Angela Bassett Shines in Fendi at Harlem Stage Gala
Bassett dazzled in Fendi at Harlem Stage’s gala, helping raise $825,000 boost local arts!
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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Angela Bassett led a star-studded lineup at Harlem Stage’s 2025 fundraising gala, helping to generate $825,000 for the nonprofit’s arts and education programs. Dressed head-to-toe in a custom Fendi ensemble, the Oscar-nominated actress joined her husband Courtney B. Vance, Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for an evening of performances, speeches and community celebration.
Fashion Takes Center Stage
Bassett’s floor-length Fendi gown featured a sculpted bodice, thigh-high slit and matching operatic gloves, all crafted in the label’s signature stretch mesh. She topped the look with a statement necklace by Chopard and glossy black stilettos. Vance complemented his wife in a classic black tuxedo from Tom Ford, complete with patent leather loafers and a velvet bow tie.
Claire Danes arrived in a sleek ivory satin jumpsuit by Dior, offset by diamond drop earrings, while husband Hugh Dancy wore a midnight-blue velvet blazer from Saint Laurent. Karine Jean-Pierre commanded the carpet in a tailored black Alexander McQueen suit and smoked-glass heels. Guests snapped selfies on the red carpet outside Harlem Stage’s theater in historic Sugar Hill, Harlem.
High-profile Support
The gala drew supporters from screen, stage and Washington, D.C. Harlem Stage, now in its 50th year, has become a vital platform for emerging artists of color, offering free outdoor performances, youth workshops and artist residencies. Jean-Pierre’s appearance marked one of her highest-profile outings since joining the Biden administration, while Danes and Dancy were on hand to back community arts amid their recent work on the limited series “Fleishman Is in Trouble.” Bassett shared a photo carousel to her Instagram, writing, “Honored to stand with friends and neighbors tonight—supporting the arts that built us. #HarlemStageGala.”
Fundraising Spotlight
The centerpiece of the evening was a live auction conducted by Broadway producer and gala co-chair Salima Harris. Packages included a private dinner with Bassett and Vance, a behind-the-scenes visit to the next Mission: Impossible set, and VIP passes to an upcoming Harlem Stage concert. The mix of celebrity allure and community investment helped push the night’s total to $825,000, all of which will underwrite youth outreach, free neighborhood events and the theater’s 2025–26 season.
Founded in 1979, Harlem Stage has championed artists from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to Jazzmobile. Its executive director, Rashida Bumbray, noted in a post-gala statement that “these funds will expand our free programs and bring new voices to Harlem’s stages.” The organization has a track record of incubating talent now seen on Broadway, the U.S. diplomat corps and Grammy-winning tours.
Bassett’s Impact Beyond Hollywood
A Yale School of Drama graduate, Bassett rose to prominence with her Academy Award–nominated turn as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Her career spans three decades with high-profile roles in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Mission: Impossible” and acclaimed TV series like “9-1-1.” Offscreen, she has campaigned for arts education, co-founding the Bassett/Vance Family Foundation to support theater programs in underserved communities.
Tonight’s gala continued that commitment. Bassett and Vance have served on nonprofit boards and donated proceeds from past charity auctions to fund student scholarships. Their presence added star power and authentic advocacy to Harlem Stage’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
As attendees departed beneath a canopy of lights, the sense was clear: when Hollywood meets Harlem, the result can be a transformative boost for local arts and culture. Bassett’s Fendi moment—and the collective effort of all involved—ensured that next season’s curtain will rise on fresh talent and inclusive programming that echoes far beyond Sugar Hill.
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