On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Cunard Line welcomed guests from the New York City Opera (City Opera) and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) aboard the company's flagship Queen Mary 2 for The Britannia Ball, a gala evening benefiting both cultural institutions.
Attending the Ball were stars such as theatre veterans LaChanze and Cynthia Nixon, as well as Chevy Chase, Jill Hennessy, costume designer Patricia Field and Carson Kressley. Docked for this special night at its New York home, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Queen Mary 2 - the world's most luxurious ocean liner - served as the elegant setting for the evening's festivities, and The Britannia Ball guests had full access to all the public areas of the ocean liner including: the Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, the Royal Court Theater and Illuminations, the only planetarium at sea. Queen Mary 2 will set sail the next day for her Memorial Day cruise to the Bahamas.
City Opera and BAM are institutions that share similar missions which reflect a commitment to artistic excellence, innovation and accessibility. Their audiences are sophisticated and adventurous and include many social and corporate leaders of New York. Together the companies reach more than 650,000 individuals annually and have helped to transform the cultural landscape of New York City. All proceeds from The Britannia Ball will be divided equally to support programs at City Opera and BAM.
Visit www.cit.com for more information.
Photos by Retna Ltd.
Jill Hennessy
Jill Hennessy
Jill Hennessy
Patricia Field
Patricia Field
Rene Fris
Jamie Markowitz and Marty Markowitz
Videos