Launched in 1998 to a great deal of fanfare, VH1's celebration of women in music, Divas Live, was a highlight of the network's event calendar for seven years—before unceremoniously ending with the 2004 show. But this past Thursday, VH1 brought the series back for a concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and an after-party at the recently opened Skylight One Hanson.
Featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Leona Lewis, the Paula Abdul-hosted event was broadcast live from BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House. When the concert concluded promptly at 10 p.m., guests made their way down the street to neighboring Skylight One Hanson, in the newly renovated ground floor of the Williamsburg Bank Building.
Both of the night's events benefitted the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and the organization's director of corporate sponsorship and special events, Jennifer Dunn, was charged with planning the after-party. Lee Rolontz, Rick Krim, and Patrizia DiMaria served as executive producers of the show itself.
The after-party had no shortage of female influence in the decor. Feminine tones of pink, orange, and purple lit the venue's dramatic ceiling and walls, while white couches and coffee tables provided by American Furniture Rentals lined the venue's refurbished teller windows.
A roster of sponsors including Cafe Bustelo, JetBlue, and Patron Silver hosted branded activations during the event, and Crumbs bakery provided the dessert bar of giant cupcakes.
Divas was VH1's first event at Skylight One Hanson, but it wasn't a one-off. At the time it booked the venue, the network also committed to an after-party for tonight's VH1 Hip Hop Honors. The edgier affair will also feature a concert at BAM and Chris Rock, Eminem, and Jay-Z are all expected to appear.
