When Oprah Winfrey decides to throw a party, she turns to World-leading event designer Colin Cowie to pull off something magnificent. When Colin Cowie needs entertainment for his amazing fetes, he turns to Empire Entertainment as his preferred entertainment partner.So it was certainly no wonder when Ms. Winfrey decided to throw her most brilliant and spectacular party to date, that Empire received the call to produce the talent, handle all of the logistics, and stage manage the events for this three-day extravaganza.

The event was Legends, a weekend designed to honor African-American Women who are legendary in what they do and are not only inspirational in Miss Winfrey's own life, but to millions of people around the world. Some of the Legends were Coretta Scott King, Tina Turner, Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks. And to not only did Oprah want to honor legends but opted to honor the next generation of women to reach Legendary status with all of their achievements, who Oprah affectionately referred to as the Young'ens. Young'ens included Oprah, Halle Barry, Alicia Keys, Angela Bassett and many others.The festivities kicked off on Friday afternoon (after several days of advanced preparation) with a brunch in a magnificent gazebo on the grounds of Oprah's Montecito, California home called the Promised Land. The women dined on a delicious five star meal. Just after lunch and before dessert, the ladies needed to be entertained. Who better to entertain some of the most amazing minds and wonderful women, than the very cute and extremely talented, John Legend. John flew in that day from overseas to perform his hit songs "Live It Up" and "Ordinary People" solo at the piano.The brunch was amazing, but the event on Saturday was designed to top it. The event was held at the beautiful Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara. The main ballroom and surrounding areas were transformed into an elegant, modern and stunning space for The Legends White Tie Ball. Empire was on hand to stage manage the entire evening, working together with sound, video, projection, lighting and talent to ensure a seamless and smooth running evening. Empire's Production Manager, Jim Corrieri, called the show. The evening featured speaking by Oprah Winfrey and Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama.

The Young'ens headed to the stage together to read the Legends a beautiful poem. In the background, a 25-piece orchestra led by conductor Gil Goldstein played throughout the event. Guests and honorees were treated to additional entertainment by jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, Bebe Winans who performed a special song that he wrote especially for the occasion called "A Legend" not long after Bebe's performance Michael McDonald and his band hit the stage, and once they finished getting everyone off of their feet and some guests up on the stage, everyone remained on the dance floor for DJ Frankie Knuckles who spun tunes until the wee hours of the morning!The event closed with a Gospel Brunch on the grounds of Oprah's home. Guests were treated to beautiful Gospel Music led by Bebe Winans and a custom band that he put together with Musical Director, Tony Coleman. Such Gospel greats as Wintley Phipps, DeNetria Champ, and The Hawkins all performed and had guests singing in what was a glorious revival of music. The gust list for this weekend was star-studed and included attendees ranging from Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, John Travolta and Barbara Streisand to Usher, Diana Ross and Tina Turner.

Empire is a leading producer in securing and managing talent logistics for events around the world, and we are honored to be a part of such a memorable event and experience.

For the first time ever, all the children who lost a parent on September 11th, as well as children from schools neighboring the former World Trade Center and emergency service personnel families, were united for an afternoon of laughter, music and magic in a unique 90-minute interactive show called "FundaySunday," produced by Empire Entertainment.The show was created by cancer survivor and ComedyCures Foundation founder, Saranne Rothberg, and was sponsored by Rotary International. The matinee performance took place on a Sunday afternoon at the historic Town Hall in New York City.

Leading entertainers such as New York City's percussion and hip hop dance troupe the Rhythmics, Antigravity's renowned hula hoop artist Anna Jack, basketball tricksters the Harlem Wizards, Velcro percussionists the Bang Group and international circus comedy sensation Karl Saliter were among the many artists who agreed to perform at this unprecedented gathering.Other featured acts included the ComedyCures Humor Ambassadors Slideshow Comics, vocal celebrity impersonator Rick Younger, blues harmonicist David Harp and crowd motivator MC Darrell and dancers who maintained high-energy throughout the show.Saranne Rothberg hosted the program with her ComedyCures signature remarks. Thirteen year old Star Search winner and Sony recording artist, Tiffany Evans brought the crowd to their feet with a soulful rendition of the song, "Tomorrow," and the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir sang a powerful and uplifting "Higher and Higher," as a finale leading the dancing crowd down the aisles.

