The Think Pink Gala will debut on Saturday, March 14th, 2026, at the iconic Plaza Hotel, marking a premier cultural milestone in the New York philanthropic season. This inaugural evening unites world-class artistry with culinary excellence to mark United Breast Cancer Foundation’s landmark 25th anniversary of life-changing support.
The evening features Broadway legend and three-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters, two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole, whose legendary career continues to define the height of American musical theater and screen, and Melissa Errico, celebrated as one of the most iconic leading ladies of musical theater. The program highlights the work of Emmy and Grammy nominated conductor, composer, and musical director Judith Clurman, who leads Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA, an acclaimed, award-winning choral ensemble and one of New York’s preeminent vocal groups. The stage also features Simone Dinnerstein, a Diapason d’Or winner with fifteen number-one Billboard Classical albums, and Juno Award-winning cellist Amanda Forsyth. Direct from the Metropolitan Opera stage, the program highlights Matthew Cairns and Brittany Olivia Logan, currently celebrated as the most formidable and powerhouse voices of the Metropolitan Opera. The musical program further features Mary-Mitchell Campbell, a Drama Desk Award-winning music director and conductor celebrated for her artistic excellence and leadership on the Broadway stage.
As a centerpiece of the program, international operatic icon Denyce Graves will be honored with the Artist for Action Award, recognizing her extraordinary advocacy and her profound impact on the arts community.
The evening will be hosted by Emmy-winning producer, actress, and New York Times best-selling author Melissa Gilbert. Best known for her iconic role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie, Gilbert is also an Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Award-winning veteran of the stage, having starred in numerous tours, regional, and Off-Broadway productions throughout her distinguished career.
The gala is co-produced by Michael A. Alden, a two-time Tony Award and three-time Emmy Award winner, ensuring a night of unparalleled theatrical and musical sophistication. The sensory experience is defined by a bespoke multi-course dinner designed by a powerhouse collective of culinary masters representing a career legacy of over 40 Michelin stars. This vanguard of talent includes John Fraser, Victoria Blamey, Emma Bengtsson, Mary Attea, and Sofia Schlieben. These chefs bring their world class culinary mastery to support the vital mission of the foundation, with courses designed to reflect a shared commitment to the evening’s purpose of providing direct support to those navigating a breast cancer diagnosis.
The program will also highlight the Night of Radiance initiative, which recognizes breast cancer patients and survivors with a dedicated experience of luxury and care. These guests of honor will make their debut on the grand pink carpet in designer gowns, serving as symbols of the beauty and courage the gala celebrates. This evening of music and fine dining aims to foster a community of support while raising vital funds for those navigating the challenges of a diagnosis.
The legacy of Dan Seals will be honored with the release of ‘The Last Duet’ on August 28, announced by Melody Place Records in partnership with the Dan Seals Estate. The album brings together an expansive lineup of collaborators spanning generations and genres, including Alabama, Tanya Tucker, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Marie Osmond, John Berry, John Ford Coley, Katherine McPhee, Lynda Carter, The Castellows, Jackie Evancho, Ned LeDoux, Wendy Moten, Jasmine Amy Rogers, and Jamey Johnson.
Designed as a deeply personal tribute, ‘The Last Duet’ pairs Seals’ timeless recordings with artists who selected songs based on their own connection to his work. The album moves fluidly across pop, country, and adult contemporary, reflecting the breadth of Seals’ catalog and influence. Rather than reimagining his music, the project highlights its emotional clarity and songwriting strength, reaffirming Seals’ enduring presence in American music.
Vitamin String Quartet have shared a new live performance video of their instrumental interpretation of “Blinding Lights,” offering a string-led reimagining of the chart-topping hit by The Weeknd. The performance arrives alongside a new vinyl-only compilation dedicated to The Weeknd’s catalog, featuring VSQ renditions of songs including “Save Your Tears,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” and “Earned It.” The release brings together more than a decade of the group’s engagement with his music in one physical collection.
James Curtiss, Director of A&R and Creative Director for CMH Label Group, says, “The Weeknd has been a fixture in pop music for over a decade now and has been a huge part of VSQ’s world for almost as long. Between 2 EPs and appearances on hits comps, VSQ has amassed over a dozen renditions of The Weeknd songs that are as essential to the quartet’s work as any other artist.” The news also coincides with the Season 4 premiere of Bridgerton, which features VSQ arrangements of Coldplay’s “Life in Technicolor” and Third Eye Blind’s “Never Let You Go,” continuing the group’s presence across pop culture and screen.
