The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences governor Jeffrey Kurland, event producer Cheryl Cecchetto and chef Wolfgang Puck will return to create this year’s Governors Ball, the Academy’s official post-Oscar celebration. The Governor’s Ball will immediately follow the 87th Oscars ceremony on Feb. 22. The 1,500 invited guests include Oscar winners and nominees, show presenters and other telecast participants.
“The artistry and glamor that have truly defined Hollywood for decades will be highlighted at 87th Oscars Governor’s Ball,” said Kurland. “We’ve selected the most stunning imagery from the Academy’s vast collections to set the stage for our guests. The Academy will honor and share these timeless moments of a legacy that is in our blood and truly makes us who we are.”
As the chair of the Governor’s Ball, Kurland will oversee the décor, menu and entertainment planning, as well as design the attire to be worn by the evening’s staff. Kurland is a costume designer whose feature credits include Hannah and Her Sisters, Radio Days, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Erin Brockovich, Ocean’s Eleven, Inception, Beautiful Creatures and the upcoming Tomorrowland. He received an Oscar nomination for costume design for Bullets over Broadway. This will be Kurland’s sixth year serving as Governors Ball chair.
Cecchetto, along with her Sequoia Productions team, will work with Kurland to manage every detail pertaining to the event, including décor, entertainment, food and personnel. Sequoia Productions’ clients include the Television Academy, G’Day USA, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Westfield and the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay. This will be Cecchetto’s 26th consecutive year producing the Governors Ball.
Puck and Matt Bencivenga, chef partner of Wolfgang Puck Catering will prepare a menu with more than 50 imaginative dishes, from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate entrees that will be passed throughout the evening. This is Puck’s 21st consecutive year creating the menu for the Governors Ball.
The Governors Ball will take place in the Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood & Highland Center immediately following the Oscar telecast.