On November 5, 2015, Empire Entertainment once again served as producer for Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Generously sponsored by Jynwel Charitable Foundation Limited, Microsoft and Givenchy Parfums, this year’s 12th annual Black Ball featured extraordinary performances by Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, Wale and LION BABE and was emceed by comedian, actor and director, Chris Rock.

Hosted by Keep a Child Alive’s co-founder and 15 time Grammy Award-winning artist, Alicia Keys, who was joined by close friend and comedian, Chris Rock, who served as emcee, keeping everyone in stitches throughout the program. “It’s the funniest I’ve seen him. You can definitely tell he’s prepping for those Oscars,” said one guest of Rock, who has been named to host the Academy Awards on Feb. 28, 2016.

The Black Ball was once again designed by Creative Director Earle Sebastian, who chose an Afrofuturism theme for this year’s elegant cocktails, dinner and stage design. Design elements included a kinetic soft wall that undulated to a series of oscillating fans and a neon-lit Soweto Sound System created with New York-based design studio Mogollon.

A proud Alicia Keys and Keep a Child Alive CEO, Peter Twyman, took the stage early in the evening to deliver inspiring remarks about the power and potential of young people living with HIV and an impassioned plea for support.

This year’s Black Ball honored Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, individuals who are transforming African communities by addressing issues of social and economic inequality and envisioning a future when all Africans can realize their full potential.

A star-studded guest list of over 700 came out to support Keep a Child Alive’s mission with guests including Clive Davis, Gayle King, Tyson Beckford, Carmelo Anthony, Lewis Hamilton, Nigel Barker, Padma Lakshmi, and Mr. Brainwash.

Guests dined on a delicious dinner designed by guest chef Marcus Samuelsson and catered by Creative Edge. This year’s Black Ball raised $3.8 million dollars through table/ticket sales, sponsorships, donations, pledges and a live auction hosted by CK Swett. The live auction featured a selfie with Chris Rock, a visit to the set of Fox’s hit TV show, Empire, an extremely rare hand-crafted bottle of Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII Cognac, and an original painting by Kehinde Wiley. The Black Ball has raised over $28 million since its humble beginnings in 2004.

After the auction Alicia Keys and her band put on an electrifying concert performance that, true to Black Ball tradition, featured several amazing musical guests.

Neo-soul duo LION BABE joined Keys to open the concert with an old school classic, “Tell Me Something Good.” Rapper Wale then came out to perform “Lotus Flower Bomb,” segueing into a duet with Keys on “What You Won’t Do for Love.”

Grammy Award-winning rocker Lenny Kravitz took the stage next, pumping up the crowd with “Let Love Rule,” “American Woman” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way?”

Moments after the concert ended, Swizz Beatz and DJ Runna took to the stage to DJ the Afterglow party, keeping all the guests dancing into the early hours of the morning.

Empire has been proud to serve as the Producer of the Black Ball since its inception in 2004 and to partner with Keep a Child Alive and Alicia Keys to grow it into one of New York’s most anticipated, annual fundraising events.

To learn more about Keep a Child Alive and support their mission, please visit www.keepachildalive.org. #KCABlackBall

A leading technology company hosted its premierevent for developers around the world at Spring Studios in New York City with asimultaneous live broadcast online reaching over 340,000. A platform forannouncements about the future of its tools and services in the DevOps era, theevent generated unprecedented engagement from the developer and IT communitiesworldwide.

Spring Studios, a photo studio and recent additionto NYC’s trendy Tribeca neighborhood with a modern design and 22’ floor-to-ceilingwindows overlooking the Hudson River, provided the perfect setting for an eventdedicated to vision, collaboration and the boundless possibilities of the cloud.

To balance the sun-filled window backdrop with theneed to beautifully illustrate data-driven content, three large-scale,high resolution LED screens were custom-built to fit within the existing windowframes. This view was then “extended” along the sides of the room with large-scaleNew York City-scapes encased in custom-built plexi panels, echoing the windowframes. This design delivered the visual wow! factor required while alsoensuring the data-driven content was presented with uncompromised clarity.

The visual aesthetic and brand messaging wereintegrated into every aspect of the event. Guests received their first taste oftechnological innovation at registration, where an animated floor of LED tiles welcomedguests to the event. The lunch space décor echoed the keynote walls, with asuspended plexiglass panel installation that spanned the length of the room. Afternoonbreakout sessions offered custom content tracked to attendees’ variedinterests and needs, and “Inspiration Stations,” located throughout the eventspace showcased insights into how the company’s partners and clients are using theirproducts in real-life applications.

