Empire was honored to once again produce Outright International’s annual Celebration of Courage Gala in 2023.

The red carpet, cocktails, program, and afterparty for 450+ was hosted during Pride Month at Pier Sixty in New York City.

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

Guests were seated for dinner and the main event honoring the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), Google.org, and the Queer Cast of Star Trek: Discovery. The program featured show host BeBe Zahara Benet; Star Trek awardees Wilson Cruz, Blu del Barrio, and Anthony Rapp; Outright International Executive Director, Maria Sjödin; and Outright International Board Co-Chairs, Kathy Teo and Elliot Vaughn.

The evening raised $1 million in funding, with a very energetic live auction hosted by New York City auctioneer, Harry Santa-Olalla.

Outright is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the LGBTIQ human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality.

Empire was proud to work with the Outright team to deliver a flawless event.

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Empire was thrilled once again to help produce the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) annual staff retreat, Community 2023.

The multi-day, hybrid retreat packed with keynotes, breakouts, and activities for 900+ in-person staff members from over 10 countries was hosted at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and online for remote participants.

Highlights included the Welcome Reception and EDF Expo on Day 1; welcome remarks from Mohegan Tribal Elder Beth Regan; a Community Chat and Q&A with EDF President, Fred Krupp, and Executive Director, Amanda Leland; keynotes with CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir, and Comedic Thought Leader, Michael Jr.; the EDF Staff Awards Ceremony; karaoke; a dance party with DJ Ian Ali; and Wellness Fair featuring yoga, biometric screenings, and much more.

Empire’s scope of work included overall project management, consulting on run of show development and technical production, speaker advancement, stage scenic design, environmental wayfinding design, screen content design and animations, Cvent website/app design, stage management, and overall logistics.

Empire is proud to have worked with EDF to deliver a very memorable staff retreat.

Photo credit: Terrence Irving Photography

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CyberArk, a leading provider of Identity Security and Access Management tools, held their annual conference, IMPACT23, hosting more than 1,200 attendees from over 30 countries.

Held at The Hynes Convention Center in the heart of Boston, MA, this year’s event brought together industry leaders to discuss the ever-expanding attack surface, attacker techniques, trends in identity-based cyber attacks, and the latest innovations in Identity Security technology. The event kicked off on Monday with an appreciation day for CyberArk’s Partner community, as well as specialized trainings and certifications for attendees, all of which culminated in a Welcome Reception in the Boylston Hallway overlooking the Boston skyline, where guests were able to network, demo CyberArk technology, engage with sponsors, and enjoy featured entertainment. Guests returned on Tuesday for a full day of compelling keynotes & integrated breakout sessions. Guests then headed out to House of Blues to enjoy cocktails, classic Boston fare, continued conversations, and a headline performance by the band “Neon Trees”, known for their singles “Everybody Talks” and “Animal.” On Wednesday, the meeting concluded with the final keynote sessions and award ceremony by CMO, Simon Muyal. The live-streamed event extended the IMPACT’s reach and message to an additional 2,300 attendees in over 80 countries. Empire worked closely with CyberArk’s teams to plan and execute each component of the event. Empire oversaw catering, venue management, talent booking, registration, technical production, rigging, warehouse storage, budgeting, creative design, printing, and more.

Empire is honored to have produced the 27th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

For the second consecutive year, Empire booked Roy Wood Jr. (from the Daily Show & White House Correspondents Dinner) to host and he kicked off the show with another tech-savvy monologue that addressed the rise of A.I., among other issues.

As always, the Webbys honored a variety of the internet’s best including SZA, Sharon Horgan, Anderson Cooper, Hoda Kotb, Toby Nwigwe, and many more. The Webbys are the Internet’s highest honor, and the show is renowned for allowing winners just 5 words for their acceptance speeches. Nevertheless, this year’s winners showed that 5 words is sometimes all you need.

After a roaring round of applause for Webby Artist of the Year, SZA, she took the stage and used her 5 words to ironically say “The internet scares me. Thanks!”.

