What Were Producing

The Go-Go’s Belinda Carlisle Private Concert

The Go-Go’s Belinda Carlisle Private Concert

New York City

May 2025

Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go’s electrified an exclusive private party. The 80s icon had attendees dancing and singing to solo hits like “Mad About You” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” alongside Go-Go’s classics including “Vacation,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “We Got the Beat.” Our team’s expertise in booking and managing top-tier talent ensured a seamless experience, delivering the client’s vision of a show-stopping night that left the crowd buzzing with unforgettable memories.

AXA Presents ‘Café de l’Art de Vivre’: A Cultural Dialogue at Expo 2025 Osaka

AXA Presents ‘Café de l’Art de Vivre’: A Cultural Dialogue at Expo 2025 Osaka

May 2025

AXA hosted a talk show titled “Café de l’Art de Vivre – Connecting Love, Art and Culture” at the France Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. As a Gold Partner of the France Pavilion, AXA collaborated with our team for full production—concept development, construction, direction, and casting.

Moderated by renowned broadcaster Christel Takigawa, the event featured AXA Holdings Japan President & CEO Seiji Yasubuchi, calligraphy artist Maaya Wakasugi, and Clara Blin, Account Director at monopo Tokyo.

The audience included a distinguished guest list of models, ballet dancers, influencers, and cultural figures, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The two-hour freeform talk session fostered lively exchanges between the speakers and audience, exploring cultural contrasts and shared passions for art and lifestyle in both Japan and France.

CyberArk IMPACT25 Conference

CyberArk IMPACT25 Conference

Boston, MA

April 2025

CyberArk is the global leader in identity security, trusted by organizations around the world to secure human and machine identities in the modern enterprise. IMPACT 2025, their dynamic, three-day hosted conference at the Omni Hotel in Boston’s Seaport District, brought together 1,800 cybersecurity leaders and practitioners to tackle the most pressing identity-related threats in the digital world. This immersive experience fostered collaboration and innovation, focusing on the future of identity security.

Empire’s creative design and execution elevated the attendee experience at every turn. A technology-immersive tunnel began the attendee journey into the heart of the event: the CYBR Arena, an interactive space featuring product demos, a genius bar, sponsor booths, and an array of activations including a custom hat bar, a robot sketch artist, the “CYBR Bark” puppy therapy zone, and a robot-activated Identi-TEA café. Attendees participated in over 100 breakout sessions, hands-on labs, earned CPE credits, and gained exclusive insight into CyberArk’s innovative solutions.

The event featured seven keynotes from distinguished speakers including CyberArk CEO, Matt Cohen, Founder & Executive Chairman, Udi Mokady, and former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly. Our program producers developed and executed the creative content and design for the keynote conversations focused on the future of identity security and the urgent need for a new, security-first framework to combat identity-based threats—now the leading attack vector globally. 

In addition to the core programming, our team curated five standout ancillary events—including CyberArk’s Partner Day—as well as two offsite parties. These events included the high-energy CYBR Bloc Welcome Party, centered around the culture of Boston and the CYBR Soirée at the Boston Aquarium, offering a unique and immersive setting for an unforgettable evening.

With identity now the #1 attack vector in organizations, CyberArk IMPACT 2025 cemented its role as a vital forum for advancing a security-first identity model. Backed by major sponsors and tech leaders like AWS, Accenture, Wiz, and Proofpoint, the event stood out as a forward-looking experience designed to inform, connect, and empower the identity security community. 

Immersive "Star Wars" Adventure for Its Return to Japan

Immersive "Star Wars" Adventure for Its Return to Japan

Japan

April 2025

When Star Wars Celebration returned to Japan for the first time since 2008, Disney Consumer Products enlisted Empire to design and deliver a five-day series of immersive experiences for 50 select media and creators. From intimate dinners to dynamic city explorations, the journey highlighted the creative breadth of the Star Wars franchise and its deep cultural resonance.

A standout moment included a Star Wars-themed gala dinner in a studio transformed into the bridge of a Star Destroyer. Immersive visuals gave guests the sensation of gazing into space, while si_oux performed a live DJ set that blended house and bass music with iconic Star Wars themes. Appearances from Anthony Daniels, Ashley Eckstein, and Ahmed Best—alongside a high-energy lightsaber performance from KAMUI—brought the saga vividly to life. The evening also featured a collector’s gallery curated by our team, with rare and imaginative merchandise from partners like LEGO, Hasbro, Hot Toys, CASETiFY, Her Universe, Suntory, and more.

