About the Other Night: The Karen Gala

Photo: Kristine Bumphrey, Starpix

Oh what a night!

You don’t celebrate 36 years and a leader like Karen Brooks Hopkins with just any old party. You do it with dinner in a greenhouse, a champagne boat ride under the Brooklyn Bridge, a massive light show for all of Fort Greene, late night hot dog vendors, and a 2am dance off. And that’s not even including the main highlights of the night (Steve Reich! Mavis Staples! Rufus & Martha Wainwright! Illstyle & Peace Productions! Paul Simon! Laurie Anderson! The BAM Karen!). To paraphrase the guest of honor’s signature expression, the Karen Gala wasn’t a party, it was a crusade.

Duggal Greenhouse. Photo: Beowulf Sheehan

The Executive Files: Preparing for a Princess

Conceiving, organizing, preparing, and attending galas go with the job description of the president of any arts institution. During Karen Brooks Hopkins’ 36 years at BAM—the last 16 as president—she has overseen plenty of those. And on April 28, 2015, she will preside over her last one in that capacity. BAM is putting on the Karen Gala to thank her for her tireless work in making BAM the crown jewel of a revitalized downtown Brooklyn. (It’s okay to gloat a little at galas—some would say it goes with the definition!) It will be “a gala to beat all galas,”—well, maybe except for that one time, when she held a gala for true royalty. This is her recollection of how the late Princess Diana came to BAM. (And dare we hope that someone someday will remember THIS gala as fondly?) 

Princess Diana with Harvey Lichtenstein at BAM.

by Karen Brooks Hopkins

The phone rang in the office. It was one of those gray mid-March mornings in New York when you are positive spring will never come and no one interesting will call, until it does. Anyway, the phone rang.

My secretary informed me that Brian McMaster, executive director of the Welsh National Opera, was on the line with important news from Wales. A ray of sunlight shot across the Brooklyn skyline. Perhaps… perhaps this would be the morning. This could be the call.

Briefly, to provide some historical background: We had been negotiating to bring the Welsh National Opera to New York since the summer of 1987. It takes a long time with opera, and the WNO’s production of Verdi’s Falstaff, which we hoped to bring to BAM, was large and expensive, making the negotiations extremely complex. We (BAM & WNO) had reviewed the budgets at least 500 times. It was clear the only way this project could happen was if someone like the Queen herself opened the production with a royal gala. Well, we couldn’t have the Queen, but what about the young, beautiful, and vivacious Princess of Wales, who, it turned out, was the patron of the Welsh National Opera!

This was it. This was our plan. We had to convince the Princess of Wales to say yes. If she would come, the gala to end all galas would be launched. BAM Opera, a new program initiative of the Academy would be inaugurated with her visit. Bankruptcy would be avoided. The company could come to New York. All would be well. It was a long shot. After all, how many times in history has the future Queen of England come to Brooklyn?

About Last Night: Next Wave Festival Kickoff Party

by Allison Kadin

Philip Glass, Nico Muhly, David Cossin, Timo Andres, and Steve Reich perform Four Organs. Photo: Stephanie Berger

The lobby was abuzz hours before the first notes of the first of three Philip Glass and Steve Reich reunion concerts. The all-ages audience waited anxiously at the Opera House doors, bedecked with Nonesuch musicians, for an historic opening evening of the 2014 Next Wave Festival as well as Nonesuch Records at BAM, a celebration of the label’s 50 years in the industry.  Brad Mehldau inaugurated the Harvey Theater across the street with exhilarating improvisations and interpretations of Stone Temple Pilots, Sufjan Stevens, and more.

After rousing encores, guests found their way to the Lepercq Space (aka BAMcafé) to celebrate the evening, Nonesuch and Next Wave.

BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins, Philip Glass, Nonesuch President Bob Hurwitz,
Steve Reich, BAM Executive Producer Joseph V Melillo. Photo: Elena Olivo

About Last Night: The Ignite Gala

Last night BAM wrapped up a very full season with the Ignite Gala: Benefiting BAM Education. The fun-filled evening began with cocktails in the Dorothy Levitt lobby, followed by a gorgeous dinner on the stage of the Howard Gilman Opera House and a playful dessert reception with a DIY margarita bar.

The evening was a great way to jump in to summer. Read on for more about the event and what's coming up for BAM Education!

And check-out the full photo album.

About Last Night: Lyon Opera Ballet Opening Night Party

Yorgos Loukos, artistic director, Lyon Opera Ballet Company (second from R); choreographer Christian Rizzo (second from L), and company members celebrate opening night.

BAM members didn’t have far to go for the party after the show Wednesday night. As the Lyon Opera Ballet's ni fleurs, ni ford-mustang let out in the Opera House, members at the Supporter level and up made their way to BAM’s Lepercq Space for the Opening Night Party.

About Last Night: BAM Art Auction Closing Party

BAM took a trip to downtown Manhattan on Monday for the closing party of the 10th annual BAM Art Auction.

