Italy - Claypaky and distributor Audiosales recently hosted a Patrick Woodroffe workshop at the Teatro Sociale in Bergamo. In Lighting The Stars, Woodroffe, who has designed the lighting for the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, the London 2012 Olympic Games, and a host of other internationally important events, discussed his most significant and exciting experiences, including an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson, with whom he was working on preparing a tour just days before Michael's untimely death. After that, in an original live hands-on exercise, he put together a lighting design for the song I wanna be your slave by Måneskin, revealing some of the secrets of his art and technique. The workshop was organized by Claypaky and Claypaky's distributor for Italy Audiosales, with Ziogiorgio.it as media partner and AILD as sponsor. It was held on Tuesday 16
Israel - The Duhl Centre is a cultural institute and auditorium located in the Hatikva district of Tel Aviv. The venue was designed and built in 1985 and since then has been an active artistic and cultural site, quickly becoming a landmark of the community, not only of the Hatikva district but of the entire south area of Tel Aviv. Given the great social impact of the place, the venue has been recently upgraded with new lighting technologies, in order to make the centre more modern and innovative. For the lighting system, the Duhl Center has appointed the multimedia consultant Harel Tabibi, who has chosen to rely on Prolights’ latest LED fixtures, and the gear has been supplied A.B. Electronics, distributor of the brand for the territory of Israel. The multimedia consultant has enriched the new lighting rig with the Prolights Astra Wash 7Pix LED moving wash l
USA - Iconic a multi-media production at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, SC, (the venue is named after the band) takes audiences on a ‘journey through the music that has shaped our sense of time and place, from country hits and Broadway show tunes, to power rock anthems and pop ballads’. While a group of talented performers on stage told this story through music, and a large video wall supported it with vivid imagery, the shades of colours so important to its telling was provided by an enchanting rainbow of a lighting design created by Susan Rose. Helping Rose work her magic was a collection of Chauvet Professional COLORado fixtures. “This show is very edgy and contemporary and definitely a major step up from the typical production shows,” said Rose. “It was especially fun for me to light, since I had such a wide variety of music to lig
USA - The Morton Salt complex in Chicago had been in operation for nearly a century before it was closed down in 2015. Today, the complex has been transformed into a multi-purpose venue for live music and other events named The Salt Shed. Boasting modern sound and lighting systems, including a comprehensive Elation stage lighting rig from Upstaging, The Salt Shed is quickly becoming a popular performance space in Chicago. The venue spreads over 1.5 acres of land along the Chicago riverfront and can accommodate around 3,300 people indoors and 5,000 at an outdoor performance space, which opened in the summer of 2022. The newly renovated indoor space was previously a storage facility for salt and features a distinctive A-Frame structure. Today, it boasts a performance stage and an entertainment lighting system of Elation Artiste Monet, Proteus Lucius, Proteus Rayzor 760, Fuze M
USA - Muse hit the road with its North American tour, Will of the People, on which more than 150 Claypaky Xtylos enhance the band’s performance. The tour is named for the band’s most recent ninth studio album, which gave Muse its seventh consecutive No. 1 on the UK albums chart and topped Billboard’s Alternative and Rock Albums tallies. The Will of the People tour began in Chicago’s United Centre on 25 February and concluded on 20 April in Salt Lake City, after which it moved on to Europe. “The band and I really wanted to go in a very different direction from their previous tour to give this one its own identity,” notes Jesse Lee Stout, creative director and co-production designer. “We developed a post-apocalyptic, near-future world as a metaphor for our ‘New Normal’. Over the past couple of years, a pandemic wreaked havoc, an insurrect
USA - Visual Productions (VP) has announced that it has entered into a new distribution agreement with ACT Entertainment in the United States. Dutch lighting control system manufacturer Visual Productions has developed a modular range of DMX and DALI light controllers that speak the language of system integrators. Products such as CueCore, B-Station and TimeCore are used in architainment, hospitality, themed environments and other fixed installations. Maarten Engels, managing director of Visual Productions, explains the collaboration. “The rationale for joining forces with ACT Entertainment is really a story of synergy: On the one hand, VP is expanding its distribution network with the ACT organisation which consists of several offices in the US and a very strong technical support team. “We are of course delighted that ACT's platform will make our products m
USA - Bandit Lites has announced the hiring of Sherry Wells to its Nashville office. Wells will serve as a purchasing assistant, aiding the purchasing department with receiving, inventory and sales for the entire company. With 12 years of experience, Wells will work directly to further support purchasing director Andy Reese. “Sherry brings a great skillset and energy to Bandit Lites,” said Reese. “Her addition to our purchasing department will allow us to become more efficient and better serve our clients and our internal needs as Bandit’s business continues to grow across all departments.” Wells’ hiring follows the complete overhaul of the Nashville location, with an office expansion and remodel.
