As a draw for guests who had attended the event as V.I.P.s before, AIDS Project organizers had Global Cuisine create more upscale and substantial buffet selections than in the past (where appetizer-like portions had been the norm), including indulgent sushi spreads. “We obviously wanted to keep our loyal donors, but also try to bring some of the general-admission guests into the experience,” said David Coscia, the nonprofit’s new event director.
Coscia, who was three weeks into his new position at the time of the summer party, was mainly there in a supervisory capacity, making sure “nothing was falling through the cracks,” while development associate Madonna Cacciatore oversaw the bulk of the production. Cacciatore added to the event’s traditional headlining musical acts—this year saw Thelma Houston and Tiffany hit the KBIG stage—with first-time summer party performers Eye of Newt Circus aerialists, who entertained with mid-air stunts, including a saucy trapeze striptease, which left one aerialist in nothing but a bright red Speedo at the end of his performance.
Scantily clad male entertainers also made appearances at a Showtime-sponsored dance party, collecting tips in jars as they danced in their underwear atop podiums. Showtime’s Brad Setting turned to Wendy Creed of Wendy Creed Productions, who used bright lights, disco balls, and even a few shag carpets to convert an empty 8,000-square-foot soundstage into a nightclub-like environment.
Guests reveled amid a colorfully lit playground that included an illuminated dance floor with moving lights, a 33-foot soft LED drape backdrop to the central bar that showed morphing patterns throughout the night, and the glowing bases of elevated lounge areas, which were trimmed in color-changing LED tubes.