In 2026, the demand for specialized research leadership courses is surging, with global corporate spending on AI R&D projected to exceed $200 billion.
As the gap between theory and practice widens, top-tier Executive DBA programs in 2026 are becoming the essential credential for leaders who need to manage complex labs.
7 Best DBA and AI Certification Programs in 2026
1. DBA in AI and Machine Learning — Great Learning
Delivery & Duration: Online, 36 months
This dba in artificial intelligence program is designed for senior leaders who wish to contribute to the academic and practical body of knowledge in AI.
Highlights
Conduct original research to solve novel industry problems using AI
Publish authoritative white papers that define industry standards
2. DBA in Emerging Technologies — Golden Gate University
Delivery & Duration: Online, 3 years
For those seeking a Doctor of Business Administration AI concentration, Golden Gate offers a STEM-designated path in Generative AI.
Highlights
Evaluate the commercial viability of emerging Generative AI technologies
Lead enterprise-wide initiatives to integrate LLMs into legacy workflows
3. AI for Business Strategy — Johns Hopkins University
Delivery & Duration: Online, 10 weeks
This ai certificate course utilizes the proprietary R.O.A.D. framework to help leaders visualize and execute AI strategies that align with core business goals.
Highlights
Diagnose the “AI maturity” of your current organization and identify gaps
Map AI investments directly to strategic differentiators rather than operational efficiencies
4. AI Graduate Certificate — Stanford Engineering
Delivery & Duration: Online, 1–2 years
While not a PhD in AI for executives, this graduate certificate provides the equivalent “hard science” credibility needed for leading top-tier labs.
Highlights
Master the mathematical underpinnings of modern neural networks
Guide technical teams through complex machine learning model development
5. DBA in Technology and AI — New England College
Delivery & Duration: Online, 3 years
Designed for the modern governance leader, this DBA specializes in the policy and strategic foresight required for the AI Era.
Highlights
Formulate long-term technology policies that align with corporate values
Assess the geopolitical and social impact of AI deployment
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose a full 3-year DBA in Data Science online to contribute new knowledge or a high-level certification to validate your strategy, the goal remains the same: to lead with evidence in an age of uncertainty.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
Death of Youth are an emo-influenced hardcore band whose sound blends elements of hardcore, screamo, Midwest emo, and early 2000s post-hardcore. Formed in 2018 as the solo project of frontman Rob David, the band first emerged with the self-released EP ‘Between Chapters,’ documenting the emotional fallout of a personal breakup. This was followed by 2020’s ‘Suburban Dystopia,’ which expanded their lyrical focus to include social and political issues and was later compiled alongside their debut EP on the 2021 release ‘Some Demons Never Die.’
After a brief hiatus, Death of Youth returned as a full band in 2024, completing their lineup with Joe Arnold on guitar, Carlos Zelaya on bass, and William Page on drums. The group made their live debut in London in November 2024 and have since shared stages with a wide range of UK hardcore and emo acts. Their live shows emphasize density and emotional weight, reinforcing a sound that has drawn comparisons to bands such as Touché Amoré, Departures, and La Dispute.
The band’s debut album ‘Nothing Is The Same Anymore’ was recorded at Rogue Studios between February and April 2025, produced by Michael Kew alongside Rob Parnell. The album further develops their sonic identity while addressing themes including transgender rights, violence against women, emotional abuse, and bigotry within the hardcore scene. Personal storytelling remains present throughout the record, particularly on the title track and the closing stretch. With the album now released, Death of Youth are preparing to bring their music to stages across the UK.
Liquid Death and e.l.f. Cosmetics have reunited for a follow-up collaboration with Lip Embalm, a limited-edition lip moisturizer inspired by Liquid Death’s signature drink flavors. The launch is accompanied by a darkly comic promo video featuring e.l.f. spokesperson Glothar, portrayed by Roth Gibbs, who delivers an over-the-top musical warning about the perils of dry lips. The collection includes six flavors – Severed Lime, Killer Cola, Sweet Reaper, Mountain Water, Rest In Peach, and Doctor Death – and is formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalene, offering lightweight moisture and a sheer finish in compact, on-the-go packaging.
Bruno Mars has launched his first-ever full stadium run with “The Romantic Tour,” setting new benchmarks across the global touring industry. The tour delivered the largest single-day ticket sales in Live Nation history across North America, Europe, and the UK, signaling an unprecedented level of demand. At the same time, it established a new Ticketmaster record, moving 2.1 million tickets in a single day.
