Of Thee I Sing! A Celebration of Our Independence, Semiquincentennial & the Great American Songbook

On Friday, July 17, 2026, the Arts Club of Washington presents “Of Thee I Sing! A Celebration of Our Independence, Semiquincentennial & the Great American Songbook,” a one-night-only performance conceived by and starring internationally acclaimed singer and actress Anna Bergman, with Howard Breitbart as musical director and pianist. The evening honors America’s semiquincentennial and the nation’s musical heritage, featuring songs by Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Scott Joplin, Richard Rodgers, the Gershwins, and others from beloved Broadway and Hollywood musicals such as *West Side Story*, *The Music Man*, *South Pacific*, *Into the Woods*, *An American in Paris*, *My Fair Lady*, and *The Wizard of Oz*. The event includes a pre‑show reception with hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. Non‑member tickets are sold out; only a few member‑priced seats remain.

When: Friday, July 17, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Showtimes: The reception begins at 6:00 PM, followed by the performance at 7:00 PM. The performance is expected to run approximately two hours, concluding by 9:00 PM.

Tickets: Members $55 per person; non‑member tickets are sold out. Price includes the reception with hors d’oeuvres and open bar. Only two member seats remain as of the event listing.

Lineup: Anna Bergman (conceiver and starring vocalist) and Howard Breitbart (musical director and pianist). Anna Bergman is a crossover artist who has performed as a soloist at the White House, for Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday celebration, at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Strathmore, Caramoor, and major festivals. Her theatre credits include leading roles at Arena Stage, the Shakespeare Theatre, the Studio Theatre, and Ford’s Theatre. She has also been featured on PBS specials and is a graduate and fellow of Vassar College and the Aspen Music School. Howard Breitbart serves as her pianist and musical director for this program.

Run time: Approximately two hours (7:00–9:00 PM), plus the preceding one‑hour reception.

Ages: No age restrictions are specified; the content is drawn from classic Broadway and Hollywood songbooks and is suitable for general audiences.

Venue: Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Note: Dress code is business casual. The event is open to the public, but non‑member tickets are already sold out; only member tickets remain (two seats left). The performance is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.