The auction was held at the Whitebox Art Center in the Bowery, and featured the work of 90 artists, including such well-known names as Richard Serra, Alex Katz, Dustin Yellin, and Deborah Kass; some lesser known emerging ones, like Brie Ruaz and Rachel Beach; and at least one you recognize but didn’t know created visual art—Moby.

BAM Board Chairman's Dinner

Last Thursday, we were honored to host the 13th annual BAM Board Chairman's Dinner, a celebration of the work of BAM's most passionate advocates. Hosted by Board Chairman Alan Fishman and his wife, Judy Fishman, the event has become one of BAM's favorite traditions.

Alan and Judy Fishman welcome guests to the 13th Annual BAM Board Chairman's Dinner

This particular evening was especially significant, as it included the dedication of one of the iconic arched windows in BAM's Lepercq Space in honor of BAM Trustee Richard Feldman. During the 2013 BAM Ignite Gala, Richard was named the recipient of the first Ignite Award in recognition of his incredible contributions to arts education at BAM.

The plaque reads: "This iconic BAM window is dedicated to Ignite Award recipient Richard E. Feldman in recognition
of his tireless support for arts education at BAM. June 4, 2013"

About Last Night: Next Society Celebration at River Café

The cast of A Doll's House poses under the New York skyline with Karen Brooks Hopkins and Joe Melillo.

The scene Sunday night was perfect for an event: a candle-lit restaurant overlooking the East River, the New York skyline looming, the Brooklyn Bridge overhead. After a matinee performance, the lauded cast of A Doll’s House joined BAM’s Next Society members at The River Café  for the annual dinner event.

About Last Night: Jon Nathanson: Movement and Motion Opening Reception

To celebrate the opening of the Jon Nathanson: Movement and Motion exhibit (on display through June 25), BAM held a wine and cheese reception in the Natman Room in the lobby of the Peter Jay Sharp building.

Jon Nathanson is not only an artist but an accomplished architect and interior designer. His appreciation for the organic movement in objects is evident in the paintings and sculptures on display.

About Last Night: A Doll's House Opening Night Reception

A Doll's House star, Hattie Morahan, with actor Alan Cox. (Photo: Elena Olivo.)

BAM kept the lights on late at the Harvey Theater Wednesday night for the opening of the Young Vic’s acclaimed production of A Doll’s House, and for an after-show reception for members at the Benefactor level and above.

Minutes after Nora slammed the door on stage, actress Hattie Morahan made an elegant entrance to the after-party where guests were treated to a classic English-themed spread—Brooklyn style—complete with mini shepherd’s pies, corned beef sliders, and pea soup shooters. Brooklyn Gin served up a custom cocktail for the night with fresh lemon juice, ginger, club soda, and Owl’s Brew Classic—an artisanal mixer crafted from English Breakfast tea.

BAM Scene: Carrie Cracknell talks to Friends of BAM Members

(Photo: Beowulf Sheehan)

Sunday afternoon, Friends of BAM sat down for an exclusive talk with hot young director Carrie Cracknell, of this season’s acclaimed production of A Doll’s House, and moderator Michael Cadden, Ibsen scholar and chair of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton.

Keep reading for highlights from the event and check out the full photo album.

BAM Theater Gala: King Lear

(Photo: Elena Olivo)

Last Thursday night, BAM celebrated the month-long run of King Lear and the 2014 Winter/Spring season with a feast fit for a king—even a mad one.

The occasion: BAM’s annual Theater Gala. The location: the ornate Skylight One Hanson building, next door to BAM. Over 400 guests, including Hugh Jackman, Marisa Tomei, and Jonathan Safran Foer, among others, were welcomed into a lush landscape of green and gold, a world removed from the snow-filled one outside. Décor designer Fleurs Bella seamlessly intertwined lavish table settings with regal finishes, taking inspiration from the themes of political and natural power in the show.

Read on for more on the gala.

BAMfans Closing Night Party for Green Porno

BAMfans with The Bosco photo booth. (Photo: Elena Olivo)

Saturday night, as Isabella Rossellini was detailing the myriad ways the animal kingdom “makes love” in her one-woman show Green Porno, the Special Events team was busy preparing the after-party for the show’s closing night. In addition to celebrating the show’s successful run, the party celebrated BAM members in their 20s and 30s at the annual BAMfans party!

More on the night after the jump. And be sure to check out all of The Bosco photos!

The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Breakfast

The Christian Cultural Center Choir. (Photo: Elena Olivo)

On Monday morning, the building was abuzz for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute breakfast, an annual BAM event and the prelude to the largest celebration of Dr. King in New York City. The main lobby was packed well before the event began, and the energy was positive and celebratory. When 9AM rolled around, the crowd headed to the Lepercq Space to sit down to a buffet breakfast.

During the breakfast, remarks were given by BAM President Karen Hopkins; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Target District Team Leader Kevin Bryant; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer; 35th District Brooklyn Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo; Assemblyman Walter Mosley and more.

Keep reading for more on the breakfast reception and Tribute!