A live production studio built on site streamed theKeynote event as well as post-interviews and discussions to the global online developercommunity.

From registration, breakfast and keynote to lunchand evening cocktails, every element of this program was custom-designed tocommunicate exacting brand values and messaging and to deliver a high-touchguest experience.

Empire is a leading producer of conferences and top-tier B-to-B eventsworldwide.

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The acclaimed American Museum of Natural History in New York City seemed the only appropriate backdrop for this celebratory event in which the world’s largest private equity firm marked its 30th Anniversary.

Over 1,500 employees came together in the famed Milstein Hall of Ocean Life (more commonly known as the Whale Room) to memorialize their accomplishments with a custom-created menu and bar experience, an energetic DJ and an interactive photo booth, always a guest favorite. The room was transformed by custom floor-to-ceiling branded banners and backdrops highlighting the company’s achievements thus far. Soaring floral arrangements, reflective linens and sleek furniture fit perfectly with the water-themed space.

In keeping with the light mood of the fete, the company’s Founder and CEO took the “world’s largest selfie” during his stage remarks, capturing an image of all of the employees with his beloved flip phone (aided by cutting-edge technology that actually captured a 360° image of the entire room by piecing together live and pre-captured shots). The image was immediately projected on large screens in the space, prompting amusement from the crowd about their not-so-tech savvy leader.

After the remarks and just as the festivities were ramping up, the top 75 partners and advisers in the firm, accompanied by their spouses, quietly headed upstairs to the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda (also known as the “Dinosaur Room”) for an elegant and intimate seated dinner. Once the filet mignon and desserts (customized with chocolate-sauce written notes) were enjoyed, it was time to dance! Guests enjoyed a live band while taking in the elegant décor, including soft lighting highlighting the existing architecture as well as the refined florals, linens, and lounge furniture.

The custom evening was one to remember, fit only for a firm that is one of the fastest-growing in its industry and managing over $365 billion in assets.

In October 2015, for the third consecutive year, Empireproduced the Lowline Anti-Gala to help raise funds surrounding the project’sgoal to create the world’s first underground park in New York City’s historicLower East Side.

Upon its completion, the Lowline will completely transforman abandoned trolley terminal below Manhattan’s Delancey Street into a fullyfunctioning, public green space. Through next-generation solar technology, theLowline plans to redirect natural sunlight underground to enablephotosynthesis, thus creating and sustaining plant life under the bustling streetsof New York.

This year’s Anti-Gala, the organization’s annual fundraisingevent, came on the heels of the major opening of the project’s newestdevelopment; the Lowline Lab. Funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign thatraised over $200,000 from thousands of donors, the Lab operates as a workingprototype and technological showcase that is open to the public until March2016. There, guests can learn about the innovative technology that will light theLowline, and get a glimpse of what it will feel like to be within anunderground oasis.

To celebrate the Lowline Lab’s inaugural weekend, Empire workedclosely with them to conceptualize a ‘Building the Lowline’ construction theme,taking place inside the historic Angel Orensanz synagogue. This was completewith “construction workers” dressed as if on a job site, using flashlights tocheck out the area and directing guests as if on an actual construction site.The menu was handcrafted in the style of a construction worker’s diet, with guests noshing onpotato samosas, kebabs, hot dogs and even pigeon cooked “under a brick”created by Chef Gabrielle Hamilton and Neuman’s Catering. Furthermore, thecenterpieces were made out of cinderblocks and bars were constructed with herb garden-covered palettes used for specialty cocktails.

Throughout the evening, remarks were delivered by co-foundersDaniel Barasch and James Ramsey; while Lowline supporters Josh Sirefman and NewYork State Senator Daniel Squadron introduced this year’s honorees,Councilwomen Margaret Chin, and Board Chair, David Barry.

Notable attendees at this year’s gala included artist TomSachs, filmmakers Spike Jonze, Megan Ellison and actresses Laura Prepon andRose McGowan. To close out the evening, renowned DJ duo The Misshapes took tothe stage to spin a great mix of music that kept everyone around for a livelyafterglow.

Empire is proud to serve as the Lowline’s producers for theirannual event, creating a custom-themed event to reflect the organization’svision of creating the world’s first underground park.

To learn more about the Lowline, visit www.thelowline.org.

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In our first collaboration with Chicago-based ContextMedia, Empire produced a very successful and high-energy cocktail reception at the newly opened One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western hemisphere. With soaring panoramic views of New York City, guests mingled and danced while engaging with ContextMedia’s technology platforms throughout the space. We effectively utilized a panoramic-shaped venue to keep guests involved in every part of the space and turned an average Wednesday night into a bumping dance party.

