Event

A projection of Phantom of the Opera's symbol—the white mask—washed the façade of the New York Public Library, marking the entrance to the post-performance celebration. Illuminating the library's exterior with the iconic image required special permission from the library.

In a smart move that avoided the complications that come with laying carpet over stairs—especially on a snowy night in New York—the event's producers projected a strip of red light over the library's front steps, effectively creating a virtual red carpet that led to the entrance. Hundreds of LED candles sat on either side of the illuminated pathway.

More projections were found inside, with the image of the Phantom mask illuminating drapes placed at the ends of Astor Hall's long hallways. Low lighting in red and blue hues added to the eerie, almost ethereal look.

To make the event feel like an extension of The Phantom of the Opera, the organizers brought in 18 costumed mannequins, pieces used in the theatrical production's masquerade scene.

Producers spread the elaborately dressed mannequins throughout the space, placing them in corners, beside tables, and in the balcony. The figures cast shadows on the walls and, from a distance, looked like party guests.

The organizers secured permission from the library to replace the lights in the venue's standing candelabra with flickering ones. Staffers in footmen costumes from the musical stood still amidst the crowd.

The International Culinary Center donated an elaborate and detailed sugar sculpture made by its students and chefs. A small piece on the side was cake, an edible piece that was cut into during the event.

As a subtle way to decorate the ceiling of Astor Hall, Bentley Meeker projected imagery of the night sky, with slow-moving clouds.

The event took over several spaces inside the New York Public Library, including rooms on the ground floor. The producers used many of the areas as dining halls, setting up catering stations and tables for guests to sit at with their plated dishes.

Sculptural floral arrangements from McNabb Roick decorated the tops of candelabra, giving the tabletops a romantic feel.

In January, Bulgari hosted a benefit at Ron Burkle’s Beverly Hills manse. Mitie Tucker Event Production transformed the dinner tent into a private library with images of bookshelves lining the walls, tables covered in faux crocodile, and lamps and books as centerpieces.

For a donut-themed bridal shower put together by blogger Elsie Larson, a giant chalkboard filled with descriptive doodles served as the backdrop of the food spread.

The entryway for the New York event was a tunnel filled with smoke, projections, and audio. The sounds and images playing were of frustrated smartphone users, designed to contrast the setting inside.

At one entrance, attendees walked down a 51-foot glowing green tunnel, intended to symbolize the distance golfers gain when they use TaylorMade's new RocketBallz line of equipment.

Vincent Drolet of Circo de Bakuza wanted to create a buffer zone between the real world and the event's surreal setting. At the entrance, guests walked through a curtain and were greeted with a projection of an eye that opened and closed. "We wanted to give them the feeling of walking into a cloud," said Drolet.

Whimsically presented desserts at the after-party included cupcakes on forks, towers of meringues, and cream puffs in birdcages.