Photo Credit: Jessica Dalene Photography
Guild Hall unveiled the newly renovated theater at a red-carpet event on Friday, July 12th with a memorable performance from GRAMMY®, EMMY®, and 2X Tony® Award winner Billy Porter. The theme of the evening was “Love Always Wins” as Porter, who donned a custom suit adorned with butterflies and rhinestones by designer Alex Vinash, presented an electric performance full of personal stories, moving many to tears.
Notable attendees included Jane Krakowski, Fern Mallis, Maulik Pancholy, Susan Stroman, David Rockwell, Daryl Roth, Alex Vinash, and artists Eric Fischl, April Gornik, and Ross Bleckner. The atmosphere was joyful with the entire audience on their feet dancing while Porter proclaimed, “This is Gay Church!” Reinforcing the community and unity among the audience, Porter asked everyone to join hands and acknowledge those around them while he closed out the show with “Audacity” from his 2023 album Black Mona Lisa, singing, “The audacity to show up honesty…. To fear not of my worth, to fear not of my worthy. I’m worthy, you’re worthy.”
“We are still buzzing from Billy Porter’s electrifying performance, which was nothing short of spectacular,” shared Guild Hall’s Visiting Co-Artistic Director, Zion Jackson. “The evening was a perfect blend of glamour, charisma, and heartfelt moments, making it an unforgettable experience for all. Each song was delivered with passion and precision, giving a true masterclass not only in performance but also in love, truth, and authenticity.”
Guild Hall is back with many more concerts, dance performances, comedy, talks, film, and more, all of which can be found at guildhall.org/events.
