For a private client's 50th birthday party, Empire staged an elaborate and lavish full-day murder mystery at one of the world's top five resorts, and former Rockefeller country estate, The Point Resort in Saranac Lake, NY. The mystery was based on "Gosford Park" and entitled 'Foul Play at the Point.' A cast of 10 professional actors, 20 guests (who each had their own custom-written role), dozens of authentic period costumes and the use of many historically accurate props such as a working Victrola & original 78's, classic cars, lake boats, as well as live performances of 20's jazz, set the scene convincingly in the 1920s. The 12 hour murder mystery included a shooting party, a luncheon, a 'murder' and a surprise-filled dinner at which nothing was as it seemed and the mystery was solved.

When client J. P. Morgan held a special family premiere event at SONY Lincoln Plaza cinemas for the release of the first Harry Potter film, Empire was contracted to create a magical, thematic reception at the adjoining Reebok Sports Club for 600 people. For this parents & children event, Empire created a custom entry façade of THE HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY. Once inside Empire designed, produced and staffed a series of children's craft & magic areas which included a "Design your own Magic Wand," station and an area where children could learn to do sleight-of-hand magical illusions themselves. Thematic Buffet Decorations that included clusters of magic wands, wizard hats, volumes of books, owls, golden chalices, eyeglasses, quidditch, broomsticks, the Invisible Cloak, and the Sorting Hat. Empire also provided an entry façade that guests passed through on their way into the movie theater.

Empire often works with clients like J. P. Morgan to create exciting and innovative customer loyalty events that have a real, positive impact on our client's bottom lines.

For the Automobile Club of America's annual delegates meeting, Empire partnered with Ronnie Davis Productions and caterer Great Performances to co-produce a remarkable evening of entertainment designed to complement the historic surroundings of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. As guests arrived via ferry, they were greeted by a group of children waving flags of many nations. At cocktails, guests were entertained by a stride pianist dressed in sleeve garters and suspenders playing music from the early twentieth century. Upstairs in the main hall, guests entered to a sumptuous dinner for 600 and were greeted by a singing choir of 30 members onstage. The choir then harmonized to support a dramatic reading of the 1883 Emma Lazarus poem "The New Colossus" that is engraved on the Statue of Liberty ("Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."). Following the dinner, guests enjoyed an uplifting performance by Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan, who sang songs about the immigrant experience and concluded with a rendition of God Bless America with the backing of the choir that brought the audience to their feet to sing along.

At a worldwide meeting of all SONY executives in Yokohama, Japan LUMA was included to create a spectacle of illumination for the opening and closing of the general session. LUMA utilized Ten foot wings with illuminated leading edges to create giant "fans" of light. LUMA also incorporate the SONY logo in a routine in which the logo was projected onto giant moving silk flags. The non-verbal nature of LUMA'a routines make them ideal for international audiences from the world over.

For the fourth consecutive year, Empire partnered with Kaleidoscope Productions to contract the talent and related production logistics for the annual dealer meeting of one of the world's largest automotive companies. This year's meeting was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center, and Empire's mission was to secure acts of the highest caliber to fill the roles of host/emcee, concert headliner, and star of the short films played during the general sessions. The talent had to reflect the client-established Academy Awards theme, exceed the expectations of senior management, and be consistent with the company's conservative culture. The result - Billy Crystal's clean, yet witty comedy and interactive repartee as host/emcee was rivaled only by an awesome 90-minute concert by international musical superstar Phil Collins.

The short films, featuring multitalented film and television star Jim Belushi, were extremely well received. As a last-minute addition, Empire arranged for comedian Kevin Nealon who in tandem with Billy Crystal, brought down the house with a hysterical performance satirizing Arnold Schwarzenegger. When it comes to securing the world's best known talent, more corporations turn to Empire Entertainment than any other firm.

