Another British celebration -- this time it’s the BritWeek gala dinner

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Just hours before Will and Kate tied the royal knot in London, the local British community held its own celebration: BritWeek’s Gala Dinner at L.A. Live, honoring Tim Leiweke, chief executive of the sports and entertainment giant, AEG Worldwide, which built -- among other venues -- Staples Center

Scheduled to perform three numbers, Seal addressed Leiweke and his wife Bernadette from onstage, noting their achievements and saying that if they let him, he’d slip in two more songs “if you still give me my courtside seats on Monday.”

Seal dedicated a song to his wife, Heidi Klum of “Project Runway,“ who blew him a kiss from the head table. And forget the notion that the British are reserved. Party-goers rose to their feet and clustered by the stage, moving to the music until the final note.

The guest list at the Thursday event included Consul General Dame Barbara Hay, dinner co-chairs Bob Peirce and Paul Wright, Alex Hyde-White, Michael Keaton, David Hunt, Patricia Heaton of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and Tia Carrere of “True Lies.” Ross King served as host.

Founded by “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe, BritWeek highlights L.A.’s British connections. The gala benefited the “Joy of Reading” literacy project for LA’s Best after-school enrichment program.

-- Ellen Olivier

Click here for more Scene & Heard coverage