LEESA ROWLAND & LARRY WOHL’S
ANNUAL MASQUERADE BALL
AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF ART, FASHION, AND FANTASY LIGHTS UP THE CITY
When autumn descends upon New York City, few events capture its spirit of grandeur and creativity like Leesa Rowland and Larry Wohl’s legendary Masquerade Ball. A fixture of the city’s social calendar, the annual affair is a breathtaking fusion of art, fashion, and fantasy — where every costume tells a story, and every guest becomes part of a living work of art. This year’s theme, “Midnight at the Met,” took the celebration to new heights, transforming the night into a spectacle of elegance, theater, and imagination.
A Night to Remember: “Midnight at the Met” Leesa Rowland and Larry Wohl set a dazzling new benchmark for New York’s Fall season with their annual celebration, “Midnight at the Met.” The highly anticipated event transformed Chelsea Industrial into a shimmering world of fantasy where art, fashion, and performance intertwined in spectacular form.
The Woman Behind the Magic
The daughter of an artist and college professor, Leesa Rowland grew up in Austin, Texas where she studied broadcast journalism and later became a classically trained actress at the world-renowned Stella Adler Studio in Los Angeles.
Beyond her extensive career and credits as a film and television actress, she is also well-known for her work as a philanthropist and animal rights activist. A vegan dedicated to healthy eating, she has been active with the national non-profit organization Last Chance for Animals since 1989 and is the president of the New York non-profit group Animal Ashram, which she founded in 2013.
Comedy, Creativity, and Compassion
As she continues to develop her work as a philanthropist and involvement with these and other charities while exploring new dramatic roles, Leesa recently began adding something else exciting to her sizzle reel: comedienne. A lifelong sitcom fan, she has been taking comedy classes with Richard Kline — the actor best known as Larry on the late-1970s classic Three’s Company — in Los Angeles. She has also been studying improv and sketch comedy in New York at the famed Upright Citizen’s Brigade whose alumni include Amy Poehler, Horatio Sands, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh and Ian McKay.
An Evening of Performances and Artistry
A show-stopping performance by Luke K who gave a stellar musical performance as “Cher” brought roaring applause, while a live painter created a masterpiece in real time with her movements becoming part of the performance itself. Elsewhere, interactive art pieces and sculptural works infused the space with a sense of wonder and irreverent wit, balancing elegance with playfulness.
The Glittering Guest
List
Notable attendees included: Leesa Rowland, Larry Wohl, Marc Bouwer, Pedro Oberto, Hank Stampfl, Ramona Singer, Noreen Donovan, James Brynes, Nicole Noonan, Steven Knobel, Sandra Ripert, Gianni Musso, Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley, Cindy Guyer, Niki Haskell, Marco Maranghello, Jose Castelo Branco, Kyle Farmery, Alan Wilzig, Sir Ivan, Paola and Arnie Rosenshein, Ann Van Ness, Sharon Bush and Bob Murray, Peter Thomas Roth, Lauren Day Roberts, Andrew Molen, Elyse Slaine, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Pamela Morgan, Amy Ralston Povah, Wendy Federman, Missy and Dr. Jerry Lubliner, Sergio Zapata and Paul Margolin, Les and Katarina Feldman, Cristina Fontanelli, Jane Pontarelli, James and Elvira Grau, Maria and Ken Fishel, Diana Mahrach, Carmen D’Alessio, Cheri Kaufman and Bill Sclight.
The Finishing Touches
Leesa Rowland’s costume was created by Marc Bouwer, with hairstyling by Marco Maranghello and makeup by Nellie.
Additional sponsors include: BIATCH® Tequila (Liquor), Blace’s Chelsea Industrial (Location), DJ Deroza (Music), Drape Kings (Fabrications), Elite PleaseBSeated (Rentals), Kendall Kreations (Balloon Art installation), Luminae Productions (Lighting), Luxe Events (Chandeliers), Marcy Brownstein Catering (Catering), Perfect Serve NYC (Flair Bartending), Posy Flowers NYC (Floral), and Revel Rouge (Event production and curation).
For more information, visit: leesarowland.net Photo Credits: BFA / Madeleine Thomas