How a stellar theme puts your event light years beyond your goal

Organization: Kirkland Performance Center

Team Members: Ariel Glassman

Never underestimate the power of a great virtual gala theme! In 2021, Ariel Glassman helped Kirkland Performance Center produce KPC Strikes Back—an epic cinematic virtual gala that integrated a Star Wars theme into the very DNA of the event and raised 110% of their goal. 

Ariel led the holistic plan for the event, including creative visioning, revenue model and strategy, audience development, implementation of giving tech, script co-writing, narrative video production and more. She helped KPC turned its own comeback story of pandemic reopening into a 65-minute online fundraising adventure that seamlessly wove together live interaction, narrative videos that traced their journey during the pandemic, music performances, and real-time fundraising. We integrated this archetypal pop culture juggernaut into every aspect of the event, including: mimicking the famed Star Wars opening crawl; emcees dressed as iconic characters from all three Star Wars trilogies for multi-generational appeal; guest appearances by Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Baby Yoda, and R2D2; dream sequences with light saber fight choreography; and space-themed rock songs as the entertainment.

The result? A $150,000 victory on a $135,000 goal, and an event their audiences won’t stop talking about. Ariel and KPC are currently plotting how this fall’s virtual gala could possibly top it!