The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will honor director and choreographer Debbie Allen, violinist Joshua Bell and actor and alumnus Adrian Grenier at An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala on Saturday, January 12, 2013, held in Downtown Miami at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building. The evening will bring together prominent artists, community leaders, philanthropists and celebrities to applaud the participants in the 2013 edition of YoungArts’ signature program, YoungArts Week, which provides 150 of the nation’s most outstanding young talents in the visual, literary and performing arts with life-changing experiences, including master classes, workshops, interdisciplinary activities, performances and exhibitions.
“An Affair of the Arts celebrates the accomplishments of our amazing alumni such as Adrian Grenier, and honors individuals including Debbie Allen and Joshua Bell who are making meaningful contributions to the arts,” stated Paul T. Lehr, Executive Director of the National YoungArts Foundation. “The work of these great arts leaders shows our next generation, here for YoungArts Week, that they, too, can become a part of the continuing artistic tradition in American society.
Heading this year’s event are Honorary Gala Chairs Plácido Domingo and Mikhail Baryshnikov, with Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez. Once again, SunTrust is the event’s presenting sponsor with additional support provided by MIAMI Magazine.
Debbie Allen continues to be one of the most respected, relevant, and versatile talents in the entertainment industry and is an internationally recognized director, choreographer and author. As a Culture Connect Ambassador, Ms. Allen represented the United States in visits to Brazil, China, Italy, and India.Debbie Allen has received three Emmy Awards honoring her choreography, and two Emmys and one Golden Globe. Ms. Allen has choreographed for artists such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson, and also holds the distinction of having choreographed the Academy Awards ten times.
Often referred to as the “poet of the violin,” Joshua Bell is one of the world’s most celebrated violinists, who brings a new generation of audiences to classical concert halls, and new music to classical audiences. Among numerous awards and honors, he is an Avery Fisher Prize recipient and Musical America’s 2012 Instrumentalist of the Year. Recently appointed Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, he is the first person to hold this title since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958. An exclusive Sony Classical artist, Mr. Bell has recorded more than 40 CDs garnering Mercury, Grammy, Gramophone and Echo Klassik awards. His discography encompasses critically acclaimed performances of most of the major violin repertoire, in addition to John Corigliano’s Oscar-winning soundtrack, The Red Violin.
Adrian Grenier is a 1994 YoungArts alumnus in theater. Graduating from New York’s high school for the arts, LaGuardia Arts, Mr. Grenier began acting in 1997 making his film debut in the independent film, “The Adventures of Sebastian Cole.” From there, he went on to work with esteemed directors such as Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen until landing the role of Vincent Chase in the HBO series “Entourage.” As a director Mr. Grenier has led the creation of “Shot in the Dark,” “Alter-Eco,” “Don’t Quit Your Daydream,” and “How to Make Money Selling Drugs.” In 2010 Mr. Grenier’ s production company, Reckless Productions, completed “Teenage Paparazzo” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala will kick off with an interdisciplinary performance by YoungArts alumni from around the nation in the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. Following the performance and awards ceremony, guests will walk across the street to the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Hotel that will be transformed into a classic supper club where music by YoungArts alumni will set the stage for a relaxing dinner and conversation. Dinner will be followed by dancing in the street, to the music of DJ Irie.