ContextMedia is a health information services company, building digital media technologies to deliver lifestyle education to patients to improve health outcomes. The company empowers healthcare professionals to engage patients while curating content personalized for each member office. It is the fastest growing company in the industry impacting over ten million patient visits each month.

This event was meant to engage their New York City-based clients and introduce them to ContextMedia’s technologies in a fun and accessible setting. Upon reaching the 102^nd floor, guests were welcomed with themed cocktails, buffet-style stations and impressive and creative hors d’oeuvres.

As guests entered the room, they were greeted with an interactive wall of screens. Built specifically for this event, the wall allowed guests to see the technology first hand and customize their experience. Smaller interactive screens were also placed throughout the space to allow guests to engage with the product.

Entertainment began with DJ Irie getting everyone out on the dance floor and the event really hit its stride when Questlove took the stage. He is best known as the drummer and front-man for the Grammy-winning band The Roots, the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He has produced for artists including Elvis Costello, Common, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa, Al Green and John Legend.

The photo booth was also a big hit throughout the night as guests incorporated our fun props and costume pieces into their pictures.

Empire is proud to produce conferences and events for some of the world's leading healthcare and technology companies.

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After receivingfive standing ovations in five shows, enra has closed the curtain on asuccessful first US Tour. With five unique venues in five cities, five publicperformances, and five unique audiences, enra earned glowing reviews for theperformances and received numerous invitations to return. Presenters andaudiences alike praised enra, and American audiences in Birmingham,Memphis, Knoxville, Durango, and Detroit roseto their feet to shower the group with applause.

Monthsof careful preparation went in to producing enra’s longest tour to date. Fromsecuring visas and tax documents for the group members with an eye for futureprojects, detailed advance planning, to arranging expert in-personmanagement on the ground, Empire was there at every stage to ensure that thetour would not only go smoothly but also be a success for everyoneinvolved.

enra’smembers received a warm welcome everywhere they went and performed inbeautiful venues. "That was amazing!" was the general reaction from enthusiastic crowds. The tour also included three separate educationalevents for local students who were thrilled have a rare chance to learn fromenra’s multi-talented expertise.

Markedby its financial success, technical perfection, resourceful management, andthrillingly positive audience response, the tour was a total victory for enraand for Empire. We extend our deepest thanks to the supporters of enra andeveryone that made it possible.

On Saturday, October 17, 2015, Empire produced About.com’s Expert Conference for the third consecutive year at the IAC Building in NYC.

The conference gathers together hundreds of About.com’s experts - - the writers who deliver the content on the site, on topics ranging from travel, health, and tech, to sandwiches, etiquette, and women’s hairstyles. The site is visited each month by approximately 90 million users.

CEO Neil Vogel impressed the experts once again with his no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase manner of addressing all issues head-on. External speakers this year included Joy Bauer, nutrition expert for the Today show, and Brian Stelter, Senior Media Correspondent for CNN. Presenters made good use of the fantastic, and enormous high-resolution video wall at the IAC Building (120’ Wide x 11’ High), including powerful and eye-catching content throughout the day.

Following several presentations in the main theater area, guests then broke into three separate groups for more intimate and interactive breakout sessions. Attendees also enjoyed breakfast and lunch breaks catered by Abigail Kirsch.

Empire managed all aspects of the About.com conference, providing stage management, registration, TPA procurement, technical direction, catering management, décor, and more. Empire is proud to produce business conferences for some of the world's leading technology companies.

Every five years, this cutting-edge company hosts a multi-day event that includes a major product andinnovation exhibition at the Jacob Javits Center, keynote remarksfrom its worldwide Chairman & CEO, and a gala dinner for over 1,000 of itstop customers and business partners at the New York Marriott Marquis in the heart of Times Square.

This year, Empire was challenged to create a Gala evening based on the client's theme of new impossible innovations and to produce the keynote session justhours earlier in the Broadway Ballroom of the New York Marriott Marquis.

Empire’s solution, developedover the course of many months of collaboration, was to create an evening that fused performances andsurround projection technology to take the audience on an impossible journey: travelingthrough time to experience Times Square in the past, present and future. Eachera would be represented with a live performance segment that reflected itsculture, music, imagery, energy and technology.

Following the afternoon’sflawless keynote address by the company's Chairman & CEO, Empirequickly transformed the ballroom into an elegant gala environment, surroundingthe room with over 300 feet of HD projection surfaces and replacing the theaterseating with black dining tables adorned with a red glass cubes.

