landscape.
Currently the Principal Pianist for the American Pops Orchestra and Associate Pianist for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, Alex has collaborated with legendary Broadway icons—including Bernadette Peters and Chita Rivera—and performed in the orchestra pits of major national tours.
As a dedicated, longtime faculty member, music director, and accompanist at The Theatre Lab, he has championed arts education and mentored countless emerging artists in finding their musical voices. Alongside his extensive contributions to the cultural sector, Alex also serves as Assistant General Counsel for the National Science Foundation.
Please join us in celebrating this remarkable advocate and community leader!
Get Tickets
Individual tickets for the 2026 Cabaret Benefit are $375, and $300 of your ticket purchase is tax-deductible! Click the button below to get tickets at our official event portal. For premium and VIP tables, consider becoming an official sponsor!
Become a Sponsor
Consider becoming an official sponsor of the 2026 Cabaret Benefit! Sponsoring our benefit provides vital support for our arts education programs, scholarship fund, workforce development initiative, and more.
Your sponsorship supports The Theatre Lab’s work with underrepresented D.C. citizens, including incarcerated and at-risk youth, veterans, families affected by homelessness, families grieving the loss of a military loved one, unhoused women in recovery, and hundreds of youth in under-resourced schools — teaching them how to heal in community by transforming their life stories into original dramatic works. You would also be helping provide more than $175,000 in scholarships each year so that youth living in low-income households can participate in our award-winning, nationally recognized theatre camps and musical theatre institutes.
Learn more about the exclusive benefits you’ll receive for your support at the event portal.
Donate an Auction Item
Our Cabaret Benefit features one of the biggest silent live auctions in DC—and you can be a part of it! Learn how to donate an auction item at the event portal.
Volunteer
Want to participate in behind-the-scenes magic at Cabaret Benefit and earn class credit? Join our volunteering team! Volunteer shifts will be focused on two main days:
Benefit Preparation: Saturday, November 7 at The Theatre Lab (900 Mass Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Event Night: Sunday, November 8 at The Ritz-Carlton (1150 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037)
Specific shifts and timing will be shared closer to the event. Volunteers will receive meals and $20 class credit per hour. This is a fun and engaging opportunity to be part of an unforgettable evening at one of DC’s classiest hotels while supporting the work we do all year round.
Come back soon for details on signing up!
Questions
For general questions about this year’s Cabaret Benefit, or questions about the silent auction, contact Bryce Sulecki at bryce@theatrelab.org.
For questions about tickets and sponsorships, contact Terah Herman-Saldaña, Development Manager, at development@theatrelab.org.
For questions about volunteering, contact Bryanda Minix at bryanda@theatrelab.org.
For questions about press and media attendance, contact Sam Fructuoso, Marketing Director, at marketing@theatrelab.org.