Beverly Hills, CA (October 18, 2013) On Friday October 18th, philanthropists, as well as Hollywood and fashions elite gathered with Beverly Hills notables and community leaders to commemorate the Inaugural Gala Celebration of The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Visionary and Co-Chair of the evening, Wallis Annenberg, and fellow Co-Chair Jamie Tisch, hosted a night to remember with cocktails, performance pieces, dinner and an exclusive one-night-only performance starring some of Hollywoods most distinguished and celebrated actors including Kevin Spacey, John Lithgow and Diane Lane.
The exclusive evening began with a star studded red carpet with celebrity and notable guests including: Co-Chairs Wallis Annenberg, Jamie Tisch and Chairman, Board of Directors Jerry Magnin, along with guests Charlize Theron, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Amy Adams, Jason Bateman, Nicole Richie, Camilla Belle, Maria Bello, James Caan, Abbie Cornish, Courteney Cox, Geena Davis, Josh Duhamel, Jodie Foster, Marcia Gay Harden, Joe Jonas, Diane Lane, Evangeline Lily, John Lithgow, Lori Loughlin, Demi Moore, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Sidney Poitier, Tim Robbins, Dita Von Teese, Debbie Allen, Chord Overstreet, Poppy Delevingne, Israel Broussard, Caroline Sieber, Suzanne Somers, Gia Coppola, Angela Lindvall, Jacqui Getty, Vanessa Getty, Jessica Hart, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karolina Kurkova, Lil Buck, Becca Cason Thrash, Miroslava Duma, Jourdan Dunn, Sofia Sanchez Barrachnea, Olympia Scarry, Amber Valletta, Candy Spelling, Paz Vega, Eli Brod, Anne Vyalitsyna, Joe Zee and more, with a performance by special guests. Also in attendance were Ferragamo executives, family members and notables Massimiliano Giorentti, Ferruccio Ferragamo, Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo, James Ferragamo, Michele Norsa, Vincent Ottomanelli, President and Regional Director, Ferragamo USA, and Diego Di San Giuiliano.
Throughout the opening of the evening, guests were treated to a whirlwind of special performances and event attractions to dazzle the senses including: Australian troupe, Strange Fruit, DJ Michael Smith, Tours of the Jamie Tisch Sculpture Garden, Flamenco Guitar Trio, lavish Couture Floral creatures, passed hors deouvres by Wolfgang Puck, wine tasting selection provided by Tuscan Estates of Il Borro & Castiglion del Bosco, an exclusive musical act by Amadeus Leopard and personal tours of the new venue.
Upon the conclusion of the artistic performances, guests were directed into the Bram Goldsmith Theatre for the nights original and main performance, entitled A DREAM IN AN ENVELOPE starring Kevin Spacey, John Lithgow and Diane Lane featuring dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet, and Grammy-winning violinist Hilary Hahn. The program paid tribute to the many letters of such notable figures as Tennessee Williams, Martha Graham, Groucho Marx and Peter Tchaikovsky that traveled through the historic Post Office over the years. Broadway star and vocalist Terri White opened and closed the performance with musical numbers featuring a 24-piece orchestra and an ensemble of singing and dancing Postmen.
Guests were then escorted to the dinner tent and greeted by twenty-four enormous copper mirrors and sculpted moldings which accented the walls. Dinner tables were dressed in rich blue linen each topped with an architectural light box centerpiece, inspired by the design of architect Zoltan E. Pali. Accents of Ferragamos signature red were threaded throughout the ceremonial dinner centerpieces featuring floral accents, and a program/menu card. Three 15×30 feet video walls featured Intelligent Dance by Wilderbe, a performance project mixing human imaging with computer projection to create a dynamically choreographed duet between human and computer.
After welcome speeches by Mayor of Beverly Hills, John A. Mirisch, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jerry Magnin, guests enjoyed a dinner performance by Amadeus Leopold, as well as a Ferragamo Fashion Show, introduced by Gala Co-Chair Jamie Tisch and evenings sponsor Ferruccio Ferragamo. Italian tenor and one of the most highly regarded and respected opera singers of our time, Vittorio Grigolo performed during the runway presentation of the Spring / Summer 2014 collection by Creative Director, Massamiliano Giornettiincluding new and exclusive looks that premiered during the evening.
The evening came to a close with guests enjoying After Glow in the Grand Hall with cappuccinos, espressos and sweets with contemporary music by DJ Michael Smith.
About The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts:
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) will officially open its doors to the public with the Martha Graham Dance Company (November 8th - 9th This new venue transforms a Beverly Hills city block into a vibrant new cultural destination with two distinct, elegant buildings: the historic 1933 Italianate-style Beverly Hills Post Office and th