For this unique event, Empire booked, contracted, coordinated all talent and handled all production and logistics.Empire understood Rothberg's vision to create a fun and exciting environment for the children, as this was their special day. Empire secured all the décor, a custom colored "yellow carpet," for the kids to walk down along with guest celebrities, and a step and repeat area for press coverage of the event. Empire booked and helped coordinate various talent, magicians, costumed performers and stilt walkers who welcomed the families to their fun- filled afternoon. Surprise guests, Johnny Davis of the 49ers and Bill Willoughby of the Denver Rockets came to support ComedyCures and to share in this wonderful experience to unite the 9/11 children.Rothberg founded ComedyCures while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer recognizing that comedy and laughter served as a great coping strategy. Since then, Rothberg and the ComedyCures Foundation has brought joy, laughter and therapeutic humor programs to kids living with illness and life threatening illnesses for thousands of people. Rotary International District 7230 NYC/WTX Relief Fund recognized the ComedyCures mission and gave a generous grant to fund this live event program, dedicating the day to therapeutic humor in celebration of their centennial year. Thanks to Rotary, Rothberg was able to give families directly impacted by 9/11 an afternoon of laughter.

Empire is a leading producer of creative programs for unique charitable events.

For the 5th consecutive year, Empire produced the annual client conference for one of the world's largest financial company's retirement group. For this 4 day / 3 evening long event, Empire booked and produced all entertainment and provided keynote and topical speakers including: actor, business owner & entrepreneur Robert Redford, PBS financial advisor Cassie Seifert, anchor and managing editor of CNN's Moneyline Lou Dobbs and America's best-known financial expert Jane Bryant-Quinn.The opening evening featured world-renowned flamenco artists Fuego Flamenco, who thrilled the audience with their amazing Spanish Gypsy form of music, song and dance.Empire again designed, built and installed the conference's Resource Center in which twenty client participants / partners were provided custom-designed spaces to showcase their latest materials to the conferences 350 attendees. This space also served as a place where attendees could relax, network and check email between general sessions.

Empire completely transformed a 100' X 50' ballroom space into a hacienda themed / Spanish colonial design, that featured custom-built stations around the rooms perimeter, complimented with colorful and bright Mexican furnishings and floor rugs. These elements were used to house computer monitors, laptops, print materials as well as wireless internet connections for participants. The set was so impressive that the hotel purchased the entire build from the client to use for their future hotel clients.Empire also booked, contracted, coordinated and provided onsite management for various Southwestern themed entertainment elements for the attendees to enjoy while relaxing in the resource center. At a cocktail reception on the opening day of the conference, a Spanish classical guitarist set the ambience as three festively costumed senorita greeters passed out brightly colored paper flowers and cascarones, which are hollowed out egg shells with confetti inside, to incoming guests.

The next day, a pinata artisan skillfully demonstrated how to craft and complete a piñata, customized as the Merrill Lynch bull. Then, a woman demonstrated the art of Papel Picado, which means "punched paper" in Spanish, a traditional folk art used in Mexico to decorate altars, tables, ceilings and plaza during festivals. This artform was also used to decorate the resource center. Lastly, Empire booked a skillful, sly card trick handler to demonstrate slight of hand tricks to the attendees.In the evenings, Empire once again booked, contracted and coordinated all logistics for after dinner entertainment for the attendees returning from their offsite dinner festivities. The second night at the conference, Empire booked a traditionally costumed mariachi trio to perform and sing in the hotel bar.

On the eve of the last day of the conference, Empire booked the Nick Hernandez Band, a rockin' country western cover band, playing well-known favorites to perform from the clients return from the rodeo. The attendees danced the night away until the early hours of the morning in the hotel bar, Charlie's Longbar.As a tradition, Merrill Lynch's CFO likes to open each morning session with a satire of the last evening festivities. Every year, Empire provides the costumes and different components for him to do so. One morning, while dressed as a Mexican peasant, Empire hired a well-trained show donkey named Aesop, to accompany him onto stage. The next day, he dressed in a full-blown mariachi costume, pretending to skillfully play the classical guitar, while classical Spanish music played in the background. On the last day, Empire booked an authentic country western singer to sing customized karaoke to the CFO's own rendition of "Deep in the Heart of Texas."

Empire enjoys providing these various costume elements as they provide an enjoyable experience for the attendees during their business conference.

When a leading Fortune 500 firm wanted to treat its employees and strategic partners to an unforgettable arena concert, it called on Empire to secure the notoriously hard-to-deliver, Platinum-selling act - Bon Jovi.After a lengthy meet-and-greet that saw company VIPs chatting casually with Hair Band royalty, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and the band hit the stage of Boston's Agganis Arena and launched into a solid 90 minutes of hits that included "Living on a Prayer," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "Bad Medicine," "You Give Love Bad Name," "I'll be There For You" and many others.The band's high energy onstage antics had row upon row of esteemed executives behaving like frantic teenagers.

