The inaugural season includes productions of A Christmas Story and Annie, the premier of an original musical, a custom light show created by Luma, the Irish dance troupe direct from Ireland-Celtic Nights, and an interpreted production of Stuart Little for hearing and deaf audiences.
The new facility's 536-seat theatre - one of two performance spaces in the extensive centre - can host this diverse series of events because of the easy-to-use automated rigging system provided by J. R. Clancy, Inc., and installed by Barbizon Light of the Rockies. Barbizon's Rick Loudenburg was on the design team as the theatrical rigging and lighting integrator with Semple Brown Design Architects, David L Adams and Associates and Shaw Construction.
The new theatre features 14 Clancy PowerLift automated hoists, including eight variable-speed and six fixed-speed hoists.
Clancy's popular Altus digital controller was the system of choice for the project. Designed for mid-level backstage rigging systems with up to 48 hoists, Altus allows operators to create up to 200 cues with different speeds and targets for each hoist. In addition to the PowerLifts, Altus will control the H&H 462 draw curtain machine on the front curtain.
"We originally planned to go with a more expensive controller, but Altus was introduced while we were designing the system," said Dan Obenhaus, senior project manager for Barbizon Light. "Altus did everything we needed, it was easy to use, and it brought the price of the project down. It was good for everyone."
"We love the rigging system," said Shaun Albrechtson, technical director at PACE. "It's very versatile and easy to use. We really enjoy that we don't have to worry so much about weights. It's freed us up from the mundane aspects of the standard rigging system. The safety features alone are phenomenal-it has everything calculated through the computer, and everything operating smoothly is just a comforting feeling."
(Jim Evans)