Spanning 70 shows across three continents, “The Romantic Tour” marks Mars’ first full headline tour in nearly a decade. The scale and speed of ticket sales reflect the sustained global pull of an artist whose live performances remain a major cultural draw. The tour follows the success of the 24K Magic World Tour, which itself ranked among the highest-grossing tours of its era.
With stadiums at the center of this new chapter, Mars returns to the road at a level that underscores both longevity and momentum. “The Romantic Tour” positions him firmly among the most dominant live performers in the world today, combining mass appeal, consistent demand, and record-setting reach on a global scale.
Today, Folger Theatre announces the complete lineup of events included in the fourth annual Reading Room Festival, a public celebration exploring how Shakespeare’s works are adapted, translated, and reimagined for the stage today. The Reading Room Festival will take place January 22–25, 2026, at the Folger Shakespeare Library.
“The talks, workshops and panels will explore the depths of translation, the musicality of Shakespeare and the richness of adaptation that flows from it,” shared Karen Ann Daniels, Director of Artistic Programs. “We’ve learned in the first three years how much our audiences like to step into the practices of creativity themselves. So, we’re doing just that—but with music too!”
This year’s lineup of fully staged readings leans into how music pairs naturally with Shakespeare and includes new works and adaptations by Alexa Babakhanian, Alberto Bonilla, Barbara Fuchs, and Marcus Gardley. Each staged reading boasts casts featuring many DC actors, and every reading will also be accompanied by post-show conversations led by critics and scholars.
Additional programming includes hands-on creative workshops, gallery talks in the Folger’s exhibition halls, panel discussions with artistic leaders, and special events where the public, artists, and scholars can all gather.
Other highlights of the Reading Room Festival 2026 include:
Shakespeare as a Starting Point: The free opening night discussion, a collaboration with Signature Theatre, will examine how composers, playwrights, and adaptors of the American musical have drawn inspiration from Shakespeare. DC theater artists will perform and discuss selections from Play On!, Kiss Me Kate, West Side Story, and other Shakespeare-inspired musicals.
Programming for Young People: The Reading Room Festival will host a family-friendly reading of Lope de Vega’s Fuente Ovejuna, adapted by Barbara Fuchs. The reading will be preceded by a free hands-on crafting workshop for the audience to make props to be used in the play.
Seven Ages of Music: A Community Workshop: Participants are invited to contribute to the co-creation of an original new song inspired by Jaques’ “Seven Ages of Man” speech from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. This playful and participatory exploration of music making will be led by actor and musician John Sygar.
The Reading Room Festival 2026 will welcome more than 40 actors and musicians from the Washington, DC community to perform in these four staged readings. In addition, several members of the yearlong Folger Institute workshop, “Shakespeare and Black Performing Women,” will be participating in this year’s festival as panel moderators. This workshop of theater makers and scholars is convened by Karen Ann Daniels and Patricia Akhimie, Director of the Folger Institute and author of Shakespeare and the Cultivation of Difference: Race and Conduct in the Early Modern World. Visit the Reading Room Festival page to see all participants.
Single tickets for staged readings, panels, talks, and workshops are on sale for $20 each, and free student rush tickets are available 30 minutes before each reading with a valid student ID. Tickets for Fuente Ovejuna are $20 per adult and free for children under 12 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult); the crafting workshop beforehand is free for all. There are still a limited number of All-Access Passes available for $125, which include tickets to all four staged readings, invitations to the parties throughout the weekend, and access to the workshops and conversations. The full lineup of events is detailed in the schedule below. Reading Room Festival All-Access Passes and tickets for individual staged readings are available at www.folger.edu/readingroom or by contacting the Folger box office at (202) 544-7077.
Folger Theatre wishes to thank Premiere Season Sponsors Dr. Bill and Evelyn Braithwaite, Season Sponsors Andrea “Andi” Kasarsky,Helen and David Kenney, and Scott and Liz Vance, Production Sponsors Nancy and Steve Howard, Contributing Sponsors Celia and Keith Arnaud, Artist Sponsors Karl K. and Carrol Benner Kindel, with special thanks to Share Fund.
