The Paley Center for Media Announces an Unforgettable PaleyLive LA Event: The World Premiere of Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion
Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Premiere to Feature a Screening of the Highly Anticipated Documentary Followed by a Once-in-a-Lifetime Conversation with Cher, Carol Burnett, RuPaul Charles and the Film’s Inimitable Star, Bob Mackie
The Star-Studded PaleyLive Event Will Take Place on Monday, May 13 at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles
Tickets Go On Sale Starting April 11 to Paley Center Members
Paley Patron Circle+ Members Can Join Bob Mackie for a Special Champagne Reception and Toast Prior to the Screening and Discussion
Los Angeles, CA, April 11, 2024 – The Paley Center for Media announced today its next PaleyLive event, the world premiere of the documentary, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion. This special premiere event will include a screening of the highly anticipated documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Matthew Miele and will be followed by a conversation with Bob Mackie and some of his closest friends and collaborators including icons Carol Burnett, RuPaul Charles, and Cher. Joe McFate, Design Director of Bob Mackie will also join the discussion which will be moderated by Dave Karger, Turner Classic Movies Host & author of 50 Oscar Nights. The event will take place on Monday, May 13 at 7:30 pm at the Director's Guild of America in Los Angeles.
“Bob Mackie has left an indelible mark across television, stage and screen from The Carol Burnett Show to Cher’s iconic Academy Awards gowns and his recent collaborations with RuPaul,” said Maureen J. Reidy, the Paley Center’s President and CEO. “We are thrilled to present this can’t miss conversation with Mr. Mackie and some of his closest friends for what promises to be an unforgettable evening.”
“I got to do exactly what I always dreamed of doing as a young child, going to the movies. How lucky am I that I got to do that and work with these amazing talents,” said Bob Mackie.
“This may sound strange to some, but of all the men in my life, Bob Mackie has been one of the most important, hands down,” said Cher.
"Over the course of eleven years Bob created over 17,000 works of art for The Carol Burnett Show – a prolific genius,” said Carol Burnett. “Bob means the world to me, and I am equally thrilled to celebrate his genius in support of the Paley Center for Media, a place that also holds a special place in my heart.”
"We're all born naked and the rest is Bob Mackie," said RuPaul Charles. "No one has brought more glamour, beauty, and excitement to the stage and screen. I'm honored to join the Paley Center for Media stage to discuss Bob's fabulous life and career.”
“The word legend tends to be overused, but not when it comes to Bob Mackie! There is nothing fleeting or forgotten stretching across his pop culture-defining seven-decade career,” said Matthew Miele. “From Marilyn to Miley, Cher to Pink, Elton to RuPaul, and Carol to Madonna, his clothes have given us optimism, spectacle and ‘sheer’ fabulousness…but as a storyteller, I was intrigued and able to go deeper on a psychological level about what the clothes mean to those donning them, and the events of Bob’s life that inform the sketches and in turn get to the essence of the personalities he’s designed for.”
Bob Mackie is an icon for the ages. The visionary costume and fashion designer, nine-time Emmy Award-winner, Tony Award winner, Television Academy Hall of Fame and Met Gala honoree, and three-time Academy Award nominated design genius continues to impact every facet of media. The film directed by Matthew Miele, the celebrated director of Scatter My Ashers at Bergdorf’s and Alan Pakula: Going for Truth, features stellar contributions from Mr. Mackie's creative collaborators including Carol Burnett, Cher, Mitzi Gaynor, RuPaul Charles, Bernadette Peters, Pink, and Miley Cyrus, as well as fashion icons Tom Ford, Zac Posen and more, this inspiring film traces Mr. Mackie's life on screen and off, illuminating the global impact of his artistry on television, film, Broadway and concert stages and within fashion and popular culture.
Paley Patron Circle+ Members can join Bob Mackie for a special Champagne Reception and Toast prior to the screening and discussion. To learn how you can become a Paley Patron Circle+ Member please visit paleycenter.org/membership.
This PaleyLive event will support the Paley Center’s educational programs and the ongoing preservation of the Paley Archive, to ensure that Paley’s vital mission lives on during this crucial time in media history for this and future generations to come.
PaleyLive programs offer the public the rare opportunity to engage with prominent names in media and television. All PaleyLive programs are selected by the Paley Center to not only expand society’s understanding of the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, but also for their ability to educate and entertain the public.
Tickets for this program are now on sale to Paley Patron Circle+, Paley President’s Circle, and Partner Members; to Paley Individual, Family, and Supporting Members on Friday, April 12 at noon ET; and to the general public on Monday, April 22 at noon ET. For more information and to learn more about the benefits of Paley Center Membership including ticket presale, discounts, and VIP experiences please visit paleycenter.org/membership.
Media Contacts:
Teresa Brady, Director of Communications, The Paley Center for Media
tbrady@paleycenter.org – 212 621-6757
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
paleycenter@ssmandl.com
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About The Paley Center for Media
The Paley Center for Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has proudly made its home in NYC for almost 50 years and operates the iconic Paley Museum. Through its respected programming, the Paley Center leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of media, drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the media community. The general public can participate in Paley programs in both New York and Los Angeles that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the talent, and the leaders who are shaping media. The public can also access the Paley Center's permanent media collection, The Paley Archive, often referred to as a national treasure, containing over 160,000 television and radio programs and advertisements. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information about The Paley Center for Media, and to learn about the Paley Center’s acclaimed programming, please visit paleycenter.org