Lighting has been created by leading Italian LD Valerio Tibeiri who seized the opportunity in London to upgrade the original lighting rig and use nearly 70 x Robe moving lights - a combination of BMFL Blades and LEDBeam 1000s - as the primary luminaires.
Written by Eleanor Bergstein the production is directed by Federico Bellone with a set design by Roberto Comotti, both of whom Valerio has worked with on many previous projects. He was delighted to be involved again on this one which is choreographed by Gillian Bruce. Costume design is by Jennifer Irwin, the sound designer is Armando Vertullo and musical direction is by Michael John.
Valerio explained that the UK touring version was slightly bigger - in terms of stage spaces - than the initial Italian show, however it was influenced by the same successful creative language, but with an updated lighting plot which allowed BMFL Blades and LEDBeam 1000s to be specified and supplied by Surrey based Storm Lighting.
Valerio is highly impressed with both these fixture types and uses them and other Robe products frequently in his work.
The BMFL Blades were rigged all over the house bars above stage at the Phoenix Theatre, on the FOH balcony and on side stage booms and used constantly throughout the performance.
The LEDBeam 1000s were also dotted around, and in particular used for back light effects and as fillers and specials from the front.
Valerio was pleased with the updated London design, "It was super-bright and vibrant, the colours were really intense and vigorous - far more so than on the original production, and this was down to the BMFLs and LEDBeam 1000s," he stated.
"The great thing about having 32 x BMFL Blades is that you know you're 68 units with exactly the same colours and a really rich and beautiful quality of light, etc., and this is really important with HTI lightsources in a show like this.
"The good zoom was also essential for this show as he uses multiple gobos and as the focus will frequently change within gobo cues, the BMFL's auto-focus function has been very valuable.
Working alongside him on the UK Dirty Dancing production were programmer Francesco Vignati and associate LD Andrea Burgaretta crunched the buttons.
Valerio is now also lighting a new Italian production of another classic musical, The Bodyguard, with 30 x DL7S Profiles on the rig, which is scheduled to open at the Teatro Nazionale in Milan this month, January 2017.
(Jim Evans)