Following a welcome by host andemcee James Donahower, he introduced the concept of time travel through Times Square. Asurround projection environment of an animated Times Square of the 1920s, completewith sound effects, was dramatically revealed to the audience.

Then, as jazz music began toplay, a spotlight illuminated a single point on stage as a female jazzsaxophone player, Chelsea Baratz, soloed the sounds of Summertime as the billboards slowly flickeredaround her. Next the music shifted to anupbeat rendition of the Charleston and a cast of 1920s-attired flappers enteredto dance the steps of the jazz age. As the performance built in energy, thedynamic tap dance duo of Grimes & Fleming performed their fast-movingtandem tap routine as a finalé of film footage of dancers andwater fountains was projected on all screens. At the end of the1920s/1930s performance and as guests enjoyed their dinner, the animated skyscape of Times Square returned to thescreens and slowly evolved to 1950s to a soundtrack from those years.

After dinner, the emcee returned to set up thenext segment, highlighting some of the major technological and cultural changesof the 1950s and 1960s. As he finished his remarks, the sounds of the Drifter’s1964 hit Under the Boardwalk beganto play as doo wop a capella group the Tee Tones appeared on stage. Next up thescreens shifted to reflect the Broadway show marquees of the time as vocalistsand a cast of costumed dancers entered to perform selections from Pippin (Magic To Do) and Hair: the Musical (Age of Aquarius) as the screens projectedanimations of the 1960s Flower Power movement. In the finale for thissegment, a solo vocalist performed Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World as the Times Square screens recreated thelive broadcast of the first manned lunar landing.

Following dessert service, the emcee took thestage one final time, setting up the Times Square of the future. Thisperformance began with vocalist Kelly Levesque singing an original compositionentitled Future Mood surrounded byan HD projection of the earthrise from space. Next up, violinist Sarina Sunoperformed a fast-paced classical electronica piece as the animated screencontent reacted to the sounds of her LED-lit, electronic violin. As a fittingconclusion to the evening, Levesque took the stage again to perform Love Can Move Mountains and Reach. This time, Kelly wore a floor-length gown covered with hundreds of mirror tiles as she was lit by a seriesof carefully placed lasers in a hazed room, creating the effect of a halo oflaser beams in all directions. Many of the audience members reached for theirphones to photograph the spectacular finalé.

The client was delighted with the outcome ofthe evening, and this original production entertained this highly critical audience.

To create this one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetimejourney through performance, Empire worked with a wide variety of creative,scenic, talent, music and technical partners that included LIVE LAB and manyothers.

Empire is one of the world’s leading creatorsand producers of original live media and events on behalf of leading corporation andbrands.

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When one of the world's leading insurance companies hosted an incentive program in Crete in September 2015, they planned a fantastic evening outdoors, themed around the feel-good movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and they came to Empire for the entertainment that would fit the theme. While ABBA has been defunct for decades, Empire recommended and contracted the next best thing: Bjorn Again, the ABBA tribute band. Dressed head-to-toe in costuming that helped define the original band, the group had the attendees on their feet performing classics such as "Dancing Queen" and "Waterloo". On a raised stage with the Mediterranean Sea and the stars as their backdrop, the band was a highlight of a fantastic event.

Empire is proud to consistently be able to recommend entertainers who fit our clients' event themes, as well as their budgets, and to have presented headline performers in over 40 countries around the globe.

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​Empire produced a business conference and farewell dinner for over 500 guests for a leading Japanese healthcare company in Dubai. The company was visiting Dubai to hold an incentive tour for top sales employees over a period of several days. Guests had a chance to enjoy a wide range of activities including a deep look into the local Arabian culture with camel tours into the desert.

Empire worked closely with a local agency to make this event happen over a two day period. During the first day a business conference was held where next year’s goals were announced and action plans for the upcoming year were laid down. The challenge was that the venue needed to be transformed from a business conference venue to a gorgeous farewell dinner venue in just one day. A larger stage and extravagant light fixtures needed to be placed with all settings from the previous night readjusted to a party atmosphere.

The farewell party included a dance performance, where company staff members reenacted a popular performance of the popular Japanese vocal group Exile on stage. The Empire team put together a full lighting system which transformed the venue into a concert hall bringing everyone to their feet. We also produced a fashion show as part of the evening festivities, which had over 20 models, once again done by company employees.

Empire’s success in Dubai showcased yet again our ability to produce the highest quality events anywhere in the world.