Miami, FL - On Saturday, October 11, 2008, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County will celebrate the opening of its third season with its “Take Center Stage” Gala. The spectacular event will include a cocktail reception, a gala dinner featuring performances that unite the Center’s resident companies and the Center’s own resident artist Jencarlos Canela for the first time on one stage, and a magnificent after-party. This will be the first gala for the Adrienne Arsht Center since announcing its new name in January 2008. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the education and outreach programs of the Center.
Themed “Coming Up Roses,” Adrienne Arsht Center’s annual “Take Center Stage” Gala will take place at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House beginning with twilight cocktails at 7:00 p.m., compliments of Bacardi, followed by the main event and gala dinner on stage hosted by Gala Honorary Chair Adrienne Arsht and a team of 20 Conducting Committee Members, including Gala Co-Chairs Missy Carricarte and Marlén Pernetti. The celebration will continue into the evening with the “Coming Up Roses” After-Party produced by Gorillas Lifestyle Marketing and hosted by more than 20 of South Florida’s leading VIPs and nightlife impresarios, including Brian Antoni, Michael Capponi, Ingrid Casares and Amir Ben-Zion, to name a few.
The theme of the event “Coming Up Roses” was inspired by the popular song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy. “In the musical Gypsy, — “Coming Up Roses” — stands for new beginnings - a fitting theme for this year’s gala,” commented Adrienne Arsht, who initially proposed the idea. “The Adrienne Arsht Center will continue to dazzle our community with extraordinary performances and educational programs. In our third year, we are committed to bringing a heightened level of awareness of the arts to South Florida. We are on our way to creating a world-class performing arts center that can become the mecca for performing arts nationwide.”Showcasing the state-of-the-art performing arts center, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Gala highlights the excellence of its internationally renowned resident companies, presenting the work of the Miami City Ballet; New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy; Florida Grand Opera and Concert Association of Florida on one stage in an exciting and surprise-filled evening designed by Alejandro Muguerza and Jim Mozina of Le Basque Productions. Adding to the evening’s entertainment line-up, the Center, which produces and presents approximately 300 world-class programs annually, will be represented with a solo performance by Jencarlos Canela. Canela is the Center’s newly named Resident Artist and recent star of the Center’s self-produced summer musical, Miami Libre.
Following welcome cocktails in the Arthur E. and Alice F. Adams Foundation Lobby, guests will be guided on to the Lynn Wolfson Stage where they will instantly experience the Coming Up Roses theme, designed by Le Basque Productions. As guests walk through the house, the vast space will be illuminated in a “Pink Hell” fuchsia glow, blanketing the audience seating. The ceiling’s gold dome will assume a strong red glow to symbolize a giant rose, while an oversized custom-designed paper rose display will hang from the ceiling above the main stage and dining area.
Guests will then be seated at each table, adorned with red and hot pink shantung linens with giant red and pink rose-filled centerpieces complete with illuminated pink crystal rocks designed by Le Basque Productions and created by Jason Frix Design. Ana Moran-Varela from Emerald Bouquet has donated more than 5,000 roses that will be prominently featured as a decorative highlight throughout the cocktail reception and dinner gala.
While being seated, guests will enjoy the first of five courses created by renowned Executive Chef, Gary J. Nudelman of Restaurant Associates, who has been flown-in from Washington D.C. especially to oversee his “art on a plate,” as he refers to his cuisine for the evening. The opening appetizer will consist of Hearts of Palm with Asparagus, Butternut Squash and Micro Greens with Truffle Oil and Bread Crisp. During the first serving, New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy will perform the evening’s opening act with 95 musicians on stage conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, before the Master of Ceremonies, Laurie Jennings, welcomes the audience and the gala’s honorable committee members. A second course of Crisp Skin Seared Florida Pompano with Artichokes, Golden Chanterelles and Key Lime Emulsion will be served as guests enjoy a performance presented by the Miami City Ballet, during which professional dancers Jeanette Delgado and Renato Penteado will be joined by pianist Francisco Renno under the artistic direction of Edward Villella. As the third course is served, consisting of Bourbon Molasses Glazed Berkshire Pork Belly and Black Bean Risotto Cake, Adrienne Arsht Center’s very own Resident Artist Jencarlos Canela, will perform a song composed by Rudy Pérez on his own stage, surrounded by dancers wearing custom-made rose-themed outfits. A fourth course comprising of Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb, Sweet Potato and Cippolini Onion will be served while guests enjoy a performance by The Concert Association of Florida, with The Miami Pops Orchestra and renowned Chinese pianist Xiayin Wang. The fifth and final course brings a sweet ending to the evening feast with a Coming Up Roses Dessert, while the Florida Grand Opera and its Music Director Stewart Robertson present tenor René Barbera, mezzo-soprano Karin Mushegain, soprano Julia Ebner, bass-baritone Carlos Monzón, baritone Sidney Outlaw and soprano Katrina Thurman, along with Miami Symphonic Services Orchestra, under the conduction of Andrew Bisantz. For the grand finale, Rudy Perez and Gary Lindsay arranged a “Bouquet of Roses” special performance presenting Jencarlos Canela, Xiayin Wang and The Miami Pops Orchestra under the conduction of José Antonio Molina. Each course will be served with a complimentary wine pairing by Wines of Argentina that includes Luigi Bosca Viognier 2007, Antigal Cavia Reserve Malbec 2006, and Pascual Toso Brut Champagne for the final toast.
