Extravagant Events for New York’s Elite

The glitzy parties of old are fading, replaced by high-end events with stunning entertainment. Imagine violinists suspended from the ceiling playing well-known rock anthems or unique circus acts. These over-the-top experiences are becoming quite the norm among New York’s wealthiest.

Darren Orash, founder of On The Move Entertainment, describes his company’s offerings, saying, “We work with talent that could easily stand up in venues from Broadway to Vegas. It’s like our office is a cabaret.”

Earlier this year, for a notable client, his team partnered with a renowned musician to perform at The Shed, a notable venue in Midtown.

To make it happen, they had to craft an aerial setup to safely ensure certified violinists could perform timeless hits from artists like Coldplay. Orash mentions they even trained these violinists at acrobatic schools to prepare for such performances.

In another instance, a group of billionaires requested a “naughty circus” theme, resulting in an extravagant carousel on stage complete with floral decorations and shirtless dancers.

Orash also concocted an imaginative scene for another client’s event: a life-sized glass jewelry box amid a Russian tea room, with classically trained ballerinas gracefully twirling inside. He quips, “What’s more eye-catching than that?”

Sometimes, it’s about making a captivating entrance. For the wedding of Jordan and Anthony Serafino, Orash’s team optimized sound in a historic opera box at the Plaza Hotel to feature three tenor performances, celebrating John Legend’s “All of Me.” Jordan shares, “Walking in felt like stepping onto a movie set.”

The couple had an emotionally stirring experience, recalling their dramatic entrance and the impressive scenery.

In other wedding themes, Christina Mannino and Michael Sontra blended the Italian Renaissance with New York’s luxe feel, creating full entertainment segments with ballet performances at Cipriani Wall Street. The following evening, they switched gears with an Arabian-themed gala at a West Village restaurant, complete with belly dancing performances.

Mannino stated, “I wanted guests to truly experience the entertainment, not just see it as background. It needed to feel immersive.”

Orash has crafted elaborate performances, even producing nine distinct theatrical acts for Fortune 500 clients, showcasing the talents of 128 artists, including many seasoned Broadway performers.

Just last May, he organized a four-day wedding for Ankur Jain and Erika Hammond near the Great Pyramids of Giza, which included 60 entertainers. He described it as an embrace of Egyptian culture while providing a distinctly New York flair. “They were looking for the ultimate experience, and we certainly delivered,” he said.