Cadillac Pays Tribute to the Performing Arts as Official Sponsor of Exclusive Music Center 50th Anniversary Launch Party

LOS ANGELES, April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The iconic stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was filled with excitement as Cadillac sponsored The Music Center's exclusive launch party in anticipation of the performing arts center's 50^th anniversary later this year.  In a unique and memorable twist, The Music Center's guests took center stage, looking out to the house as they enjoyed a martini bar, hors d'oeuvres and music from the 50s and 60s, capped by a special performance by Tony-award winning actress and singer, Christine Ebersole, accompanied by the Dean Mora Orchestra.

Party guests included longtime supporters of The Music Center, many of whom are luminaries of Los Angeles' cultural and philanthropic community.  Music Center 50^th Anniversary Gala Committee Co-chairs Judy Beckmen, Brindell Gottlieb, Eva Stern and Alyce Williamson were joined by numerous Music Center supporters including Board Members Nigel Lythgoe, who hosted the evening; Ginny Mancini; Carla Sands, president of The Blue Ribbon of The Music Center, and her husband, Fred Sands; and Andrea Van de Kamp, former president of The Music Center, along with her husband, former California Attorney General John Van de Kamp.  These and other guests once again experienced the glamour of The Music Center's founding years as they commemorated the 1955 El Dorado Party, highlighted by the donation of a Cadillac Eldorado, which raised more than $400,000.  That historic evening – the brainchild of Dorothy Buffum Chandler – was the catalyst for the campaign that made The Music Center a reality and a vitally important center of culture.  As the official sponsor of the Music Center's 50^th anniversary launch party, Cadillac once again paid tribute to The Music Center and the importance of the performing arts.  This time the auto maker displayed its latest innovation, the Cadillac ELR, which is the company's first luxury plug-in hybrid coupe.  Cadillac is the official automobile of The Music Center's 50th anniversary launch party.

"Thanks to Dorothy Chandler's vision, drive and determination, The Music Center put its mark on the culture of Los Angeles," said Stephen D. Rountree, president & CEO of The Music Center.  "It takes innovators, like Mrs. Chandler and Cadillac, to take a brilliant concept and make it an impressive reality, and we thank Cadillac for its important support."

"Dorothy Chandler took on a daunting task, but the result was a Music Center that has moved the world of the performing arts forward and continues to inspire," said Melody Lee, Cadillac's director of brand and reputation strategy.  "Cadillac and the first-ever ELR embody that spirit of optimism and innovation, and we are honored to again join The Music Center in presenting the finest performing arts experiences to the community."

Guests at the launch party learned about The Music Center's plans for a series of special public commemorative events and activities for the 50^th anniversary, including a spectacular evening performance in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on December 6, 2014, followed by a dinner and entertainment for 1,000 people on The Music Center Plaza.  The next evening, on December 7, 2014, The Music Center will hold a festive, high-energy party on The Music Center Plaza called The Next 50, which will invite all in the community to celebrate and honor The Music Center's role as the creative hub of Los Angeles.  The Next 50 will feature an eclectic blend of celebrities and unique collaborations and experiences, along with music, entertainment and dancing.  Information about ticket sales can be found at http://www.musiccenter.org/50 or by calling (213) 972-4322.  More details about these events, as well as a number of other public celebration activities that will take place prior to December 2014 and continue into 2015, will be released by summer 2014.

Note:  Photos from the launch party will be available at 
http://www.musiccenter.org/50th-Anniversary-Launch-Party

About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at http://www.cadillac.com Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at http://media.cadillac.com/

About The Music Center
The Music Center is one of the largest and most highly regarded performing arts centers in the country, and the place to experience the most innovative and critically-acclaimed performing arts in the nation, creating a cultural hub that is central to L.A.'s status as "the creative capital" of the world. Celebrated for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, and home to four world-class resident companies – Center Theatre Group, LA Opera, LA Phil and Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Music Center's 22-acre campus includes four iconic venues-  Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theater - as well as The Music Center Plaza and the newly opened Grand Park.  Each year, more than two million people enjoy live performances and free community arts events at The Music Center.  In its effort to extend the reach and accessibility of the performing arts, The Music Center is a national model for experiences in which people participate directly through its Active Arts® programming. In addition, The Music Center presents special productions, events and festivals for children and families, including World City™ which takes place in the Keck Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall.  The Music Center is nationally recognized as a leader in arts education, providing resources for students and teachers in schools and community centers throughout the region. For more information, visit http://www.musiccenter.org and follow The Music Center on Facebook and Twitter (@MusicCenterLA). 

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SOURCE The Music Center