USA - Love Has No Limits - 1 Day Houston was actually a two-day event, that raised awareness and funds for community organisations in the Texas city. The Activity’s Patrick Dierson, who led the creative team, initially planned on working with a much larger stage at The Toyota Centre. Unfortunately, but ultimately fortunately, logistics got in the way, necessitating a change in his design strategy. “Ultimately, we were forced into having a smaller turntable, which led to a slightly tighter performance area,” said Dierson. “With things beginning to narrow, we started playing with the idea of going with a more elongated look for the project. So, we decided to base the overall design on a series of trusses that would be orientated upstage to downstage at an upward rake. This ended up giving us a much larger overall look.” Working with this rig, Dierson and
Middle East - Media Pro Group is an audio-visual production company, with more than a decade of experience in providing event technology and creative design solutions for any and every event. Media Pro Group recently added to its repertoire of state-of-the-art equipment, the compatible Ayrton Cobra laser-sourced fixtures. Media Pro Group ordered a total of 226 compact Cobra laser-sourced fixtures which were used at sporting events, music festivals, award ceremonies and other events. Cobra is Ayrton’s first laser-sourced, IP65 rated fixture. It is designed for rendering a D65 white point that allows perfect colour reproduction, with an output of 386,000 lux at 20m, 38x zoom ratio and a zoom range of 0.6° to 23°. Cobra is capable of illuminating an object several kilometres away, it also has the famous Ayrton continuous pan and tilt, a highly innovative colour section and
UK - IPS were delighted to exhibit again at the 2023 PLASA Focus show, returning to Leeds has become a firm date in the company calendar. “The team on the stand met lots of familiar faces during the busy two-day event and had lots of productive conversations about upcoming projects and the latest hire items in the IPS inventory,” says IPS’ Tom Warden. “There was also interest in the IPS offering from new potential customers, as well as students and others interested in starting out within the technical events industry.” The IPS stand was consistently busy as people visited to have a look at the fixtures on display, which included the new Martin MAC Aura XIP LED Wash fixture (which was recently one of the stars of the show at the Windsor Coronation Concert) and the new GLP Impression X5 IP Bar, which will arrive in hire stocks very shortly. The X5 IP bar boasts a br
USA - At one point in Akshay Kumar’s show, The Entertainers, the Bollywood star seemed to be floating in the air. The harnessed Kumar then picked up dancer Mouni Roy and ascended over the audience with her. The sellout crowds at the three stops on this US tour might very well have felt that they were air surfing too, such was the uplifting magical mood of this three-and-a-half hour show that featured music and dancing interspliced with plenty of dynamic crowd interaction. In addition to Roy, Kumar was joined on stage (if not in the air), by stars like Norha Fatehi, Disha Patani, Sonam Bauwa, Zahrah Khan, Jasleen Royal and Steben Ben, along with a large cast of supporting dancers, singers and musicians. Adding to the excitement was a multi-dimensional lighting design by Roosevelt Dsouza that featured over 80 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by AVL Productions.<
Spain - The new Landetxe Kultur Aretoa theatre in the city of Oiartzun (Guipuzcoa), was inaugurated on 10 April 2023. The complex is designed to improve the social and cultural welfare of the city, consisting of a recreation centre for the elderly, a lounge bar and a theatre. For the new stage's equipment, the Landetxe turned to Cinetronica which was able to realise this major project relying on Prolights LED fixtures, through the know-how of Seesound, Prolights distributor for Spain. Installed lighting includes: LED ellipsoidals EclProfile CT+ with Zoom lenses, LED Fresnel EclFresnel JrTW with six colour LED source, EclPar FC Spotlight with RGB+WW LED source and the asymmetric CYC light EclCyclorama 050.
