Leaving a Legacy

The prolific generosity of philanthropists Lester and Sue Smith was felt at the Stages Repertory Theatre gala. In one of his last great acts of giving, Lester, who passed away at press time, presented a surprise gift of $2.5 million to complete funding for Stages’ sprawling new campus, named after their friends Glenda and Russell Gordy and slated to open in January 2020. The “Night Garden” gala was the most-attended and highest-grossing in the theater’s history.