A longtime corporate partner engaged our team to produce an exclusive gala headlined by multi–Grammy Award-winning rock legend Sting. Held at the newly renovated Waldorf Astoria New York, the event welcomed approximately 1,500 guests for an unforgettable evening.

The evening opened with a cocktail reception and a dramatic ballroom reveal, where guests enjoyed a captivating Greatest Showman–inspired performance by French troupe Inspiration Music.

When Sting took the stage, he delivered an electrifying performance, blending iconic hits with his signature storytelling. The evening built to a powerful finale that left guests with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our team was responsible for securing the artist and managing all aspects of technical production, staging, talent logistics, and stage management—delivering a flawless and unforgettable evening for both the client and their guests.

When 2,000+ guests gathered at The Wynn Las Vegas, the entertainment was nothing short of spectacular: two consecutive nights of chart-topping talent. 

The first night featured an electrifying set from OneRepublic, blending their biggest hits with a special medley of chart-topping songs written by frontman Ryan Tedder for icons like Beyoncé, Adele, and the Jonas Brothers.

The following evening, Kelsea Ballerini captivated the audience with her signature mix of charm and powerhouse vocals, performing fan favorites and delivering a standout cover of Fleetwood Mac.

By pairing global pop-rock stars with a country powerhouse, our team delivered a dynamic entertainment experience that left guests energized, connected, and inspired long after the final encore.

For the second year, Hanwha—South Korea’s seventh-largest business conglomerate and a Fortune Global 500 company—partnered with Empire to produce Hanwha Finance’s annual Global Mentorship Camp, a four-day conference and retreat that takes place in over 10 locations across San Francisco and Napa Valley. The attendees consist of 30 selected mentors and mentees, who respectively, are experts and aspirants in alternative investments. 

The program featured keynotes, fireside chats, and shared meals designed to spark meaningful connections. The main conference, held at Hanwha’s new AI Center in San Francisco, hosted eight industry leaders who shared candid insights from their careers in an intimate and interactive setting.

Beyond the conference, curated activities—from sailing on the Bay to a private whiskey tasting—created relaxed opportunities for connection. In Napa Valley, attendees took part in panel discussions and workshops before enjoying golfing, wine tasting, and a thrilling supercar drive through the vineyards. The experience concluded with an exclusive dinner at Seven Stones Winery, where guests celebrated new connections.

Our team oversaw every detail, blending professional programming with memorable experiences to create an inspiring environment for growth, connection, and mentorship.

Our talent booking team secured and managed global superstars OneRepublic for an exclusive private event in Cincinnati. With 3,000 fans on their feet from start to finish, the band delivered an unforgettable performance of their biggest hits, including “Counting Stars” and “Good Life.”

Leveraging our deep expertise in booking and managing top-tier talent, we ensured a seamless experience that met—and exceeded—the client’s objectives. Following the success of this event, we’re thrilled to have contracted OneRepublic for additional private concerts later this year in Las Vegas and Nashville.

The 2025 Public Theater Gala was a magical night under the stars, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Hamilton, the 50th Anniversary of A Chorus Line, and The Public’s commitment to accessible theater with the grand reopening of the renovated Delacorte Theater, home to Free Shakespeare in the Park.

After nearly two years of construction, 650 guests were thrilled to return to the Delacorte, captivated by the vibrant atmosphere on the gala lawn. The event was a resounding success, raising over $2.5 million, to fuel The Public Theater’s 2025–26 season productions and advance the Forever Public campaign.

The Rahul Shah Trio set the atmosphere for the cocktail hour where guests were delighted by instant portrait photography to commemorate the occasion. In celebration of Hamilton’s 10th anniversary, Leslie Odom Jr.’s jubilant performance filled the air with energy, while Renée Elise Goldsberry’s graceful, effortless vocals lifted the night to new heights, culminating in a thrilling countdown to illuminate the Delacorte. Passionate remarks by Executive Director Patrick Willingham, Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, and Board Chair Luis A. Miranda Jr. honored the enduring support of the Jerome L. Greene Foundation and designer Paula Scher, whose bold artwork framed the lawn’s perimeter.

Since 2022, Empire has proudly collaborated with The Public Theater to produce their annual gala. Our team weaves creativity and precision to craft an unforgettable experience, ensuring every moment reflects The Public Theater’s mission of accessible, transformative theater.

Outright International kicked off Pride month with their 35th Anniversary Celebration of Courage awards & gala raising over a million dollars in funding for its programs and LGBTIQ communities worldwide.

For the fourth consecutive year, we collaborated with the Outright team to produce a beautiful event at Pier Sixty for 500 guests featuring a VIP Red Carpet experience, cocktails, dinner and program, and an afterparty hosted by DJ Robi D Light.