After the show, VIPs trickled backstage for a post-show "hang" with the 100-million album selling superstars.As if that wasn't enough star power, Bill Belichick, the two time Superbowl winning coach ofthe New England Patriots, also joined the backstage party. Truly a night to remember.

Empire Entertainment is the world's leading producer of top name headline concert acts for corporate meetings & events.

When a global corporation sought to hold a high level client event on the eve of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY, they turned to Empire Entertainment to help them secure the right talent for this very special event.Empire worked with the client to help guide the selection of talent based on a variety of criteria and ultimately helped the client decide upon a fabulous Motown show featuring two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, the Temptations and the Four Tops.The show took place in a tent and followed a sumptuous barbecue dinner.

First up were the Four Tops who performed a 60 minute set that included many of their greatest hits such as "Baby, I Need Your Loving," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie, Honeybunch)," "It's the Same Old Song," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)," "Bernadette," "Walk Away, Rene," "Standing in the Shadows of Love," "Shake Me, Wake Me," and "Still Waters Run Deep."Then, after a set-change of just 4 minutes, the Temptations took the stage and got the crowd dancing again with a high energy, 60 minute set that included "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "My Girl," "You're My Everything," "Get Ready," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "(I Know) I'm Losing You," "Cloud Nine," "Runaway Child, Running Wild," "Ball Of Confusion," "I Can't Get Next To You," "Masterpiece" and "Just My Imagination."Both acts displayed their distinctive Motown stage choreography and both bands performed with the backing of a powerful 10 piece horn section provided by the Tuscaloosa horns.For this engagement, Empire provided all talent contracting and coordination, air, room & ground transportation logistics, production coordination, backstage wrangling and onsite stage management.

Whether a classic oldies act or today's newest musical superstars, more companies turn to Empire Entertainment than any other company to help them secure the right talent for their events.

At a recent multi-day technology conference for high level customers in Seattle, Empire presented former Doobie Brother and five time Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter Michael McDonald. For this intimate event which took place at the Triple Door Club in Seattle, Michael performed a greatest hits concert with a band consisting of keyboards, bass, drums, guitar, a hirn section and backing vocals.Michael performed a career retrospective concert including Doobie Brothers hits as well as his more recent Motown work. The 90 minute set included such hits as "It Keeps You Runnin,'" "I Keep Forgetting," "Reach Out," Grapevine," "I Second That Emotion," "You Belong to Me," "Minute by Minute", "What a Fool Believes," "On My Own" and "Takin' it to the Streets" among many others. Michael's distinctive voice was in perfect form as he thrilled the audience and ultimately got them up dancing before the encore. For this event, Empire booked and contracted Michael McDonald, provided all air, room and ground transportation logisitics, coordinatied production and stage managed the show Onsite.

Empire is a leading producer of headline entertainment for corporate meetings and events.

When a certain a Fortune 500 firm with global presence wanted to wow its European division's diverse audience with a precedent-setting concert, it called on Empire to help them source a contemporary, affordable concert act with undeniable Euro-appeal. Empire put its research and relationship skills to work and found a perfect, routed opportunity for international chart-topper SealWhen Seal hit the stage, the multinational crowd went mad. Almost 5,000 attendees wandered to the show along the misty cobblestone streets of Copenhagen, arriving at the Forum — one of the city's premier venues — for cocktails and dinner before Seal took the stage.

The audience stood shoulder to shoulder throughout a high energy show of almost 90 minutes, dancing and singing along with the pop-star as he performed all of his hits along with a couple of cover tunes. Following the show, Seal graciously gabbed with VIPs for almost 30 minutes before gathering his lovely wife, Heidi Klum, and heading back to the hotel. Empire's client, indecisive before the concert about whether to have a follow-up concert the following year, has vowed to make it an annual event.

Each year one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer products holds a supplier recognition awards gala to honor and recognize achievement in partnership among their largest suppliers. In 2005, this multinational corporation turned to Empire Entertainment to help them produce their event and raise the quality of every aspect of the production. Working with a new client, in a new venue, on a new program and in a city in which Empire was relatively unfamiliar, Empire was quickly able to grasp the client's needs and design and execute a flawless, high quality event that exceeded the client's expectations.

Empire worked to coordinate all aspects of this program including catering, design and decor, logistics such as check-in, valet parking, security, tenting & guest flow, cocktail and dinner entertainment, stage design, lighting design, audio, graphics production, audio visual and stage management of the evening. In addition to a cocktail hour at which the Tommy Whitten Trio performed and a dinner at which the University of Richmond vocal harmony group the Octaves performed, Empire also arranged for a surprise appearance of the popular "Three Waiters" opera singers whose performance was a smash success. The awards program recognized achievements of 8 major suppliers to the client company and ran smoothly, in perfect sync with meal course service and ahead of schedule. In the end, the glorious event was a success on every level and the clients were thrilled with the success of the evening and Empire's contributions to the event.