About Folger Shakespeare Library
The Folger Shakespeare Library makes Shakespeare’s stories and the world in which he lived accessible. Anchored by the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the Folger is a cultural organization where curiosity and creativity are embraced, and conversation is always encouraged. Visitors to the Folger can choose how they want to experience the arts and humanities, from interactive exhibitions to captivating performances, and from path-breaking research to transformative educational programming. The Folger welcomes everyone to connect in their own way—from communities throughout Washington, DC, to communities across the globe. Learn more at www.folger.edu.
The award-winning Folger Theatre in our nation’s capital bridges the arts and humanities through transformational performances and programming that speak inclusively to the human experience. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels, Folger Theatre continues its legacy through exciting interpretations and adaptations of Shakespeare and expands the classical canon through cultivating today’s artists and commissioning new work that is in dialogue with the concerns and issues of our time. Folger Theatre thrives both on its historical stage and in the community, engaging audiences wherever they happen to be. For more on Folger Theatre, please visit www.folger.edu/theatre.
Reading Room Festival 2026
Folger Theatre’s Reading Room Festival returns for the fourth year, with staged readings, panel discussions, workshops, and community celebrations. Uniting artists, scholars, and audiences in a celebration of creative community, the festival explores interpretations that illuminate the multifaceted nature of Shakespeare’s stories.
DAY 1: Thursday, January 22
7:30pm
SHAKESPEARE AS A STARTING POINT: Shakespeare and the American Musical
Folger Theatre Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels and Signature Theatre’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner lead a lively discussion around Shakespeare’s impact on American musical theater. Exploring the different ways composers have been inspired by Shakespeare’s works, with specific emphasis on Stephen Sondheim, this talk will be accompanied by live performances of selections from Play On!, Kiss Me Kate, West Side Story, and more. Signature’s Director of Artistic Development Anika Chapin joins the conversation as well.
DAY 2: Friday, January 23
6:45pm
Gallery Talk: “Making Myths: The Legacies of William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, and American Actors”
Guided by Folger Associate Director of Exhibitions Operations Nicole Bryner, visitors will explore the exhibition halls to learn about the ways contemporary portraiture of Queen Elizabeth perpetuated a self-cultivated myth of the monarch, the ways Shakespeare’s life was mythologized in the Regency era, and the ways American Shakespearean actors created mythic selves to leave their own mark on theatrical history. Myths will be busted!
8pm
Staged Reading: Cymbeline: A Telenovela Melodramatic Western
Original Concept and Idea by Alberto Bonilla Music composed by Anthony De Angelis Adaptation of Shakespeare’s text of Cymbeline by Alec H. Wild Spanish adaptation of text by Alberto Bonilla Original Spanish translation of Cymbeline by D. Eudaldo Viver (1884) Directed by Nadia Guevara
Alberto Bonilla shifts the setting of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline from a mythic Roman-occupied ancient Britain to the American Southwest, circa 1893, at the height of the American cowboy myth, a powder-keg of conflict between class and race: farmers against ranchers, frontier pioneers from the East vs. the Mexican and Indigenous populations. The wounds of the American Civil War are still fresh, and the country is trying to unite with the expansion of the railroad connecting East and West. Focusing on the core family conflicts in Shakespeare’s late romance, this bilingual adaptation features high-stakes drama, gritty fights, and intimate moments—all the twists and turns associated with both Latin American melodramas and Shakespearean tragicomedies.
After the performance, Rafael Ulloa, Deputy Publisher of Tiempo Company, will lead a conversation with members of the creative team and cast.
DAY 3: Saturday, January 24
10:30am
Fuente Ovejuna Hands-On Craft
Join us in the Great Hall for a morning of crafting. Participants can choose to create their own mini-protest sign or a fashionable sheep headdress—or both!
Afterwards, bring your creation to the Reading Room at 11:30am for the world premiere of Fuente Ovejuna by Lope de Vega, adapted by Barbara Fuchs and directed by Kelsey Mesa. This family-friendly adaptation invites young audiences to imagine what solidarity looks like, with interactive elements such as audience participation and songs.
This workshop is free for all participants.
11:30am
Staged Reading: Fuente Ovejuna by Barbara Fuchs
By Lope de Vega Adapted by Barbara Fuchs Directed by Kelsey Mesa World Premiere
In the little town of Fuente Ovejuna life rolls merrily along, with sheep to tend and weddings to plan. But when the Comendador, the town’s governor, decides that everything belongs to him, life is turned upside down. What to do? How to resist? This family-friendly adaptation of Lope de Vega’s Spanish Golden Age classic Fuente Ovejuna invites young audiences to imagine what solidarity looks like, with interactive elements such as audience participation, songs, and crafts to engage children while emphasizing themes of justice, unity, and resistance to tyranny.