South Africa - On 11 May, radio station 5FM celebrated the 20-year journey of DJ, Roger Goode. The 5FM studios were transformed into a vibrant, club-like environment by beamZ Lighting, demonstrating Goode's significant influence on the music industry. Roger Goode is a celebrated South African DJ who gained national prominence with his hit single In the beginning. The dance music compilation also found success in the European market. Goode has been a fixture on 5FM since 2003, becoming one of the station's most popular DJs. His humour, high-energy presentation style, and passion for music have captivated a wide audience, particularly during his popular 6pm show. To commemorate Goode's 20-year milestone, 5FM hosted an intimate celebration during his show, inviting a select group of listeners to share in the exclusive 'Roger Goode Experience'. Given the size
Israel - Beit Zvi School for the Performing Arts is an acting school with an associated theatre located in Ramat Gan city, Tel-Aviv. All the school’s production shows are staged in the 350-capacity venue, together with other performances organised by the Ramat Gan municipality, all now benefitting from a full lighting upgrade that included the addition of Robe moving and static LED luminaires. In 2021, sales and installation company Danor Theatre & Studio Systems won the tender to upgrade the lighting system, a contract that saw the supply of new fixtures, dimmers, and a lighting console, complete with 20 x Robe ParFect 150 RGBWs, six VIVA CMYs and two T1 Profiles. In the same installation, the over-stage pipes were also renewed with a mixture of manual and electronic winched bars, and the process also finally saw the replacement of two heritage Robe Club Spots
Norway - Oslo-based CT Norway enjoyed a successful LLB exhibition in March, its busy booth including a showcase of systems from event and broadcast comms specialist, Green-GO. LLB (Lyd Lys Bilde or Light Sound Picture), held every two years in Oslo, is a major social event for Norway’s industry, attracting professionals from all over the country. This year, however, following COVID, it returned for the first time since 2019, bringing an added anticipation for all concerned. Part of the global Creative Technology Group, CT Norway provides audio, lighting, visual and staging technologies and expertise for all kinds of live, virtual and installed environments. It is also the exclusive Norwegian distributor for a number of leading brands, including Green-GO’s range of innovative, Ethernet network-based, digital intercom systems. As well as making Green-GO technol
UK - Five NRG members had the time of their life at this year's Eurovision Song Contest as RoboSpot operators. NRG Manager Jane Monk said: “Lighting designer Tim Routledge created this exclusive opportunity for local students to get involved. Working together, both LIPA and Cheshire colleges hosted NRG Introduction to RoboSpot training days - keeping the reason a secret.” After weeks of rehearsals and meetings, each student took control of a RoboSpot and played an integral role in the team of 15 RoboSpot operators. A once in a lifetime opportunity that accumulated in a spectacular grand final featuring over 635 Robe lighting fixtures. Lighting designer Tim Routledge said: "From my initial conversations with the BBC about taking this project on I wanted it to be as diverse a team as possible and to leave a legacy in Liverpool so that the money spent there ga
UK - Elation Professional has announced that Koy Neminathan has joined the company as director of business development. The industry veteran comes to Elation from lighting console manufacturer Avolites, where he worked for over 23 years in sales and business development, the last decade as sales director. Koy will work closely with designers to keep them abreast of Elation’s growing line of lighting products while communicating market insight to the Elation product team “Koy is a well-respected professional with a deep understanding of our industry and we are excited to have him join our team as a representative for the Elation brand,” stated Marc Librecht, Elation sales & marketing director Europe. “The collaborative relationships he will continue to build across the industry will be a great benefit and important asset as we continue to grow globally.”<
USA - Claypaky and Inner Circle Distribution (ICD) have announced a strategic partnership effective 15 June 2023. This partnership “pledges to invigorate the industry with a fresh perspective while preserving the high level of customer service and support that clients value. ICD's emphasis on dependable service, a robust dealer network, and strong customer relationships aligns perfectly with Claypaky's innovative vision”. "We are delighted to partner with ICD, a company that shares our dedication to innovation and superior service," shared Marcus Graser, CEO of Claypaky. "This alliance underscores our commitment to advancing lighting technology while safeguarding the dependable operations our customers rely on." Graser further adds: "In times of change, continuity is crucial. As such, George Masek, Claypaky's strategic marketing manager, will remain a key pa
Italy - KSCAPE has appointed Vieri Parrulli to the role of sales manager. Parrulli brings with him over a decade of experience in the lighting industry, alongside ‘a wealth of knowledge and expertise’. Parrulli studied at the Faculty of Architecture in Florence. After a year of experience as a freelance professional, he decided to specialise in the field of lighting design, which he had always appreciated from an aesthetic point of view. Since then, Parrulli has gone on to complete several specialised courses and training throughout Italy. “I am delighted to join the team at KSCAPE within K-array, an organisation that is at the forefront of innovation in the audio industry,” confirms Parrulli. “RAIL is an exceptional offering that has already set a precedent in a merging industry of light and audio, and I am eager to introduce it to the wider market.”
