Jan Duplain & Amy Austin: "Our powerful Cultural Capital! -The Helen Hayes Awards" 4/22

DC’s Rise as a Theatre Powerhouse: From Local Stages to Broadway’s Biggest Hits. Wharton Club members and guests are invited!

• Amy Austin has combined passions of storytelling, theatre, journalism, event production, and her favorite place, Washington, DC.
• She is the Publisher Emeritus of Washington City Paper, an influential and award-winning local alternative news media company known for long-form local journalism and in-depth arts coverage.
• She is a member of the Leadership Greater Washington, former board chair of The Theatre Lab, serves on the board of Destination DC, and received the John Conyers Jr. Advocacy Award from the DC Jazz Festival.
• She is committed to theatre arts and education as essential to the human experience in creating shared empathy, understanding, and joy.

• Jan Du Plain is a distinguished figure in public relations, cultural diplomacy, and the performing arts. A graduate of American University, she began her career in journalism before transitioning to theater and film, working in Hollywood and New York. Her passion for the stage led to notable performances, including Same Time Next Year and Our Town.
• She later shifted to public relations, serving as Director at Ford’s Theatre and WETA TV and Radio, before founding Du Plain Global Enterprises in 1997. She has played a key role in fostering diplomatic and cultural relations through initiatives like Passport DC and the Embassy Concert Series.
• A leader in major international events, Jan has chaired cultural galas and diplomatic receptions, including the Helen Hayes Awards and Cherry Blossom Festival. Her contributions have earned her prestigious honors, including an Emmy Award and the Mayor’s Arts Award.
• Her legacy lies in bridging the worlds of arts and diplomacy, using storytelling and cultural exchange to promote global understanding.

• Wharton Club of DC Members - you can attend in-person with a free lunch or by Zoom

• President's Club/Lifetime: You and 2 guests may attend
• Other Members: Yourself only