Another core element of the program invited participants to explore Tokyo through a Grogu-themed scavenger hunt in Harajuku. Guided by Hot Toys figures, guests completed playful missions—ranging from purikura photo booth snapshots to capsule toy challenges—blending the whimsy of Japanese pop culture with the charm of Star Wars. The journey continued with visits to retail partners like Disney Store and Uniqlo to discover exclusive collaborations, and a hands-on LEGO Grogu-building activity that encouraged creativity and interaction.

At Star Wars Celebration itself—hosted at Makuhari Messe with over 100,000 fans from 125+ countries—Empire created a branded Content Suite for invited guests. This hospitality lounge offered a place to recharge, connect, and interact with Star Wars characters like R2-D2 in a relaxed, personal setting.

From concept through execution, we orchestrated every detail of this multi-day journey, bringing together storytelling, fan engagement, and cultural connection to celebrate the global legacy of Star Wars in Japan.

Gwen Stefani’s Star-Powered Private Concert in Chicago

Gwen Stefani’s Star-Powered Private Concert in Chicago

Chicago, IL

April 2025

Pop legend Gwen Stefani ignited the iconic Chicago Theatre with an electrifying performance for a global corporation’s incentive trip, delivering a once-in-a-lifetime reward for top sales performers and their guests.

The evening featured Gwen Stefani performing a 75 minute set of hit after hit with her full band, vibrant dancers, stunning stage production, and electrifying theatrics that had the crowd roaring and dancing. Between songs, Stefani’s warm and thoughtful remarks created a festive atmosphere that made everyone feel like one family. Guests savored premium seating and open bar service, while VIPs and executives mingled with Stefani at an exclusive pre-show meet-and-greet, taking home signed vinyl and commemorative photos.

From securing the artist and venue to managing every detail of production and logistics, we helped orchestrate a seamless, unforgettable experience for all.

Yiruma & Hà Anh Tuán’s International Concert Collaboration

Yiruma & Hà Anh Tuán’s International Concert Collaboration

Vietnam

March 2025

Korean composer Yiruma and Vietnamese star Hà Anh Tuấn teamed up for Sketch a Rose, a sold-out, two-night concert series, entertaining over 20,000 fans. Our team secured Yiruma for the rare collaboration, debuting their new song “Dear, Memory” live with a 40-piece band, including the Saigon Pops orchestra.

From talent booking and creative set lists to staging, sound, and lighting, our team handled every detail. We coordinated music production, travel logistics, visas, and translations between Korean, English, and Vietnamese, while managing media, press, and global content release in order to make this collaboration seamless and successful.  

Front Row Tokyo’s Rosewood Miyakojima Opening

Front Row Tokyo’s Rosewood Miyakojima Opening

Tokyo, Japan

March 2025

The inaugural Rosewood Front Row Tokyo marked Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' debut in Japan, celebrating the opening of Rosewood Miyakojima. The third in Rosewood’s global cultural series, this event immersed guests in a sensory journey of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, and music.

Senses in Motion, the event’s core experience, blended Okinawa-inspired cuisine by Chef Natsuko Shoji of the acclaimed été with soulful performances by Reuben James and his band. Artful lighting and projections crafted a dreamlike setting, reflecting Miyakojima’s heritage. The energy continued at an after-party for 400 with a dynamic DJ set by Antonin Courant and bespoke sake cocktails by bar twelv.

Embodying Rosewood’s "A Sense of Place®" philosophy, Front Row Tokyo set a new benchmark for luxury experiences. We are honored to have collaborated with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to bring this visionary event to life, redefining immersive events within the global cultural series.

The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) "Never Is Now" Summit

The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) "Never Is Now" Summit

New York City

March 2025

ADL’s Never Is Now Summit, held at New York’s Javits Center for several thousand attendees, presented a bold stand against antisemitism, uniting influential voices from across sectors for two days of dynamic programming, standout performances, and buzzworthy social moments that brought together over 40 “Heroes Against Hate” with a combined 90 million followers. 

For this important Summit, our team worked with ADL to produce and provide creative direction for six hours of stage content, broken into three mainstage sessions. From the initial theming, topics, and speaker recommendations to screen content, script writing, music direction, lighting, performers, and the run-of-show, our team collaborated closely with ADL counterparts on content creation.

The mainstage programming was hosted by Hen Mazzig (Tel Aviv Institute Founder) and Montana Tucker (singer-actress-activist), and featured ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, Billie Jean King (ADL Changemaker Award), NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, David Schwimmer, General Yaov Gallant, Elise Stefanik, Daniel Lubestsky (Courage Against Hate Award), Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba (Abraham Award), and Gal Gadot (International Leadership Award).