Whether in Richmond, VA or Cairo, Egypt, whether a black tie awards gala or a street festival, Empire Entertainment is a partner that can be relied upon to deliver beyond a client's expectations.

When the National Geographic Channel sought to bring their channel to life and to express their message of "The Difference Revealed" to their target audience of advertisers and media buyers, they turned to Empire Entertainment to make it all happen. Working to the client's brief to secure a location that had plenty to reveal, Empire was able to secure Charlie Palmer's Metrazur space, located on the East Balcony of the historic Grand Central Terminal. The event space was designed with a beautiful lighting plan that up-lit the Terminal's 100-foot walls in the Channel's colors of red & yellow. Red & yellow floral displays, votive candles and fabrics complemented a giant 18' wide X 7' high lighted logo billboard that overlooked the main concourse of the terminal from atop the venue's marble stairs which were modeled after those at the Paris Opera House. Inside the cocktail area, Empire designed and created a series of "Video Tables" consisting of 51" flat-screen monitors built to display face up inside cocktail tables made of material that matched the marble of the terminal's grand staircases. These six bar-height Video Tables were capped with a non-scratch Lucite surface and surrounded with bar stools. Empire created a series of yellow and red animations for these tables to tie-in with the lighting and decor in the venue. The tables were also used to display the presentation, and to loop 'video wallpaper,' an animated logo and a slide show of National Geographic Channel images throughout the event.

To complement the amazing food and specialty cocktails provided by Metrazur, Empire arranged to have two large ice sculptures created for the bars: one of a tornado and one of a volcano that emitted dry-ice steam from its caldera. To promote the channel's programming, there were a series of interactive activities, each themed to a different series or special. For Relentless Enemies, an animal station featured a red kangaroo, a black leopard cub, two Syrian black bear cubs, and a 5' green iguana. Handlers fed and cradled the animals and answered questions from guests. A large-scale version of the Operation game with a life-size Bigfoot called "Yeti Operation," was a fun a tie-in to the channel's "Is It Real?" series.

The channel promoted its Spartacus special with a photo booth, where guests donned gladiator, Athenian citizen, and other costumes and posed for digital snapshots printed on-site. A sculptor created small-scale versions of famous buildings and ships featured in the "Mega Structures" series out of white clay. Also on hand was a space-themed ride to promote "The Space Race."As an extra special treat, Empire arranged for guests to have special VIP tours led by Grand Central chief historian, Dan Brucker, which included Grand Central's top secret underground power station, Manhattan's deepest point, which will be featured in the channel's Inside Grand Central special. Following a presentation of channel programming by senior executives, guests were beckoned to the balconies, where Empire had arranged for a choreographed stunt featuring 36 people to suddenly unfurl yellow strips of fabric on the floor of the terminal to create the shape of National Geographic's yellow border logo. The perfectly timed stunt generated spontaneous applause. In the words of the client, the well-attended event "Was truly a unique experience for our guests. It even caught the attention of local and national media."

Empire is a leading producer of event marketing programs and is an essential partner to businesses seeking to create experiential, tangible and interactive representations of their brands.

When Hakuhodo DY Media Partners (an affiliate of Hakuhodo - Japan's 2nd largest advertising agency) contacted Empire's offices in Tokyo, Japan to help them create and develop concepts for a series of short films that their client NTT Docomo (largest wireless carrier in Japan) could use as the central piece for the launch of the stylish new Sony premini-II phone, Empire knew exactly what to do.Working with the client, Empire identified and contracted Jordan Rubin, an accomplished comedy writer for such comedy television shows as Comedy Central's "The Man Show" & "Crank Yankers" and NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly," to develop concepts for the series of vido shorts.

Empire then helped to translate the comedy and worked with a Japanese director, writer and local production team in Tokyo to localized the humor for the campaign. The comedic shorts focused on both style and comedy and helped make sales points about the stylish Sony premini-II phone. The short movies were launched in serial volumes to maintain interest throughout the launch period of the new phone. To view the clips and see Jordan Rubin's profile, visit http://premini.tv

Empire Entertainment's Tokyo office is a fast growing resource of talent, speakers and integrated production and creative services for Japanese clients earching for talent from outside Japan as well as for all corporations looking to execute projects in Japan, China, Korea and throughout Asia.