OVG’s 2025 Theater Alliance Gala Honors Alex Hodges, Aaron Egigian While Raising Funds For Theaters

Oak View Group hosted its 2025 Theater Alliance Gala at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, on Oct. 14, hosting more than 150 leaders from the live entertainment, theater and hospitality industries, raising funds to support smaller venues and celebrating the impact they make in their communities.

This year’s gala, presented by DeKuyper, was hosted by comedian and actor Ron Funches and honored two of the most respected executives with Theater Alliance Impact Awards. Alex Hodges, CEO of Nederlander Concerts, was one of those to receive the honor for his illustrious five-decade-plus career and shaping the live music landscape as a promoter, agent and manager for artists, including Otis Redding and Steve Ray Vaughan.

“I appreciate this honor more than you can imagine,” Hodges said. “Life is fragile, often tough, but wonderful. Stevie Ray Vaughan once said, ‘Music heals,’ and it truly does. Music touches our hearts, brings people together, and reminds us why live performance matters. I’ve spent my life surrounded by artists, colleagues, and audiences who believe in the power of that connection. Live events will be forever; there will be no ending to that story.”

Aaron Egigian, founding lead of artistic programming at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, was also honored with an impact award. He recently retired following a 39-year tenure and helped deliver a wide range of performances in Southern California.

“I am honored by this recognition and delighted to share it with so many cherished colleagues here tonight,” Egigian said. “Over 39 years, we’ve had the privilege of shaping extraordinary experiences across every discipline – from pop to ballet, Broadway to jazz, comedy, and special events. What has mattered most is building a sense of community through the arts. It has never been just transactional; it’s always been about engaging people in something bigger than us. Thank you for this honor, it’s a joy to celebrate together.”

The event also featured performances from international pop artist Betty Who and multiplatinum singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon, who is known for his work with Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. Both artists delivered intimate performances of fan favorite songs and shared stories about their careers and music during their brief sets.

“The Theater Alliance Gala is more than a gathering of live entertainment leaders; it’s a testament to the strength and spirit of our industry,” said Joe Giordano, vice president of OVG Alliances. “Every year, this community comes together to celebrate the people, partnerships, and creativity that keep live performance thriving. Nights like this remind us why the work we do matters and how powerful the arts can be in shaping connection and culture.”

Noël Mirhadi, senior director of OVG Theater Alliance, and Giordano were presenters during the event, as well as Jen Sandstrom, vice president of programming booking for SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater and Hollywood Park, and Russell Gordon, vice president and general manager of YouTube Theater.

“It’s inspiring to see so many leaders, artists, and partners come together with such purpose,” said Mirhadi. “The Theater Alliance is built on collaboration, and nights like this remind us how powerful that energy can be when we work toward a shared vision for the arts.”

The gala is a cornerstone fundraiser for the OVG Theater Alliance Fund, an organization established in collaboration with Music’s Promise and directly supports theaters across the Alliance network through capital improvement grants, community initiatives, youth arts education programs and more. The OVG Theater Alliance is a nationwide collective of the top theaters and performing arts venues in the country and helps strengthen and sustain live theater.

Such an event also allows executives to catch up in a social setting, as opposed to a busy one during a show, and discuss business and operations. As host of the gala, Gordon, who oversees the YouTube Theater in the Los Angeles area, saw an opportunity to showcase his 4-year-old venue to his colleagues while celebrating the theater sector of live entertainment.

“It’s been awesome to have so many performing arts center, theater and amphitheater people in the same room because we all get it. When you get an opportunity like this to see your competition, your colleagues and see how they’re doing things and how their venue operates, it’s a really cool experience,” Gordon tells Pollstar. “It’s inspiring and encourages people because it makes you excited about what you do in the industry and encourages you to take whatever you learned, and motivates your team to do better. … This is a really special moment for us to focus on the smaller venues.”