When GMG approached us to design their annual dinner in Kota Kinabalu, we didn’t just want a theme. We wanted a story.
As a homegrown event company in Sabah, we curated a fully immersive experience inspired by 1920s Chicago club culture and the drama of a Broadway show – then wave in the rich identity of Sabah’s Murut heritage to create something uniquely “GMG Chicago Club in Borneo”.
The result: a one-night-only production where guests didn’t just attend a dinner… they stepped into a living, breathing Chicago Club in Magellan Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.
Curating the “Chicago Club” World
From the moment guests arrived, our goal was to transport them into another era.
The visual language drew from the golden age of jazz:
- Deep, moody tones,
- Art deco-inspired shapes,
- Glamorous energy of a 1920s club.
We layered this with Broadway-style showmanship – bold entrances, theatrical lighting, and carefully timed reveals. Every moment was designed to feel like a “scene” , from foyer welcome, ballroom reveal, performances and the final dance floor, all flowing as one continuous narrative.
This is the kind of event that excites us – not just setting up a ballroom, but building a world guests can step into.
Madam Celeste: The Heart of the Story
At the centre of the night was our original character: Madam Celeste.
She’s the imagined owner and star of the Chicago Club – a charismatic, mysterious figure who holds the room with her presence and voice. Through her, we framed the entire evening as a journey: Instead of a standard emcee-and-performance format, we treated the night like a staged narrative. Madam Celeste didn’t just appear between segments – she carried the emotional thread from beginning to end.
One of the most special parts of the evening was the way Madam Celeste’s world met our local Murut culture.
In the storyline we developed, Madam Celeste – a symbol of cosmopolitan glamour and global influence – encounters the strength, pride, and rhythm of Sabah’s Murut people. Through a specially curated performance sequence, we staged this as:
- A visual contrast between sleek Chicago club styling and traditional Murut elements;
- A musical crossover where jazz and club beats met the pulse of ethnic rhythm;
- A choreographic dialogue where dancers from “two worlds” shared the same stage.
This wasn’t just a cultural performance added into a Western theme. It was a conversation between identities.
Performances That Feel Like a Broadway Setlist
Every performance during the GMG Annual Dinner was specially curated to support the story arc:
- Club-style jazz moments that made the ballroom feel like an intimate, smoky Chicago venue.
- High-energy dance and rhythm sections that lifted the mood from classy to electric.
- Signature feature acts built around Madam Celeste and her evolving journey.
Instead of treating each performance as a standalone “item” on a rundown, we designed them as acts in a Broadway-style show. The music, choreography, costumes, and lighting were planned to escalate the night – from smooth, soulful beginnings to a powerful, uplifting finale.
Designing a Feeling, Not Just a Function
As a Sabah-based event company, we measure success not just by a smooth programme, but by those intangible reactions – the smiles, the applause, the shift in energy when the story lands.
If you’re planning your next annual dinner, gala, or themed celebration and want a partner who can design not just a theme, but a story your guests will remember, we’d love to create that journey with you – right here in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
