At its exquisite 3rd annual Legends Gala, the Granada Theatre honored philanthropists Ann Towbes and Michael Towbes (in memoriam), opera star Marilyn Horne, and the Music Academy of the West. While also a fundraiser, the event’s focus was on paying tribute to these legends.
The evening began with a reception in the first and second floor lobbies and in the elegant Founders Room. A brief power outage had event organizers a bit nervous, but a generator kept the reception hopping and power was quickly restored. After the reception, the 240 guests at this black tie affair entered the theater on their journey to the dining venue, which was none other than the Granada stage itself. To accommodate so much seating on stage, a platform was placed over the first few rows of theatre seats. The stunning Alhambra backdrop of the Spanish countryside framed the rear of the space, magenta and gold table linens and flowers graced the round tables, and dim, violet lighting permeated the space. It was a scene of grand and refined elegance.
A round, elevated platform in the center of the space served as one stage, which made for an intimate theater-in-the-round experience. Andrew Firestone effortlessly rose to the challenge of hosting in all directions, aided by a giant video screen projecting the always charming “Bachelor” throughout the space. Firestone thanked all in attendance and noted that it is “only because of the generosity of the people in this room that the Granada is open to everyone in the community” to experience world class performances.