Palladium Songbook Celebration 2015
Each year supporters of the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel gather together for the annual Songbook Celebration, a gala to recognize inductees of the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame and to raise funds to continue the organization’s mission to welcome, engage, inspire, and transform through compelling performing arts experiences in a world class environment. The Gala was held at the Palladium, one of three venues of the Center for the Performing Arts, and was attended by over 800 supporters between the dinner and after party events. All proceeds for the evening benefited the artistic and education programs of the Center for the Performing Arts.
The evening began with a cocktail hour, hosted by First Merchants Bank, held in the south lobby followed by a three course plated meal served on both the main floor and 2nd floor of the Palladium. Cocktail hour featured butler passed hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The gala dinner featured an amuse bouche of crab caper lemon salad with micro heirloom caprese stack, balsamic reduction, and micro basil trailed by a three course meal of a salad course, main entrée, and dessert. Madilyn Baillio, accompanied by piano, sang between first and second course. The auction was held towards the end of dinner prior to the main performance of the evening.
Hors d’oeuvres
Spicy tuna rice cups wrapped in soy paper, wasabi caviar
Lobster spheres, tarragon mustard dipping sauce
Mini ratatouille wellingtons, pesto
Eggplant cannelloni stuffed with boursin and pine nuts with red pepper basil slaw
Red curry cashew chicken salad in crispy wonton
Cinnamon duck confit wellington with Sweet Cherry Bordelaise
Amuse Bouche
Crab caper lemon salad with micro heirloom caprese stack, balsamic reduction, micro basil
First Course
Locally grown peppercress, capriole goat cheese and butternut puree, pickled beets, candied pistachios, marble carrot ribbons, chrysanthemum honey liquor vinaigrette with assorted dinner rolls, and lemon rosemary accompanied by sundried tomato butter and french butter balls
Second Course
Red Wine Braised Short Rib
White sesame crusted sea bass, plum wine miso butter sauce
Roasted sweet corn pudding, grilled jumbo asparagus with oven dried roma tomato
Third Course
Chocolate coffee custard cream with praline pecans with crème anglaise and fresh berries with zabaglione
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala Performance began close to 8:30pm directly following dinner. George Gershwin, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gormé, and Chita Rivera were this years inductees and were honored with an array of musical performances. Michael Feinstein, joined by Marilyn Maye and Tony nominee Karen Ziemba, as well as 2015 Songbook Youth Ambassador Lucas Debard, performed with immense splendor on the Palladium’s main stag. Each performer met with great reception from gala supporters. Immediately following the induction ceremony, Chris Mann, The Voice 2012 performer, presented his perspective on Songbook standards in a short concert set.
At the conclusion of the performances, the Katz, Sapper & Miller After Party began. The Palladium was transformed from its typical theater atmosphere into an exciting evening of music, dancing, food and drinks throughout five distinctively different night club style spaces.
Club Katz, located on the East Patio, featured the music of the BlueWater Kings. While the Founders Room transformed into the Downbeat Lounge offering both bars and food stations while playing the smooth sounds of the Ned Boyd Jazz Trio. Opposite of this jazzy club, the Robert Adam Room next to the East Patio, became the Blue Note Café was another great spot to relax with hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and specialty cocktails. The Cabaret, a popular club throughout the evening, featured Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael, and Songbook Youth Ambassadors in the otherwise known High South Lobby. The grand Palladium stage was transformed from its original dining room space used earlier in the evening to a more traditional theater setting featuring the music of the Tom Postilio Big Band.
Blue note Café
Located in the East Lobby
Skewer Station
Grilled shrimp skewers with tamarind glaze
Grilled lamb chops with cilantro and adobo sauce
Moroccan grilled chicken skewers served with peach chutney
Grilled beef and rosemary kebobs with cherry grape tomatoes and horseradish sauce
International Cheese and Fruit Display
Brie courrone, manchego, montgomery cheddar, colston basset stilton, parrano gouda, and capriole goat cheese with berries and grapes, nuts and crackers
Vertical Crudite
Asparagus, bell peppers, cherry grape tomatoes, stem-on organic carrots, celery, zucchini, cauliflower, and broccoli with artichoke, parmesan and ranch dips
Downbeat Lounge
Located in Founders Room
Amuse Station
Greek cucumber salad, feta, kalamata olive, roasted tomatoes, basil vinaigrette in palm leaf cup
Red curry cashew chicken salad in crispy wonton cups
Caribbean shellfish ceviche in mini martini glasses
Thai beef salad in birch boats
Skewer Station
Chili garlic shrimp
Szechuan chicken satay
NY strip and portabella kabobs
Ratatouille vegetable skewers served with red pepper pesto and tropical chili coulis
Club Katz
Located in the Robert Adams Room
Small Plates Station
Beef short rib with gorgonzola polenta, baby stem on carrots and natural jus
Cider marinated chicken breast with creamy corn pudding and bacon braised beans
Maryland crab cake with cucumber napa slaw, micro greens and red pepper remoulade
Mini Sliders
Blue cheese hamburgers
Fried fish with tartar sauce
Turkey burgers
Pork barbecue
On mini challah rolls
With Sliced Cheese, Tomatoes, Ketchup and pickles on the side
French Fries
Dessert Station
Raspberry crème brûlée
Traditional crème brûlée
Mocha crème pots
Apple pie tarts
Pecan pie bites
The Cabaret
Located in the High South Lobby
Assorted Miniature Pastries
Miniature pie tarts
Lemon curd tarts
Fresh fruit tarts
Chocolate dipped strawberries
Chocolate caramel brownies
Shooters
Banana pudding
Panna cotta
The Songbook Celebration Gala presented by Krieg DeVaut and Songbook Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Palladium were a huge success! We are very excited and honored to continue working with the Palladium for this spectacular event and want to extend our gratitude to all of those who worked directly with the Palladium and our event management teams in planning and executing such a wonderful event! We love the team we created together and look forward to many more endeavors with one another!
A final special thank you to all of our staff for their tremendous hard work and dedication to all of our events throughout our busiest weekend of 2015. With every member of our team remaining focused and disciplined in our service, we proudly served over 4000 guests at a variety of functions through the October 3rd weekend!