2pm
Discussion: Diversifying the Classics
Join Diversifying the Classics founder and director Barbara Fuchs and founding member Laura Muñoz, for a conversation about the project’s mission to uplift early modern Spanish-language drama, related dramaturgical work, and adaptation initiative Golden Tongues. This conversation will be moderated by director Kelsey Mesa.
Since 2014, Diversifying the Classics has sought to foster awareness and appreciation of Hispanic classical theater in Los Angeles and beyond, expanding the canon to include the heritage of US Latino communities. Its multiple initiatives include original translations, performances, K-12 classroom education, and a database of scholars prepared to guide theater professionals approaching new and underrepresented texts.
8pm
Staged Reading: LEAR
Translation/adaptation/remix by Marcus Gardley Directed by Hana S. Sharif Original text by William Shakespeare Commission by Play On Shakespeare
Set in San Francisco’s Fillmore District during the 1960s, LEAR reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy of loyalty, love, and madness as a modern parable about the erasure of a Black neighborhood. Once a thriving center of Black art, music, and culture, the Fillmore becomes the site for a King Lear adaptation about an aging real estate mogul, his three daughters, and the threat of urban renewal. This modern-verse translation by Obie Award–winning playwright Marcus Gardley offers a poetic reckoning with history, progress, and patriarchy.
After the reading, award-winning theater artist, novelist and educator Ifa Bayeza will lead a conversation with members of the creative team and cast.
10:30pm
Reception: Lear’s Libations
Following the performance of LEAR, All- Access Pass holders and festival artists gather for food music and drinks.
DAY 4: Sunday, January 25
11:30am
Community Workshop: Seven Ages of Music
Explore the connections between verse and musical rhythm in this participatory, all-ages workshop. Using the famous “Seven Ages of Man” speech from Shakespeare’s As You Like It, actor and musician John Sygar will lead participants in learning the basic structure of iambic beats in Shakespeare’s text, engaging in a musical conversation, and co-creating a unique and improvised composition.
1:30pm
Conversation:The Two Shakespeares: Myth and Mortal
Folger Director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper and Folger Theatre Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels sit down to discuss how Shakespeare is perceived today. Why are so many people compelled by the “authorship” question? How did a working playwright become a mythological genius? And how can we play with perceptions around him and his works to create new meaning?
3pm
Staged Reading: Dark Lady: A Musical Theater Work
Book, Lyrics, and Music by Alexa Babakhanian Directed by Rebecca Martínez
What would happen if it were discovered that Amelia Bassano, a Venetian Jew and the first woman poet published in England, was the real author of Shakespeare’s plays? And what if this literary secret was revealed by Elizabethan characters existing in a modern-day alternate reality? Discover the Dark Lady, Shakespeare’s muse in his Sonnets, who has been hiding in plain sight for over 400 years. Alexa Babakhanian’s humorous, whimsical musical creates a dynamic score of beatboxing, hip hop, classical, and pop music to highlight the interplay between these two great dramatists and poets.
After the reading, current Folger Long-Term Public Humanities Fellow JaMeeka Holloway, who is an award-winning director, producer, and cultural strategist based in Durham, North Carolina, will lead a conversation with members of the creative team and cast.
5pm:
Exit, Pursued by a Beer
The artists and guests say a final farewell to the festival with a traditional toast on the stage.
Midland are back with their new song “Marlboro Man,” released via Big Machine. Written by Dean Dillon, Tim Nichols, and Josh Thompson, and produced by Trent Willmon, the track leans into classic country storytelling, tracing the freedom, grit, and isolation of a life spent chasing the road. Frontman Mark Wystrach describes the song as deeply personal, saying, “‘Marlboro Man’ is a soaring ballad that reflects on the 12-year journey of this band and how the road has left its scars like old leather.”
He continues, “On the road, images of home haunt us at every turn and the landscape is filled with vistas of the same old regrets, yet the sun continues to come up, the bus marches on and the cycle continues.” Wystrach adds, “‘You always strive to learn and grow, but the core of a man never changes from summer to snow as we keep riding on along, mile after mile, to get to the next show — like that damn Marlboro Man.'” The release arrives alongside an official music video directed by Justin Clough, shot in Wystrach’s hometown of Sonoita, Arizona, capturing the band in constant motion across desert roads, on horseback, motorcycles, and in vintage vehicles, mirroring the song’s restless spirit.
