Event Solutions Spotlight Awards
Evening Offers Awards Ceremony Ideas, Celebrates Industry’s Finest
Published in December 2006 The Idea Factory 2006 in Review
Spotlight Awards Ceremony
The Spotlight Awards entertainment began as the guests walked a red carpet to the sounds of a string quartet. Music from a live orchestra then ushered the guests to their seats in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, located in downtown Denver.
Once the guests were inside, the opening number began with the operatic stylings of The Three Waiters, a corporate entertainment act originally established in Australia. Positioned strategically around the theater, they performed “The Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera.” They then met on stage, revealing five “phantoms.”
This was just the beginning of the entertainment, which included a live orchestra, vocalists, dancers from Fusion Entertainment and The Sandman, who drew many rounds of applause with his ingenious designs created in sand and projected onto a screen behind him.
Standing on the multi-tiered stage, Spotlight Award recipients, such as Margaret Moynihan of Deloitte, who won for Corporate Planner of the Year, basked in the spotlight as they gave acceptance speeches and thanked supportive team members. Extending the width of the stage, the screen changed sizes during the evening to reveal various looks. Additionally, different sections of the screen were used for different performances.
Throughout the course of the awards ceremony, Steve Hand, principal of The HAND Company and executive producer of the Spotlight Awards evening; Sean DeFreitas, creative director for the event; and Sheila Stack, who was responsible for graphics, demonstrated numerous innovative ideas for presenting finalists and awards in unique, entertaining ways — whether it was stylized portraits of Spotlight recipients or suspending presenters above the stage. Hand’s theater awards production included 14 set changes, showcasing all the amenities offered by the opera house.
The venue, known as “the Ellie,” was founded over two decades ago and has hosted opera legends such as Plácido Domingo. The opera house is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, which spans 12 acres and also includes the Boettcher Concert Hall and Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre.
Dinner
After the awards ceremony, the audience promenaded to the Donald R. Seawall Grand Ballroom, also located in the complex, which glittered with candlelight, shimmering table décor and the lights of the city of Denver.
Creative use of the space’s existing recessed lighting gave the impression of light extending to a vanishing point in the mirrored walls. In the center of the room was a three-level, free-standing stage that also featured a built-in bar. During the course of the dinner it served as the focal point for entertainment, which included Rizpah, a harpist, and Romina Arena, a vocalist who sang in several languages, with pianist Jim Wilson as accompaniment. The entertainers were provided by Blue Moon Talent, an entertainment agency based outside of Denver.
After-Party
During the evening, graphics by Digital Media Movers displayed the names of Spotlight Award recipients on the 12-foot-tall projected images of the award statue on flat, transparent screens.
A startling reveal kicked off the After-Party with Love Shack, a band from Las Vegas that was also provided by Blue Moon Talent. The lively musicians kept everyone entertained with their light-hearted commentary and gave dancers little respite as they danced the night away on the interactive, illuminated floor, which the band provided (see page 52 for more details).
Executive Producer
Steve Hand
The HAND Company
steve@thehandcompany.com
Awards Show
Theater Production Team
Sean DeFreitas
Designs by Sean Inc.
Creative Director
www.designsbysean.com
Zeev Weissman
AVS Entertainment
Video Director
Alex Saludes
Designs by Sean Inc.
Stage Manager
Sheila Stack
Impact Productions
Graphics
www.impactprods.com
Matthew Warren
Radar Creative
Show Director/ Hall of Fame Video Producer
radarcreative.typepad.com
Glenn Thayer
Emcee Squared Entertainment
Voiceovers
www.emcee2.net
Frank del Medico
The HAND Company
Production Coordinator
The Denver Center for
the Performing Arts
www.denvercenter.org
CEAVCO Audio Visual Company Inc.
Video Equipment
www.ceavco.com
The Opera Shop Inc.
Moving Lights
www.operashop.com
Dye Into Print
Entertainment
Andy Kushner
Sound Connection
Live Music Producer
www.soundconnectionband.com
Stephanie Krammer and Michael Schwandt
Fusion Entertainment
Choreographers
www.fusionentertain.com
The Three Waiters
Provided by
Blue Moon Talent
www.bluemoontalent.com
Erica Brown, Vocalist
John Akal’s Ultraphonic
Jazz Orchestra
The Sandman
Provided by Designs by Sean Inc.
Dinner
Ballroom Production Team
Donald R. Seawell
Grand Ballroom
www.denvercenter.org/page.cfm?id=67921350
Brook Nichols
Seawell Ballroom
Creative Director
David McDougal
Dougal’s Catering Services
dougalscatering.com
Kelly Murphy
Panache…An Event
Rental Company
Table Design
www.linenswithpanache.com
Matthew Warren
Radar Creative
Robert Bottoms Tribute Video
TA DAH Events/Ira Mitchell-Steiman
ME Productions
Centerpieces
www.meproductions.com
10 Strawberry Street
Digital Media Movers
Entertainment
Provided by Blue Moon Talent
www.bluemoontalent.com
Rizpah, Harpist
Romina Arena, Vocalist
Jim Wilson, Pianist
Love Shack, After-Party Band