Our beneficiary for the 2017 Hexagon show, ArtStream received our ‘Big Check’ for $30,000 presented on closing night with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in attendance.
The annual “original, political, satirical, musical comedy revue” ended this year’s run at Woodrow Wilson High School on Saturday, April 1, with a very special patron in attendance — Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The show — Hexagon 2017: Let Freedom Zing! — raised money for ArtStream (www.art-stream.org), a Silver Spring, Maryland, organization helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain the skills and confidence to engage with the world through creative, collaborative performance opportunities. The traditional “big check” from Hexagon was accepted by ArtStream actor Kelly DeRoy, who prepared and delivered a heart-felt speech on the importance of Art-Stream’s programs.
The evening was made more special by the attendance of Justice Ginsburg. This year, the traditional Hexagon kick-line dance paid homage to the “Notorious RBG,” with 10 lovely dancers in costumes inspired by Ginsburg’s iconic court robes. The pre-kick introductory song “Kickin’ Up a Storm (for Justice RBG)” was written by Jerry Breslow, a long-time Hexagon member and friend of Ginsburg. After the show, the justice took photos with the dancers, Breslow, and the rest of the company.
Shows include local media and politicians who make guest appearances as Newsbreak anchors. This year’s newsbreak anchors included Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC); WTOP radio personalities Hillary Howard, Shawn Anderson, Dennis Foley, Bruce Allen, Mike Murillo, Max Smith, Kristi King, Lauryn Ricketts, and John Aaron; Bill Rehkopf of CBS Radio News; Christine Brennan with ABC TV Sports; Loo Katz on 97.1 WASH FM; and Lisa Berigan from Big 100.3 FM.
Hexagon is a nonprofit organization composed of people whose purpose is to create and stage an original, political, satirical, musical comedy revue each year, both to have fun entertaining and to raise money for local charities. For 62 years, Hexagon has selected a local charity to be the beneficiary of its show, and during that time has donated almost $4 million. The all-volunteer cast and crew begin to prepare each year’s show within weeks of closing the previous year’s event.
ArtStream’s mission is to bring to individuals with disabilities creative and performance opportunities that help them gain confidence to engage with the world. ArtStream has programs in various locations around the DC metro area, including North Bethesda, Germantown, Silver Spring, and George Mason University.
ArtStream’s vision is to use the arts as a means for social change by empowering individuals with disabilities to participate and flourish in inclusive communities. To learn more about this worthy charity and to find out how you can be more involved, go to art-stream.org.
We are excited to be partnering with this inspiring group of dedicated folks!