The show also included poignant moments highlighting how the internet helped bring greater attention and continued dialogue to serious social issues such as the killing of George Floyd and the oppression of women in Iran.

Following the show, attendees headed uptown to Marquee for the highly anticipated afterparty where Empire presented DJ Jazzy Jeff to spin and keep the dance floor packed.

Empire produced nearly all aspects of the event from the Red Carpet, the show itself, and the afterparty. Partners this year included Special Guest, who led on all things design, and Sunshine Sachs, who worked to create a buzzy Red Carpet and Media Room.

Empire is honored to have been chosen to produce every live Webby Awards event since 2005, and we consider the Webby Awards team part of the Empire family.

The full show is available to view here.

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FOX’s Upfront at New York City’s Manhattan Center broke new ground by blending presentation with celebration for over 1,000 attendees. The event reimagined the traditional Upfront format, emphasizing connection and engagement over the usual theater-style approach.

At the heart of the experience was a striking 360-degree full-service bar, dubbed the “pill stage” for its sleek, elongated oval shape, which served as the Upfront’s centerpiece. Complementing it was a massive 70-foot Apex Hero Stage, angled to spotlight speakers and hero content. The design fused Manhattan Center’s classic New York City charm with modern sophistication, creating a timeless yet contemporary atmosphere.

The program boasted an impressive roster of talent, including Gordon Ramsay, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Michael Strahan, Erin Andrews, Carli Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski, and DJ Natasha Diggs. Cabaret-style seating spread across three levels encouraged conversation and connection. FOX’s signature branding was woven throughout the space, with rich blue as the hero color accented by burgundy, gold, magenta, and amber to represent the network’s subdivisions.

Every detail was thoughtfully crafted—from the furnishings to the strategic branding placement—to transform the venue into a stunning, camera-ready backdrop. The result was an unforgettable event that set a new benchmark for the Upfront experience.

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Empire was honored to work with VTS, a leading real estate software company, on VTS Accelerate, which took place at Center 415  and brought together 400 employees, investors, and influential thought leaders for two days of keynote presentations, panel discussions, breakouts, and freestyle networking opportunities.

The event’s goal was to offer a better understanding of VTS’ products and their impact, spark inspiration, build connections, and offer tools to navigate the challenges of the industry. The conference content was specifically designed to educate members of the C-Suite and senior leasing and asset management executives on how to integrate data and technology to stay competitive.

Day One of the event provided a full day of stage content from morning to evening, and included keynote sessions, fireside chats, panels, Q&As, breakouts, and concluded with a customer award ceremony. Day Two, attendees returned for a half day of panels and workshops. Guests also experienced the custom-built “Product Zone” and “Activate Zone”, where VTS’ newest software was unveiled.

Attendees enjoyed breakfasts, snacks, and lunches provided by the design-focused and delicious PINCH Food Design. The raw space of Center 415 was transformed with custom fabrication, printed graphics, and thoughtfully-selected furniture. The venue was divided into multiple areas, including two stages, the product zone, the activate zone, registration lobby, and a hospitality space for meals.

The design of the event was produced via collaboration between Empire and These Days, VTS’ creative agency based in London. Working hand-in-hand with the VTS team, Empire managed all aspects of production including fabrication, printing, catering, budgeting, staging, technical production and venue management.

To learn more please visit: https://accelerate.vts.com/

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Empire was honored to work for the first time with The Legal Defense Fund to produce their 35th National Equal Justice Awards Dinner (NEJAD) at The Glasshouse in New York City.

Founded by Justice Thurgood Marshall, LDF has a significant legacy in promoting civil rights progress and remains committed to actively advancing civil rights today. With a history spanning over eight decades, LDF, alongside its partners, has made substantial strides in enhancing the dignity and citizenship of Black individuals in America.

NEJAD serves as a platform to honor past achievements, recognize ongoing efforts, and inspire continued action. This year's Gala, themed "The Future Is Ours," paid tribute to LDF's core values and foundational narrative.

