The Inner-City Arts recently celebrated its 25th year providing an artistic education to underprivileged children in Los Angeles.
And to celebrate, we held the annual Imagine Awards fundraiser / gala at the United Artists Theater. An absolutely stunning venue built in 1927 by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks, and fully restored in 2014, I wanted to capture the grandeur of the theater, as well as the importance of the connection between all of us as artists. My theme was a "Journey Into Creativity", as I wanted to focus on the journey these children are afforded as a result of their association with Inner-City Arts.
Our team worked side by side with the foundation, filling the lobby and hallways with art from the children across the years, truly taking the guests on a visual journey. Once inside the theater, the stage was adorned with more of the children's art, celebrating the creativity that has flourished as a result of this wonderful program.
Our presentation featured an inspiring speech by Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, a Philanthropic Award presentation to Jay Rasulo of The Walt Disney Company, a special performance of "Colors of the Wind" by Tony Award Nominee and Pocahontas vocalist, Judy Kuhn and a hugely successful text to pledge performance of "The Orange Blossom Special" by the Miskey Mountain Boys.
The finale of the evening, however, was simply spectacular. World renowned cellist, Martin Tillman, provided us with an evocative and inspiring performance of his original composition entitled "Notes Towards the Universe" that the students and alumni performed to. Each of the students wrote a statement in response to the prompt "Because of Inner-City Arts, I AM..." The responses were beautiful and heartfelt, and as the students took their place on stage, they were joined in the house by 60 more volunteers carrying lit globes, signifying the light they have passed onto these children across the years. It was a wonderfully moving and emotional finale, one that left the audience breathless.
After we were done, one of the younger students who had performed in the finale thanked me for the opportunity to be on stage with one of his lifetime heroes, and to to be a part of the celebration of Inner-City Arts. "You've changed my life," he said to me as he hugged me and ran off to his family.
Being a part of this event, and meeting extraordinary students such as he, changed my life as well.
THE 25th ANNUAL IMAGINE AWARDS
Date: November, 2014
Responsibilities: Creative Director, Co-Producer, Director, Script Writer, Music Supervisor