June 22, 2015
The Plaza Live Theatre came alive last Saturday night with the sights and sounds of the Orlando Philharmonic’s 2nd annual Party at the Plaza. The event included eight live musical performances and eight food stations, and brought in more than 400 guests.
Entertainment for the night was headlined by the Orlando Transit Authority, performing the top hits of the iconic band Chicago, accompanied by members of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The party continued off stage with music ranging from the salsa sounds of Latin Wave Band to the Hamrick jazz duo, with the talents of Duo Sole and many other artists performing for the crowd in the Plaza Live lobby.
During the event, the Plaza Live Theatre Lobby was transformed into a showcase for Orlando’s local charm. The party’s prize drawings featured local distilleries such as Winter Park Brewery. Tickets and passes to local theatres like the Enzian, Mad Cow, and Winter Park Playhouse were among the most coveted prizes, as were memberships to the Orlando Museum of Art, Mennello Museum of Art, and many more. Local donations accounted for roughly 86% of all prizes.
Throughout the evening, Orlando restaurants provided a spectrum of flavors for partygoers’ palates. The spread included the city’s own Arthur’s Catering, Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Q, Cuisiniers, Downtown Credo, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, and Wondermade. Houlihan’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus were among national brands to donate toward the event.
Though renovations were well underway in much of the building, the Plaza Live Theatre was full of music, dancing, food and fun for guests at the second annual Party at The Plaza. With the administrative offices and rehearsal hall renovations expected to be complete by 2016, the third annual event is sure to be an even bigger production.
Sarah Overton, Orlando Philharmonic Development Intern