USA - One of five Christ Community campuses in the greater Chicago area, Christ Community’s St. Charles/South Elgin location recently received a key lighting and house lighting upgrade of Elation Professional Fuze Profile and Fuze Pendant fixtures. The new lighting system offers the church greater flexibility in creating lighting atmospheres while adding an immersive element to the worship experience. Additional benefits of the new system include savings on electricity. The church sought assistance from JRLX, a Chicago-based firm specialising in systems integration and production and engaged Jason Reberski to devise a solution. Prior to the pandemic, Reberski had conversations with the church regarding upgrades to their house and key lighting, as well as new power controls. The church aimed to replace outdated infrastructure and equipment, while moving forward as a church.
USA - Hale Centre Theatre is a family company headquartered in Sandy, Utah, USA, and dedicated to enriching lives through its world-class productions, which include a range of traditional Broadway and off Broadway plays and musical theatre shows - around 10 per season - staged in two venues under one roof. The larger auditorium, the Young Living Centre Stage, has a capacity of 911 for its dynamic in-the-round format and has recently invested in a zactrack SMART real-time tracking system. The venue’s head of lighting and video, Jaron Kent Hermansen, was lighting a recent production of The Little Mermaid directed by Ryan Simmons, which involved extensive people flying, and decided that the time was right to purchase zactrack, which he could see would be a massive asset to this and other productions. Jaron has lit several flying-heavy shows before and was
UK - Creative Technology was an official supplier of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 - commissioned by Luke Mills and Gary Beestone of GBA on behalf of BBC Studios to provide a variety of LED solutions to bring together the impressive stage design by Julio Himede, realised by technical team headed up by Matthias Kublik alongside lighting designer, Tim Routledge. With the event’s theme being United by Music, the stage design concept was created to reflect this - resembling a wide hug, the entire architecture of the set symbolises welcoming the people of Ukraine and Europe with open arms. Taking centre stage were seven ROE Black Quartz LED towers, two larger outer towers measuring 4x10 m and five slightly smaller inner towers measuring 3x10 m. The towers were attached to an automation system supplied by Belgium-based company Wicreations. These systems no
UK - Electric Airshows, the only drone show company currently in PLASA’s membership, revealed two major advances at the popular PLASA Focus Leeds trade show in early May. First up, the specialist provider of drone light shows gave the production industry its first glimpse of a brand-new, ‘out of the box’ solution that signals the future of fast drone show implementation for entertainment. At the same time, the company introduced another major step forward with the addition of award-winning lighting designer (and trained drone pilot!) John Bishop, to its growing team. The ingenious new flightcase system offers rapid deployment for drone light shows. With 12 drones ready to fly out of - and back into! - each protective case, the system promises to significantly speed-up the laborious process of prepping and laying out a swarm of drones for an aerial display. Impor
USA - ACT Entertainment will showcase its new zactrack mini at InfoComm 2023 (Booth 3643). This briefcase-sized tracking solution offers easy transport and deployment for areas of 15x15m, by a single person. Designed to introduce tracking to new users and spaces, the zactrack mini is suitable for smaller venues, exhibitions and conferences, individual performers, rental companies, houses of worship and more. “With zactrack’s core value of providing a quality user experience at the center of this design, the zactrack mini boasts a smaller form factor with battery operated components and wireless connectivity for an even faster and easier setup,” says Ryan Hindinger, market manager: concert touring & live experiences, ACT Entertainment. “It is also a more economically viable solution, opening the act of tracking and following to any application, designer or p