Upon arrival at the Glasshouse, attendees embarked on an immersive experience on the sixth floor. They were warmly welcomed with a red carpet moment, providing an opportunity to capture their photographs against a branded backdrop. As guests proceeded through an exhibit highlighting impactful LDF work, they were guided to the main cocktail lounge, where they were greeted by an atmosphere adorned with emotive photography, mood-enhancing music, and signature cocktails. This carefully curated ambiance fostered a celebratory and futuristic atmosphere, setting the tone for the evening.

As attendees mingled and celebrated the power of their community. A moving performance by the young faces of Brooklyn United Drumline signified the end of the cocktail reception and led the audience of over 600 guests into the dining room to take their seats for dinner.

Angela Vallot, Co-Chair of LDF's Board of Directors, took the stage to address the audience and introduced the evening's esteemed host, Sade Baderinwa of ABC News. Baderinwa welcomed guests and then invited Janai Nelson, LDF's President, to share her perspective on the profound meaning of "The Future Is Ours."

Subsequently, honorees were recognized, with attorney Fred Grey receiving the prestigious Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, followed by the acknowledgment of the National Equal Justice Award recipients: the Emerson Collective (presented by Geoffrey Canada), Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands (presented by Carmelo Anthony), as well as Vista Equity Partners' CEO, Robert F. Smith (presented by Spike Lee.)

The award ceremony culminated in a performance by the acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning singer Ledisi, who performed her music as well as that of Nina Simone.

After a brief close to the evening, the festivities continued as attendees adjourned to the lounge/bar area for an unforgettable future-themed after-party with DJ Trauma.

Empire was proud to serve as overall producer for the event, handling multiple aspects including run of show and creative narrative (with Paul Oakley Stovall), technical design & production (with Studio Productions), decor (with Red Maple Leaf), content and video production (with Januari1 Films), catering (by Olivier Cheng), venue liaison, guest experience, and registration (led by Advance NY).

Together the evening created a memorable and impactful experience, furthering LDF’s mission of advancing equal justice and civil rights for all.

​Empire was proud to produce an exclusive Keith Urban performance one of the world’s top corporations during an incentive trip to Chicago.

The concert took place at The Chicago Theatre with a private headline concert by four-time Grammy winner Keith Urban. Keith and his band brought the audience together for this special evening and performed all his greatest hits including “Brown Eyes Baby,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and “One Too Many”.

Guests were treated to an open bar throughout the historic venue and premium access to some of the best seating in the house. VIP attendees won an exclusive meet & greet with Keith prior to the concert, where they were able to memorialize this exciting night.

Empire was responsible for securing the artist and advancing all logistical and production elements at The Chicago Theatre to support the performance.

Empire is a leading provider of headline music & entertainment for corporate events and celebrations around the world.

Empire presented Sheryl Crow for a corporate group in Salt Lake City, just a week after the Grammy-winner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sheryl thrilled the attendees with mega-hits including “If It Makes You Happy”, “Soak Up The Sun”, “All I Wanna Do”, “Every Day Is A Winding Road”, and many more.​

Empire had the pleasure of supporting the revered whisky brand, The Macallan, in bringing to life an immersive experience, "The Path to the Incomparable", at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.

The event offered guests the opportunity to learn about the distillery’s rich history and commitment to cask quality through projection mapping and interactive exhibits in the Experience Area.

The Bar Area provided guests the chance to indulge in the "Double Cask" while taking the virtual reality tour of the Macallan distillery and capturing their experience with the Glambot camera.

The opening party featured a special performance by Japanese performer MIYAVI, inspired by The Macallan Double Cask. Other notable artists performed throughout the course of the multi-day event.

Empire is thrilled to have supported The Macallan in delivering this benchmark event that immersed guests in the world of exceptional whisky. The success of "The Path to the Incomparable" at Roppongi Hills demonstrates the power of experience design in creating unforgettable moments for brand enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Empire is a leading producer of experiential consumer-facing events.

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