/sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_specialevents/images/logos/footer.png
Special Events
Artful 50th: Center Theatre Group Celebrates its 50th with Amazing Video Everywhere
Special Events Staff Aug 29, 2017

1 22

X

1 22

ADVERTISEMENT
Welcome from Ozomatli
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

The event began with a cocktail reception in front of the Ahmanson Theater, then moved indoors for a 90-minute retrospective celebrating the history of CTG. To move guests from being spectators inside the theater to active participants in the event to follow, event leader Kate Johnson came up with a distinctly L.A. solution. She worked with Grammy-winning band Ozomatli, known for its fusion of Latin, hip hop, and rock music. The band served as pied pipers, escorting guests for a five-minute walk from the theater to the dining area, playing all the while.

Playing in Grand Park
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

The band leads the hundreds of guests across the street to Grand Park, a 12-acre space with dramatic views of the Music Center--home to Center Theatre Group--and L.A.'s iconic City Hall.

Dinner outside
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

The event team--which includes Brite Ideas and Render Event Design--creates an al fresco dining space by building a huge platform for dinner tables. In some spots, the platform was 12 feet high, all in an effort to deal with the park's sloping terrain.

Long view of Grand Park
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

A long view of the dinner setting in Grand Park.

Lovely lighting
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

As overseen by Brite ideas, the dinner features stunning lighting, both at the dining area and--as you will see--on nearby buildings.

Light canopy
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

The light "canopy."

View of fountain
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

A view of the dramatic Grand Park fountain, a centerpiece of the dining area.

Glowing tables
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

As envisioned by Johnson, the dining tables are themselves works of art, glowing lightboxes filled with plants.

Glowing tables
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

The higher tier dining tables feature custom imagery and quotes saluting the 50 seasons that CTG has produced. 

Tables with quotes
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

A closer look at a table with quotes from a Center Theatre Group production.

Yes, 3D flowers!
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

The top-tier custom tables offer ultra-high resolution LED screens as tabletops. As designed by Johnson, the tables featured 3D flowers “blooming” on the tables, along with visuals celebrating centerpiece shows from CTG’s past 50 years such as “Flower Drum Song,” “Pippin” and “California Suite.”

A closer look
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

A closer look at a glowing table.

Dinner is served
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

As Ozomatli played with the big Grand Park fountain as its backdrop, guests visited food stations from four celebrity chefs, all under the direction of high-end caterer Patina Catering, headed by Joachim Splichal. In order to accommodate the park’s slope, the dinner deck perched guests in some areas atop blooming jacaranda trees 14 feet above the grass.

Dinner prep
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

Dinner is crafted for guests.

Ready to serve.
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

A server presents a beautiful tray.

A glowing evening
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

As dinner concluded, the City Hall building came alive with a 10-minute original projection production created by Johnson presenting a visual journey of iconic shows presented by CTG theaters.

Showcase for '9 to 5'
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

City Hall lights up with a tribute to the show "9 to 5."

Tribute to 'Angels in America'
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

A tribute to the stirring show "Angels in America."

Big show for 'Cyrano'
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

The CTG's production of "Cyrano" gets its due.

Dream on with 'Midsummer Night's Dream'
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

A beautiful rendition for CTG's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Tables get in on the act
Photo by Steve Cohn Photography

The show isn't playing just on the city hall façade--imagery on the LED tables is synchronized with the building mapping, creating a stunning immersive experience.

Fabulous fountain
Photo by Maya Myers Photography

The Grand Park fountain gets its glow on thanks to Brite Ideas and the creative team.

Next Up
A Late Nite Chill in Miami
Start Slideshow ›