This is the first time the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County will create three distinctively separate performance spaces on the Ziff Ballet Opera House Stage, each to meet the respective artist’s needs. Roman Terleckyj, Take Center Stage Gala Artistic Director, has creatively developed efficient use of the entire space for a unique flow to the performance program. For example, the stage created for the Miami City Ballet will consist of two double-stacked stage wagons moved to the furthest stage position so that the seated audience has a clear sightline to the dancer’s movements.
Miami-Dade County has a unique quartet of world-renowned resident companies. The New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy, under the leadership of Michael Tilson Thomas, is America’s only full-time orchestral academy dedicated to preparing gifted graduates of prestigious music programs for successful careers in orchestras and music ensembles. Edward Villella’s artistic direction of the Miami City Ballet takes the company’s reputation of excellence worldwide as one of the leading companies to preserve the choreography of Balanchine. Now under the direction of Albert Milano, the Concert Association of Florida has long established a reputation for excellence in its presentation of world-class artists through the work of founder Judy Drucker. Robert Heuer guides the Florida Grand Opera, one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida, continuing the stellar traditions established by Arturo di Filippi and Robert Herman.
These four pillars of the arts have presented the very finest artists in the history of the 20th century in Miami. The Adrienne Arsht Center is proud to recognize these organizations as the principal fabric of the center for performing arts, as well as celebrate their individual accomplishments.
Produced by Jimmy Vargas and Max Pierre of Gorillas Lifestyle Marketing and hosted by more than 20 of South Florida’s leading VIPs and nightlife impresarios, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s highly anticipated “Coming Up Roses” After-Party will also commemorate the new transformations and evolutionary milestones established by the Arsht Center over the last two years. The center’s Carnival Studio Theater will be completely transformed by Le Basque Productions into a themed nightclub with music by renowned celebrity DJ Paul Sevigny and DJ Ruckus, while DJ Induce entertains guests in the softly illuminated Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts and underneath the Art Deco Tower. Additional décor elements will be provided by Karla Dascal of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences, to include an array of colorful creations, including a 32 foot glow bar, ghost lamps, Philippe Starck ghost chairs, black Bellini chairs, glow coffee tables, glow seat cubes and red banquets with hot pink pillows.
Restaurant Associates’ Executive Chef, Gary J. Nudelman, will astound guests once more with a presentation of 20 different cheeses from around the world, while Bacardi cocktails are paired with whimsical desserts including black and white cookies, Malomars and Rice Krispie treats dipped in pink chocolate!
With a host committee of Miami’s most established socialites and influencers, the goal of the After Party is to reintroduce the Adrienne Arsht Center to the next generation of patrons as well as Miami’s most influential trendsetters in the world of fashion, arts, music and nightlife.
Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Center’s education and outreach programs. The Education and Outreach programs produced each season by the Center are dedicated to providing high-quality programs for children and their families that feature live theatrical experiences and active learning in the performing arts. These opportunities for exploration and self expression in the performing arts are designed to foster creative thinking skills, boost self esteem, and expand the horizons of the participants while introducing different aspects of music, dance, and theater. Through the inclusion of culturally diverse and inclusive programming, the Center is able to serve a wide range of constituents and provide opportunities for audience development. This commitment is enhanced by the Center’s relationships with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local performing and teaching artists, arts organizations, and resident companies. In an effort to be a resource for and expand the reach of the performing arts, the Center is capitalizing on the relationship with the Miami-Dade County Public School system to provide teacher trainings for classroom and arts teachers throughout the county. An arts-infused curriculum invigorates the learning process, provides opportunities for creative problem solving, and makes class content accessible to multiple learning styles all while bringing the arts into a child’s everyday life. Through all of its education and outreach initiatives, the Adrienne Arsht Center is committed to making the arts accessible to the citizens of Miami-Dade County and South Florida.
Tickets for the Adrienne Arsht Center Gala are available by calling 786.468.2249. Separate After Party tickets are also available. Additional information regarding ticket prices and details can be found by visiting www.arshtcenter.org.
As the focal point of performing arts activity in South Florida, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County serves as a platform for the finest in established and developing cultural programs. The Adrienne Arsht Center is the foundation on which resident organizations build their programs and extend their reach. The Center serves as both a showcase and laboratory, providing accessible first-class facilities for smaller, emerging and developing organizations. It provides audiences with opportunities to share South Florida’s many cultures. As an educational resource, the Center broadens the horizons for our children and enhances quality of life by offering a full range of cultural and learning experiences.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from private and corporate contributions to the Performing Arts Center Foundation of Greater Miami through its Alliance Membership Program, City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.