The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, was a night to remember. Beyond the glamorous red carpet and emotional acceptance speeches, the event featured highly detailed innovative design and showcased exemplary preparation and event planning. As any experienced event planner knows, even the most carefully orchestrated productions must be prepared for the unexpected—showcased by Ben Stiller’s hilarious stage mishap and the length of Adrien Brody’s record-breaking acceptance speech.

Executive Producers: Crafting a Vision

Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan: The Creative Architects

Returning for their second consecutive year, Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan served as the executive producers of the 2025 Oscars. Their collaboration in the previous year earned them an Emmy, setting high expectations for this year’s ceremony. Their extensive experience in event planning, ranging from the Super Bowl and Olympic Opening Nights, to The Grammys and The Voice culminated with the creation of the production team’s triangular uprising set design, showcasing each presenter with a delightful, pointed, and stunning ethos. 

In search of a host to usher the night’s proceedings, they looked to ​Conan O’Brien to deliver a performance that was both commercially successful and uniquely his own. To their delight, his distinctive comedic style resonated with audiences and contributed to the ceremony achieving its highest ratings in five years.

Stage Design: Bringing the Vision to Life

Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley: The Designers Behind the Magic

The responsibility of translating the producers’ vision into a tangible experience fell to production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley. Both returning from the previous year’s acclaimed show, their design for the 2025 Oscars was nothing short of spectacular.

Conceptualizing the Stage: A Rising Ash

In the wake of the devastating fires that burned over 37,000 acres of land and destroyed 16,000 structures throughout LA, stage designers looked to portray a recovering community with strength. 

The stage design was conceived as “a monolithic structure soar[ing] from the ground like a phoenix from the ashes,” wrote Buckley on Instagram. “The temple-like architecture was intended to feel both modern and ancient, using materials of stone, raw metals, glass, and rose gold to reflect our strength and fragility.”  

The shift towards empowerment marked a notable contrast from the Grammy’s mournful tone, reflecting the community’s desire to move forward and begin rebuilding while acknowledging its recent past.  

Technological Innovations: Merging Art with Technology

The stage incorporated cutting-edge technology to enhance the visual storytelling. High resolution LED screens formed the backdrop, displaying immersive and colorful visuals that complemented each presentation. Performers were complimented with dynamic lighting enhancements, color shows, dancers, and atmospheric effects that created both entertaining and immersive performance enhancements.

Lighting Design: Setting the Mood

Lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz played a crucial role in crafting the show’s ambiance. Utilizing a combination of intelligent lighting fixtures and programmable LEDs, they created a versatile lighting setup that could adapt to the diverse moods of the evening—from the high-energy opening number to the poignant In Memoriam segment.

World Class Performances: A Tapestry of Talent

Opening Number: A “Wicked” Start

The ceremony commenced with a show-stopping performance by Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. They delivered a medley of classics, including Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Defying Gravity, setting an exhilarating tone for the evening. Choreographer Mandy Moore, known for her work on La La Land and Dancing with the Stars, designed the choreography, showcasing the artists’ talent while complementing the unique stage design.

To her, the best thing she could do was, “get out of the way” of the performers and allow them to shine. Though she helped guide the performers in preparation of the sequence, she put the success of the event above herself to help streamline the rest of the team’s success. In the realm of event planning and production, her open-mindedness and cooperation showcases a highly desirable trait on a team of event planning collaborators.

James Bond Tribute: Shaken, Not Stirred

In a tribute to the James Bond franchise, artists Doja Cat, Lisa of BLACKPINK, and Raye performed iconic Bond themes such as Live and Let Die, Diamonds Are Forever, and Skyfall. The performance featured cinematic lighting effects, atmospheric effects, LED projections of legendary Bond moments, and an electrifying orchestra conducted by Hans Zimmer.

The Role of Event Planners: Staying Alert and Adaptive

The Oscars are a live event, and as seen with Adrien Brody’s record-breaking 5-minute, 40-second acceptance speech, sometimes unpredictable moments require event planners to think on their feet. As Brody poured his heart out, producers attempted to cue him off with the orchestra, but he continued to speak and ushered for the music to pause. Combined with Ben Stiller’s stage antics, the show exemplified the unpredictable nature of live productions. While planners can control technology, lighting, and performances, human spontaneity remains the wildcard. The 2025 Oscars highlighted why event coordinators must remain flexible, vigilant, and ready for anything—because in the world of live entertainment, the unexpected is often what makes history.  

Here are five key learnings for event planners based on the 2025 Oscars:

1. Strong Creative Direction Drives Success – The vision set by executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan was crucial in shaping the event’s success. Their experience and innovative approach, from stage design to selecting a host like Conan O’Brien, highlight the importance of a clear creative direction that aligns with audience expectations.
2. Stage Design Should Reflect a Deeper Narrative – The Oscars’ stage, inspired by resilience after the devastating LA fires, exemplifies how event design can tell a story. Event planners should consider how stage elements—materials, colors, and structure—can evoke emotions and reinforce the event’s theme.
3. Technology Enhances, but Doesn’t Replace, Performance – The integration of high-resolution LED screens, dynamic lighting, and atmospheric effects demonstrated how technology can elevate an event. However, the event’s most memorable moments still centered around human performances, emphasizing that tech should enhance, not overshadow, the experience.
4. Collaboration and Adaptability Are Essential – Mandy Moore’s approach to choreography, prioritizing the performers’ success over personal recognition, underscores the importance of teamwork in event planning. A successful event requires coordination between multiple teams, and flexibility in execution ensures the best outcome.
5. Expect and Embrace the Unexpected – Live events are unpredictable. Event planners must anticipate unexpected moments, have contingency plans in place, and be prepared to adapt in real-time to maintain the event’s flow without compromising its integrity.