New York – On Tuesday night, lifting the curtain on the new $10 million Living Room renovation at W New York Times Square, Alan Cumming hosted a special screening of his short film Ultimate Encore. The event was hosted in the sultry new space, designed as a playful tribute to the Times Square of the past, from the gilded theatres of the 20s and 30s to the neon-soaked scene of the 70s and 80s.
Party guests including Rose McGowan, Phillip Bloch, Joey Arias, Cameron Silver, Jeremy Kost, Donna D’Cruz, Alex Lundqvist, Lorenzo Martone, Timo Weiland, Michael Avedon and Lila Crawford celebrated the film with cast members Bernadette Peters, Cynthia Rowley, Selita Ebanks, Amanda Lepore, Kai Cameron, Esteban Martinez, Krystal Joy Brown and Valena David. Guests sipped, mingled and danced the night away to a DJ set by Jake Shears (of Scissor Sisters) who kept the party going until the early hours from the newly designed DJ booth reminiscent of the iconic Times Square NYE Ball.
Director and star of the short film, Alan Cumming, introduced the film following a piano performance by Emmy award-winning pianist and performer Lance Horne who played a series of Broadway classics including All that Jazz and New York, New York. Iconic New York performance artist Joey Arias took to the mic to serenade Alan and the audience while a rendition of the “Little Mermaid’s Part of Your World” started a crowd sing-along against the neon backdrop of the newly designed Living Room.
Ultimate Encore highlights the energy and design of the new Living Room Space paying homage to its Times Square location, while also raising money and awareness for cast member Bernadette Peter’s charity Broadway Barks.
Guests toasted the film and the newly designed Living Room with specialty cocktails served up from the neon drenched bar including the ULTIMATE ENCORE consisting of Campari, cranberry Juice, topped with Prosecco and fresh mint leaves; THE SHOWSTOPPER made with Svedka vodka, elderflower liquor, dry vermouth, blood orange puree, and lemon juice; as well as THE HEART OF THE HOUSE including Wild Turkey bourbon, house-made habanero vermouth, grapefruit juice, grapefruit bitters, and black pepper.
