Arena Stage has announced that President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be the Honorary Chairs for its grand re-opening and yearlong inaugural season at the Mead Center, which includes the Opening Gala Celebration October 25, 2010. Mayor of the District of Columbia Adrian Fenty and his wife, Michelle Fenty, will also be Honorary Co-Chairs.

The Opening Gala Celebration will be a black tie event within the Mead Center featuring cocktails, dinner and an exclusive one-night-only performance headlined by Tony Award-winning Broadway actor Brian Stokes Mitchell. Additionally, the evening will be emceed by award-winning journalist and ABC7/WJLA-TV lead anchor Leon Harris.

For more information regarding the Opening Gala Celebration, including further casting and how to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.arenastage.org/support/special-events/.