Soledad O'Brien Mistress of Ceremonies for Performing Arts School Opening

NJ.com had an article on the opening of the Cicely Tyson School of the Performing and fine Arts. Soledad O'Brien was the mistress of ceremonies.

EAST ORANGE -- With the red carpet, celebrities and photographers, it could have been a Hollywood movie premiere, but this was the opening of a performing arts school in East Orange.

The celebrities, along with elected officials and other invited guests, came out for the official celebration of the new home for the Cicely Tyson School of the Performing and fine Arts in East Orange.

The $143-million state-of-the-art facility opened its doors to more than 1,000 students last month, but today was its formal unveiling.

"Its like carrying a child and giving birth," said Tyson, who has been an active participant in school decisions, graduations and other events since the school was named for her in 1995. "The birth date is Oct. 24."

The gray skies outside didn’t dampen the mood of the people as they streamed in to the school’s main entrance and were greeted by a bright, red carpet and the flashing lights of the media gathered to cover the event -- the theme of which was "All Things are Possible, Only Believe."

The celebrity guests included singer-songwriters Nick Ashford and his wife, Valerie Simpson, actresses Angela Bassett and Tamara Tunie, gospel singer BeBe Winans, an active supporter of the school, Susan Taylor, the editor emeritus of Essence magazine who is also an author and philanthropist, and Faye Wattleton, the former president of Planned Parenthood of America who is currently the president of the Center For Advancement of Women.

Gov. Jon Corzine headed up the elected officials who attended, including East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser, several members of the city council, and state Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex).

After the red carpet arrivals, guests were taken on a tour of the facility and then entertained by performances by Winans and others, including several students at the school. A formal dinner was to follow.

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, who served as mistress of ceremonies for the performances during the event, said she was "amazed" by the school and the students.

"In this school, the young people can follow their dreams, but also receive an intense academic experience," O’Brien said, adding that school officials and staff care about "the whole person here."

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