Toasting Lear: The Young Producer’s Benefit

Photo: Elena Olivo

On the night of January 15, BAM celebrated the opening of Chichester Festival Theatre's lauded production of King Lear at the Harvey Theater, directed by Angus Jackson. The Young Producers, a group of young professionals who make up one of BAM's newest and most forward-thinking patron programs, celebrated as well. And it did so in style: the annual Young Producer's Benefit was a sleek, wine- and food-filled party with the cast and crew.

The night began with a performance of King Lear, starring Tony Award winner and Academy Award nominee Frank Langella as the mad king and disgraced patriarch, one of the most coveted roles in theater. Moments after the actors took their bows, the crowd flooded into the Campbell Lobby for a special post-show reception. The cast and crew joined the celebration, with an English-themed food spread—complete with mini shepherd pies and single servings of fish and chips. In addition, Brooklyn Gin designed a specially themed cocktail for the night, and the lobby was lushly decorated by Bella Meyer and the design team at Fleurs Bella.

A Rite Opening Night Party

The BAM Lepercq Space done up for the 31st Next Wave, featuring the installation You Are Here by Ken Nintzel (Photos: Elena Olivo)

Last night, BAM celebrated the merging of two artistic powerhouses with the opening of A Rite, the dance theater celebration of the riot-inciting production that shook the Parisian art scene a century ago. Post show, artists from both Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Anne Bogart's SITI Company joined audience members and guests for an opening night party in the BAM Lepercq Space.  

Anna Nicole: An Opening Affair to Remember

Last Tuesday, BAM and New York City Opera transformed the Lepercq Space into a playmate's paradise.

The evening celebrated the beginning of the 31st Next Wave Festival and the US premiere of Anna Nicole, an opera inspired by the life of the infamous stripper-turned-celebrity, Anna Nicole Smith.  The bawdy collaboration between composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas premiered at the Royal Opera House in London, where it was hailed by The New York Times as “a musically rich, audacious, and inexplicably poignant work.”

The night began in BAM's Lepercq Space, which received a playful pink and white treatment, courtesy of decor designer Fleurs Bella. Dressed in fabulous attire, guests tucked into dishes catered by Great Performances and inspired by Anna Nicole's Texas roots and favorite snacks.

BAMcinemaFest 2013 Opening Night Party

Film artists and aficionados alike flocked to the Harvey Theater and Skylight One Hanson last night for the opening night of BAMcinemaFest 2013, the fifth anniversary of the annual festival.

The evening began with the premiere of David Lowery’s gritty drama Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, starring Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, and Ben Foster. Audiences were also introduced to the brand-new Steinberg Screen, BAM’s newest artistic expansion, which transforms the historic Harvey Theater into Brooklyn’s largest movie palace.

Guests watching the premiere of Ain't Them Bodies Saints on the brand new Steinberg Screen in the Harvey Theater

After the film, guests were ushered down the street to Skylight One Hanson where they were treated to a fair-themed extravaganza in the beautiful and unique venue. DJ Monk-One set the tone with an eclectic mix of dance music while partygoers snacked on the sweet and savory treats displayed in the candy bar at the center of the room. Décor designer Fleurs Bella mixed towering greens and enormous blooms with silver balloons, and caterer Great Performances served up pulled pork sliders and nachos.

BAM Takes it to Manhattan for the Ignite Gala

Last Tuesday we celebrated the very first Ignite Gala: Benefitting Arts Education at BAM.

Guests celebrated in Skylight’s beautiful new event space, Skylight Modern in Chelsea, alongside some of the students that they were helping to support. The evening was hosted by Alan H. Fishman, BAM board chair; Karen Brooks Hopkins, BAM president; and Joseph V. Melillo, BAM executive producer. The gala co-chairs were Brigitte Vosse and Pedro Jose Torres & Cecilia Picon.

The evening began with cocktails and a preview of our Charity Buzz online auction, where guests were welcome to place bids on items like a walk-on role in an episode of IFC’s Portlandia and a week in a luxurious Amanyara villa on the island of Providenciales. The auction, which benefits arts education at BAM, will continue online through June 18th.

David et Jonathas Opening Night Party

William Lach and Kivlighan de Montebello who play Young David and Jonathas (don't worry, that's water!) with their parents at the Opening Night Party of David et Jonathas (Photo: Elena Olivo)

Renowned conductor William Christie and early music group Les Arts Florissants returned to BAM with David et Jonathas, a rarely staged opera by composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. BAM was excited to welcome these remarkable artists back to the Opera House following their spectacular production of Atys in 2011.

William Christie (center) with guests (Photo: Elena Olivo)

Following the opening performance, BAM members at the Sustainers level and above joined the company for a French-themed reception in the Lepercq space. Delectable catering by Great Performances charmed guests with pomme frites in individual cones, Brooklyn Gin provided a specialty cocktail "Le Maudit," along with an assortment of Brooklyn Brewery beer. It felt like springtime with Fleurs Bella's magnificent cherry blossom arrangements.

We have many more exciting events coming up this Spring! Be sure to check them out.

Click below for more photos from the event.