An Arts Center Debuts at Ground Zero with a Stellar Cast and a Stellar Lineup

Cynthia Erivo performed a rendition of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Ballerina Tiler Peck stunned the audience by moonwalking on pointe shoes to a rap by Tariq Trotter. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo showcased his talent by performing both parts of a duet from Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” twirling seamlessly from left to right with each character change.

After over two decades of envisioning, planning, debating, fundraising, losing hope, and fundraising some more, the Perelman Performing Arts Center finally opened on Thursday night at the World Trade Center site. The opening night was packed with politicians, celebrities, and benefactors whose contributions made this once-struggling project a reality.

The first performer to grace the stage of the long-awaited arts institution was Amanda Gorman, the 25-year-old poet whose civic-minded work has made her a prominent figure in major events ever since she recited a poem at President Biden’s inauguration.

Gorman recited a powerful poem that not only reflected on the September 11 attacks but also addressed the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “We ignite not in the light but in lack thereof,” she said. “For it is in loss that we learn to truly love. In this chaos, we have discovered clarity. In our suffering, we have found solidarity.”

For two decades, New York’s civic leaders and arts administrators have emphasized the importance of creating a haven for artistic expression at a site that had become synonymous with tragedy and death. “Here, on this very site, where so much loss and devastation took place,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor and chairman of the institution’s board, “the arts will bring a special sense of hope for the future.”

Various ideas for the space were considered and discarded over the years, until Ronald O. Perelman, the billionaire businessman whose name the building bears, kick-started the project with a $75 million donation. It was Mr. Bloomberg who ultimately brought the project to fruition, contributing the largest portion of funding: $130 million.

Although the building bears Mr. Perelman’s name, Mr. Bloomberg stood in the spotlight on Thursday night, mingling with benefactors and celebrities like Michael Douglas and Liev Schreiber on the red carpet during the pre-show cocktail hour. Champagne flowed, and guests enjoyed miniature cheeseburgers and pigs in blankets.

Onstage, Mr. Perelman acknowledged Mr. Bloomberg’s significant role in the project, as well as the unexpectedly high cost of constructing the building designed by architect Joshua Ramus. “At the start of this project, we estimated a cost of $150 to $200 million, but it ended up being around $500 million,” Mr. Perelman said. “And it was our mayor who filled in the majority of the shortfall.”

Encased in a cube-shaped building adorned with marble, which glowed with an amber hue as the sun set, the gala’s main event featured a spectacular lineup. Angélique Kidjo, a singer from Benin, shared the stage with Native American dancer Supaman. Tori Kelly sang alongside elementary school students from Staten Island. Whoopi Goldberg delivered a brief stand-up set, and James Taylor closed the night with several songs.

Many of the presenters were native New Yorkers who reminisced about their childhoods in the city, including John Leguizamo, actress Rosario Dawson, and Broadway performer Javier Muñoz. (The event encountered a few technical glitches on opening night: Gorman’s poem briefly disappeared from her teleprompter, and Taylor mentioned that his earpiece wasn’t working.)

The Perelman Performing Arts Center will open its doors to the public on Tuesday with a concert featuring performers who consider New York their “artistic home,” including multidisciplinary artist Laurie Anderson and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Raven Chacon.

Khady Kamara, the center’s executive director, expressed gratitude for the dedication and resilience shown throughout the entire project. “Making sure this project was seen through to the end required a lot of commitment,” she said.

Bill Rauch, the center’s artistic director, believes that because the victims of the September 11 attacks hailed from over 90 countries, the institution has a responsibility to be not only a local cultural center for Lower Manhattan but also an international one.

“Our goal is not just to have an audience,” said Muñoz, “but to have an audience that represents the diverse melting pot that is New York.”