Inside Phantom of the Opera Load-Out: The Chandelier Leaves the Majestic

Today, May 1, was a somber and historic day for Broadway and Phantom of the Opera fans: the show’s iconic chandelier officially left the Majestic Theatre and was loaded onto the back of a truck (presumably headed for a farm upstate).

The Chandelier was custom-built for the New York production, where it appeared for its entire run. Lovingly named “Ruthie II” after director Hal Prince’s longtime associate Ruth Mitchell, the dazzling replica of the Paris Opera House chandelier weighs one ton and features 30,000 beads. In the course of nearly 14,000 New York performances, it traveled to and from the stage 5,382,685 feet (1,019 miles).

The full load-out is expected to take at least five weeks.

All photos © Jeremy Daniel