The programs also featured performances from high school senior Rachel Buller, Broadway’s Funny Girl Julie Benko (“Tomorrow,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade”), and Tizmoret, a Jewish a cappella group. 

Together, Empire and ADL shaped and executed programming that advanced ADL’s mission to eradicate hate, uplift communities, and unite for justice. To learn more and see the program, visit NeverIsNow.org.

Immersive Art Experience for the Global Launch of Shiseido's New ULTIMUNE

Immersive Art Experience for the Global Launch of Shiseido's New ULTIMUNE

Tokyo, Japan

March 2025

To support the global launch of Shiseido’s latest skincare innovation—The New ULTIMUNE—this groundbreaking, immersive experience welcomed press, influencers, and VIP guests from around the world. The event was a poetic journey into the Origin, Essence, and Science of ULTIMUNE—expressed through immersive art, light, sound, and storytelling. 

The experience opened with an installation that transformed the campaign’s key visual into three-dimensional artwork. Guests stepped into a deconstructed world of flowing Camellia petals, where the visual only fully resolved into the hero image when viewed from a precise perspective—symbolizing the harmony of beauty, resilience, and innovation that defines ULTIMUNE.

In "The Origin", our creative team led the development of an evocative digital art installation that paid tribute to the Camellia flower and its native Goto Islands. A symbol of both strength and elegance, the Camellia is reimagined as light and motion, capturing the regenerative power at the heart of the new ULTIMUNE. 

In "The Essence", visual artist Manami Sakamoto and sound designer machìna created an immersive installation that captured ULTIMUNE’s transformative essence. Four interconnected scenes—each tied to the product—blended the Camellia extract’s purity, fragrance, texture, and timeless power, drawing visitors into a vivid, artistic journey.

In "The Science," media artist Daito Manabe and choreographer MIKIKO collaborated to depict the cellular-level innovation behind the new ULTIMUNE. Abstract, data-driven visuals merged with dynamic choreography to showcase memory T-cells defending the skin from within—turning intricate science into a stunning artistic moment.

The journey ended in "Epilogue", a tranquil gallery space featuring oversized campaign visuals. Guests reflected on the experience, sampling the product in a tactile, multi-sensory close that fused emotion, art, and science.

Bringing together Japan’s top creative talents for this immersive artistry—and partnering with Shiseido’s visionary team to reimagine a beauty product’s experience—proved a privilege and a breakthrough for the new ULTIMUNE launch.

Endeavor Gala: “Go Big and Go Home”

Endeavor Gala: “Go Big and Go Home”

New York City

December 2024

GO BIG AND GO HOME. The annual Endeavor Gala celebrated entrepreneurship with the dual themes of “Go Big” and “Go Home,” encouraging attendees to expand their ventures while investing in their communities. The event brought together over 350 members of the Endeavor network from around the globe for an inspiring evening. This marked Empire's sixth year producing this flagship gala.

Guests were invited to GO BIG the moment they entered the space, where a larger-than-life immersive light sculpture—crafted in collaboration with ArtLab by Rise—hovered above, inspiring reflection on the power of scale and fostering connection among attendees.

Following an inspiring seated presentation, guests were invited to GO HOME and explore the immersive Endeavor Home within the after-party space. Designed with a kitchen, bedroom, office, study, wine cellar, and even a backyard, the Home featured interactive activities that showcased the diverse achievements of Endeavor entrepreneurs. Towering fabric-paneled walls formed a modern, architectural space designed to foster networking—every detail meticulously crafted to enhance both experience and engagement while dynamically shaping the environment.

From curated food and beverage engagements to a photo-booth, and even a fortune teller, the event offered a firsthand look at Endeavor's diverse and innovative portfolio of entrepreneurs. Custom builds brought the concept to life, seamlessly blending aesthetics with function. Rooms featured activations from some of Endeavor’s leading entrepreneurs like Globant, Breadfast, Bartesian, Faladdin, and MIKSI, as well as additional activations from Endeavor's partners Artlab by Rise and Pin Drop Rum.

Empire handled full event production, from technical direction and project management to creative design and execution. We crafted immersive environments, ensured smooth sponsorship activations, and managed logistics. By combining creative vision with flawless execution, Empire helped Endeavor Global create a memorable gala celebrating their mission to inspire attendees to think bigger while staying grounded.

Photography: Johnny Vacar

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