With the Emmys coming up later this month, the Television Academy has announced production details for its major bashes: the Creative Arts Ball that will be held on September 12 and the 67th Emmy Awards Governors Ball—the main event—that will take place on September 20.
This year’s Governors Ball Committee co-chairs Barbara Cassel and Geriann McIntosh are working with the events’ longtime producer Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions on a theme known as “Reigning With Radiance,” which will feature shimmering, crystalline details from Swarovski.
The Governors Ball will feature custom-designed decor elements incorporating Swarovski crystals throughout the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The crystals will be suspended around the room as elaborate chandelier installations, designed by Sequoia. More than 45,000 Swarovski crystals in various sizes will be featured in more than 530 hand-crafted crystal strands weighing close to 450 pounds. It’s Swarovski's first foray into the ball.
In all, there will be 30 chandeliers—in swirling shapes done with Swarovski crystals supported with extra beads from Shop Wild Things—that drop 27 feet to the tables.
This year’s color palette includes rose gold, ivory, and silver, and suggests a traditional opulence underscored by the waitstaff uniforms: floor-length white gowns or white tuxedos. "It's the most elegant ball that we've produced thus far,” said Cecchetto at the preview. "The event exemplifies the growth and power and inclusion of the television industry. It's grown so much over time, and so have the events.”
For the Governors Ball, Andrea Bocelli will perform, as will David Foster. "[Bocelli] is so suited for this year because [the performance] is big and powerful and glamorous,” Cecchetto said.
The grand stage, located in the center of the Los Angeles Convention Center Ballroom, will see performances at both events. Entertainers include dance band JB Project with performances by the WCM Strings, which spins dance tunes into string arrangements, and the Stereo Set hip-hop vocal quartet.
About 3,500 guests at the Creative Arts Ball and nearly 4,000 for the Governors Ball will sit for dinner catered by Patina Catering; they're billed as the largest formal sit-down dinners in the United States. The meals will include a first course of wildflower honey-poached pear salad and a main course of filet of beef tenderloin. Dessert will be a single-origin Ghana brownie.
To drink, guests will find wines at the Penfolds tasting bar; cocktails featuring Patrón, Ultimat vodka, and Pyrat Rum; Ferrari Brut NV TrentoDOC Metodo Classico; and Fiji Water. Chocolate stations by Cellar Door Chocolates will also dot the space, and Groundwork Coffee Company will provide organic coffee and tea.
Furniture will come from Designer 8, and First Circle Design will provide lighting design with equipment from ShowPro. Goodman will handle the sound.
Andy Samberg will host the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which will air on Fox and take place at the Microsoft Theater. Don Mischer will serve as executive producer for the telecast.