Working with leading event designer Colin Cowie, Empire Entertainment helped to produced Instyle Magazine's book launch of Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry at prestigious auction house Christies with a party and charity auction benefiting the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. In addition to providing audio and visual support, Empire created multiple digital projection presentations of the jewels up for auction, including images from Elizabeth Taylor's book. Among the many notable celebrities in attendance, Sir Elton John introduced Elizabeth Taylor, who presided and bid on several of the jewels herself, at one point bidding against Caroline Rhea. To accommodate the last minute request by the client, Empire secured a camera crew to provide image magnification and live feed to the many television news crews outside the venue. Empire has been privileged to work with Colin Cowie Lifestyle for many years.

After delivering Aerosmith in their first-ever corporate concert at a 2001 technology industry conference, Empire was challenged by the client to deliver an equally compelling concert event for 2002. Additionally, the concert would have to feature a world-class artist or artists that would draw both a domestic and international audience of over 5,000 people. Empire worked closely with the client's marketing department, and together determined that a demographically diverse, classically-American concert lineup would best achieve the objectives. Empire delivered an amazing double bill concert featuring platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winner John Mellencamp and soul legend Ray Charles who together provided the ideal mix of global and patriotic appeal, recognized hits, and the right tone to embody the post-9/11 American spirit.

Empire handled all contractual negotiations and worked on all production and travel logistics with both artists. The conference attracted more than the expected number of attendees, Mellencamp thrilled the audience with 75 minutes of back-to-back high-energy hits, and Ray Charles' closing rendition of "America the Beautiful" (accompanied by a multimedia montage of inspirational images) brought the audience to their feet.

Every year, a top global software and technology company brings together nearly 15,000 of its employees from around the world to attend its multi-day global summit. For this year's meeting held at both the New Orleans Convention Center and the New Orleans Superdome, Empire was contracted to secure all of the talent for the conference within the client's specific creative theme.To kick off this incredible meeting, Empire was challenged to deliver a performance that would capture the imagination of the attendees and introduce the overall meeting theme of recognizing and actualizing potential. Empire discovered and presented 10-year old prodigy violinist, Jeremy Cushman, who played an inspiring solo supported by video projection, aerialists, dancers, and spectacular pyrotechnics. This performance received a sustained standing ovation and exceeded the client's wildest expectations for setting the right tone for the meeting.

For this massive undertaking Empire also booked a wide variety of leading-edge talent including world-renowned technology illusionist Marco Tempest who opened general sessions to over 7,500 attendees, New Orleans-style jazz band The Flying Neutrinos performed the walk-in music, aerial troupe AntiGravity (who flew 4 performers up 150 feet over the heads of the astounded attendees), and for the 'All Night Party' multi-platinum rock group Sugar Ray performed a headline concert followed by a breakbeat dance set by UK artist DJ Rap.

For the 2nd consecutive year, Empire was privileged to work for one of the world's largest financial services companies on a client conference targeted towards Chief Financial Officers of major corporations. For this program, which was held in Chicago, IL, Empire was contracted to contribute a variety of creative elements that would add overall value to the conference. Empire provided elements ranging from design and construction of a general session set reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural work in Chicago, to the design, construction, and installation of a client resource center and email bank also inspired by concepts of architecture and design.

Empire was also responsible for producing two nights of Chicago-style entertainment. The first night featured the Second City sketch comedy & improvisation troupe and the second night was held at the Field Museum where The World Champion Trinity Irish Dancers performed and received multiple standing ovations. Empire also provided speakers for the conference including the Honorable Rudy Giuliani, Dr. John Sullivan and aging / demographics expert Dr. Ken Dychtwald. Empire was awarded this program for 2003, to be held in Las Vegas, NV.

For the release of a major motion picture with a CIA theme, Empire deftly navigated the sensibilities of post-9/11 New York, and simulated a CIA training environment at New York's Pier 88 Passenger Ship Terminal for the premiere party. The event, hosted by the filmmakers and attended by the movie's A-list stars, featured lighted map tables whose surfaces were enlarged, high resolution satellite reconnaissance imagery, a central bar featuring live and pre-selected digital surveillance imagery, guest activities that included martial arts training, polygraph testing, handwriting analysis, speed chess, and an authentic spy gear showcase where guests could try the latest in intelligence agency technology. For this high-profile event, Empire handled every aspect from venue selection, decor & design, to staging, sound, lighting, entertainment, and activities

Empire is a leading producer of motion picture premiere events.