The evening brought Outright’s brand to life through environmental storytelling, a cascading set design, and custom Celebration of Courage signage and decor.

The program was led by Producer, Author, Queer Eye Host, and human rights activist Karamo, honoring Deutsche Bank for the Outfront Award, among others.

Highlights included an energetic live auction hosted by auctioneer, Harry Santa-Olalla, special video introduction by Cyndi Lauper, remarks from Outright International Executive Director, Maria Sjödin, and more.

We are honored to partner with Outright International. To learn more about their mission please visit https://outrightinternational.org/

Global hospitality leader Airbnb unveiled the “Akiya DesignProject” in Tokyo—a creative collaboration with Kiko Mizuhara and Rola. The initiative aims to address Japan’s growing vacant house issue while preserving traditional architecture, passing on cultural heritage, and revitalizing local communities.

Set in a 150-year-old former ryotei, the PR event made full use of the historic space to reflect the project’s spirit. Joining Kiko and Rola on stage was Airbnb Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, who introduced Airbnb’s newly launched service and shared his personal hopes and vision for the project.

Our team led the overall production of the event, handling venue sourcing, design, direction, and staging.

The 29th Annual Webby Awards brought together the best of the internet for a night that was bold, funny, poignant, and unapologetically online. Produced by our team for the 21st consecutive year, the show celebrated digital culture’s biggest voices—from global stars to social advocates to viral icons. Hosted by comedian, actress, and internet favorite Ilana Glazer, the event delivered the Webbys’ signature wit, style, and renowned five-word speeches on a stage custom-designed by acclaimed creative director David Korins.

Winners included Snoop Dogg, actor Walton Goggins (The White Lotus), Questlove, British host Amelia Dimoldenberg (Chicken Shop Date), SNL’s Marcello Hernández, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and designer Norman Teague—honored with a special award in Creative AI, presented in partnership with Adobe. Appearances from stars including Justin Theroux, Hot Ones host Sean Evans, SNL’s Kenan Thompson, and NAACP President Derrick Johnson added to the star power.

Beyond the main show, Empire oversaw every facet of the experience: a high-energy red carpet, a branded media lounge for interviews and portraits, and seamless stage production. The night wrapped with a packed afterparty at Rumi, where Questlove took over the DJ booth and kept the celebration going late into the night.

Having produced every live Webby Awards since 2005, our two-decade partnership with the Webby team is built on creativity, trust, and shared vision. After 29 years, “The Internet’s Biggest Night” shows no signs of slowing down and we are excited to collaborate with the Webby team to create something even more spectacular for the 30th Annual Webby Awards.

The 2025 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards marked a bold new chapter for one of the world’s most prestigious celebrations of ocean conservation. Held at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD—and timed to the 50th anniversary of Jaws—the event honored the enduring legacy of Peter Benchley while celebrating today's most influential ocean advocates.

More than 300 leaders from science, policy, business, and storytelling gathered to recognize this year’s honorees: actor and activist Jason Momoa (Ocean Hero), SC Johnson CEO Dr. Fisk Johnson (Sustainable Business Solutions), and Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (Policy). Led by our team, programming included heartfelt tributes and powerful calls to action by advocates, including Sylvia Earle. The evening emphasized bringing together diverse voices to protect our ocean future.

Our team collaborated with Wendy Benchley and the Aquarium Conservation Partnership, ensuring the event served as a rallying point for the global ocean community—spotlighting urgent issues, elevating impactful solutions, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.

Over 400 media buyers, advertisers, and entertainment insiders convened for the Samsung Ads NewFront, an exclusive showcase unveiling the next evolution of Samsung’s connected TV ecosystem at the IAC Building in New York City. The event debuted Samsung Television Network (STN)—a FAST channel featuring a curated mix of Samsung TV Plus’ programming, A-list talent, and live events, offering advertisers innovative audience engagement opportunities.

For this NewFront, we crafted an immersive theater and reception space that embodied Samsung Ads’ innovative spirit and dual value proposition. Produced end-to-end by our team, we managed every detail—from guest experience and talent coordination to creative direction and program execution—delivering a cohesive, high-energy experience.

The program included a fireside chat with David Letterman and Samsung EVP Sang Kim, celebrating the success of Letterman TV, and ended with a surprise appearance by The Jonas Brothers to announce their 20th-anniversary tour’s exclusive live broadcast on Samsung TV Plus, showcasing Samsung’s dedication to entertainment and innovation. 

From the star-studded reveals to the electric atmosphere, our production in collaboration with Samsung ignited a new era for Samsung Ads, leaving the industry buzzing about the future of connected TV.

‍

Photography credit: Samsung Newsroom / Agaton Storm