In the Universal Studios film “The Producers,” Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom set out to produce a Broadway flop, but the world premiere of the film, held on Dec. 12 at the new AMC Theatres in west Los Angeles, was a bona-fide hit.
The event, which also benefited the Jonnson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, was the first premiere held at the new theater. Following the theater’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and movie screening, 2,300 guests headed to the after-party, held in the adjacent second floor of the mall. Culver City, Calif.-based event producers Sequoia Productions gave the event a sleek New York nightclub look, filling the sprawling event space with glowing cube-shaped tables, chic white and black lounge furniture, and oversize paper lanterns hit with lighting that added rich red and purple hues to the space. Bands Splash and Combolux performed background music that included Latin sounds, tunes from the movie and live jazz.
The film’s stars, including Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane and Will Ferrell, chilled at tables in the VIP area, where model-turned-TV-host Tyra Banks, director Baz Lurhmann and “Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Kattan also took in the scene. Other celebs in attendance were Eric McCormack of TV's “Will and Grace,” “Desperate Housewives” star Marcia Cross and Oscar-winner Jon Voight.
Party-goers filled up on fare dished out at plentiful food stations provided by Los Angeles-based Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events. An Asian station served Chinese chicken salad in miniature takeout containers, lettuce wraps and chicken pot stickers, while the Taste of Italy station offered fusilli pasta and caprese and Caesar salads. Throughout the night, servers tray-passed hors d’oeuvre including mini cheeseburgers and New York-style pizza, while dessert buffets offered individual bites of New York cheesecake and chocolate cake.
Specialty drinks served at the bars featured movie-inspired names such as “Max’s Margarita,” “The Big Apple” and “Leo & His Mojito”—made with Pyrat rum, lime juice, soda water, fresh mint and simple syrup. Branded ice bars created by tequila company Patron served up frosty tequila cocktails.
At the end of the night, guests left with photographs—imprinted with a Broadway-style “The Producers” sign and the event date—shot against a red velvet theater curtain as they arrived and printed during the party.
