More than 500 of Miami?s most influential arts patrons, philanthropists, and business and civic leaders gathered on Thursday, October 28, 2010 as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County marked its 5th Anniversary Season with a special Gala event starring Broadway performer and four-time Tony Award-nominee Raúl Esparza.
This year?s 5th Anniversary Season Gala honored the Center?s legacy to date, the evolution of its mission as a „world-class, community-based? performing arts center, and its future direction as the Miami community continues to invest in the institution.
The elaborate black-tie affair was broken into a series of acts. Act I was cocktails in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House?s Arthur and Alice Adams Foundation Lobby. Act II, the dedication and unveiling of the Center?s newly engraved grand donor walls, was preceded by a trumpeter playing a selection of music written specifically for the occasion. The wall is engraved with the names of hundreds of individuals, families, businesses and organizations that have supported the Center dating back to its initial planning phase.
For Act III, guests were escorted into the theater for the second reveal of the evening: an extravagant dinner reception by Barton G. Weiss? Performing Arts Catering on the Lynn Wolfson Stage.
In line with the 5th Anniversary Season theme, “Every great performance begins with you,” the gala celebrated the dedication of several “grand honorees” who have played an important role in the Center?s initial development and subsequent success.
Mike Eidson, Chair of the Performing Arts Trust, recognized each honoree: Adrienne Arsht, Lin Arison, Alberto and Susana Ibargüen/Knight Foundation, Parker and Vann Thomson, Woody and Judy Weiser, and Sanford and Dolores Ziff.
Following dinner, honoree Adrienne Arsht took to the stage to introduce Act IV: a show-stopping performance by multi-talented Miami native Raúl Esparza. At the end of his performance, Esparza led gala patrons into a high-energy dance party and dessert reception held at the rear of the stage.
Joining this year?s Gala Honorary Chairwoman Adrienne Arsht were Chairs Margaret and Mike Eidson and Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne bon Haes. Co-chairs include Ana and Rob Barlick, Trish and Dan Bell, Nancy Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Loria, and Penny and Roe Stamps.
Gala supporters included the Center?s 5th Anniversary Season sponsors, TotalBank and Alan R. and Diane Lieberman, as well as event sponsors Bacardi, Barton G., The Miami Herald, and BOMBAY
SAPPHIRE, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin brand in the world and the name sponsor of the Center?s brand-new BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Lounge.