The inaugural Victor Shargai Leadership Award was celebrated at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2022. The evening featured presentations highlighting Edgar Dobie and Paige Hernandez’s exceptional leadership, wonderful acceptance speeches, reception, and music. The event was a fundraiser for Theatre Washington and the Helen Hayes Awards.
2022 Recipients
Edgar Dobie serves as the Executive Producer at the Tony Award-winning non-profit Arena Stage, which he has led for over a decade. Edgar’s leadership has extended Arena’s reach beyond its stages and into the community, demonstrating collaborative leadership and consensus-building as a champion of theatre throughout the area. His effective advocacy, personal generosity, and commitment to theatre in the life of our community exemplify the spirit of this award.
Paige Hernandez is a critically acclaimed multidisciplinary artist who works throughout the Washington, DC area as a performer, director, choreographer, educator, and playwright. She is the Associate Artistic Director at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, MD, and the originator of B-FLY ENTERTAINMENT. Paige is a visionary in the arts, bringing together artists of wide-ranging talents across generations and genres. Her artistic integrity – reflected in a commitment to safe, equitable, and inclusive spaces for artists – is intrinsic to this award.
About the Award
The Victor Shargai Leadership Award (VSLA) recognizes individuals, groups, or institutions whose outstanding service and creative leadership have strengthened the Washington, DC-area theatre community. Theatre Washington established the award in 2021 in collaboration with Craig Pascal to honor Pascal’s late husband and beloved DC-area theatre champion, Victor Shargai. For decades Victor was an avid supporter of the Washington, DC region’s theatre community, its artists, and its institutions – generously donating his time and resources to theatres of all sizes. Additionally, Victor served as a long-time chair and member of the Theatre Washington Board of Directors and played a vital role in the annual Helen Hayes Awards. In honor of Victor’s legacy and leadership, the VSLA recognizes individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional initiative, collaboration, advocacy, and personal generosity in support of the Washington, DC-area theatre community. For more information about the Awards or how to nominate someone for it, please email amy@theatrewashington.org.
Advancement Committee
Abby Fenton (Committee Co-Chair)
Executive Director, Whitman-Walker Foundation and
Chief External Affairs, Whitman-Walker
John Hauge (Committee Co-Chair)
Chief Financial Officer
The Global LPG Partnership
Craig Pascal
Washingtonian
Retired Community Development Banker
Abel Lopez (Chair, Theatre Washington)
Associate Producing Director
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Jane Lang
Chair
The Eugene Lang Foundation
Founder and Chair Emerita, Atlas Performing Arts Center
Committee
Andrew Ammerman
Fund for the Future of Our Children
CEO, Ammerman Investments
Jeff Banks
Vice President of Commercial Services
United Bank
Stacie Banks
Owner
Lee’s Flower and Card Shop
Michael W. Bigley
Director
The Venable Foundation
Michael Burke
Board Member
Constellation Theatre Company
Susan Butler
Chair Emerita and Member Board of Trustees
Studio Theatre
Claire Carlin
Vice President of Partnership and Alliance
Destination DC
Jill Collins
Owner
Jill Collins Public Relations
Jan Du Plain
President
Du Plain Global Enterprises
David Grosso
Partner
Arent Fox
Shayla Hines
Director of Institutional Relations
Arena Stage
Catherine Leggett
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Mission Square
Sheila Alexander-Reid
Senior Vice President Business Development
BiasSync
Serra Sippel
Chief Global Advocacy Officer
Fòs Feminista
Bonnie Nelson Schwartz
Theatre and Film Producer
Founder, Helen Hayes Awards
Carl Smith
Anderson Hopkins Award for Excellence in the Theater Arts