Europe - ACME Lighting and Highlite International are the latest companies to announce that they will no longer be exhibiting at the postponed Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt this May, due to the health risks posed by Coronavirus (COVID-19). “At this moment, the entire entertainment industry is experiencing huge challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to the virus,” says Marco Galli, EMEA sales director at ACME Lighting. “We take the health of our staff and customers very seriously. Well-being and containment of COVID-19 is our duty and priority, and therefore, regretfully, we are forced to cancel plans to participate in Prolight+Sound 2020.” Meanwhile, a statement from Highlite reads: “We have decided not to participate in Prolight+Sound 2020. The new dates after the postponement of the fair do not fit within our plans and vision of the industr
USA - Under the direction of New York state governor Andrew Cuomo, Broadway shows in New York City will suspend all performances immediately in support of the health and well-being of the theatre-going public, as well as those who work in the theatre industry, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Performances will commence the week of April 13, 2020. "Our top priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatregoers and the thousands of people who work in the theatre industry every day, including actors, musicians, stagehands, ushers, and many other dedicated professionals," said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. "Broadway has the power to inspire, enrich, and entertain, and together we are committed to making that vital spirit a reality. Once our stages are lit again, we will welcome fans back with open arms so th
USA/Canada - Solotech expanded its lighting inventory last summer with the purchase of 150 Ayrton Khamsin-S LED profile luminaires and 108 Ayrton MagicBlade-FX fixtures from ACT Lighting, Inc., Ayrton’s exclusive distributor in North America. The Khamsin-S units selected by Solotech are designed for scenic applications. The fixture is equipped with a new LED module delivering powerful metallic white light with a record-breaking output of 40,000 lumens and a colour temperature of 6500 K. The MagicBlade-FX is the latest iteration of the popular MagicBlade-R. It features seven next-generation RGBW high-output LEDs than can be individually controlled to create airborne virtual scenery or to illuminate sets and performers. “Ayrton is a well-known quality brand with impressive fixtures that are industry accepted and requested,” says Lee Moro, vice president of live pro
Ukraine – Chinese fixture manufacturer Acme’s Dotline360 LED battens are adding powerful, pixel-mapped colour to some of Ukraine’s biggest shows following an investment by one of the country’s largest rental and lighting production companies, Alight. The one-metre Dotline360 units, which are equipped with 12x 30W RGBW LEDs, landed in stock at Alight in autumn 2019 and have been out on projects almost continuously ever since. Most recently, they have been seen in action on the popular Ukraine TV show Dancing with the Stars, and a gig by Ukraine pop duo Vremya i Steklo, who performed to a capacity 10,000 crowd at Kiev’s Palace of Sports arena. “We discovered Acme’s Dotline360 at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt in 2019 and were immediately impressed by the brightness, colour mixing and smooth output with great linear dimming,” says lighting des
Canada - The French concert version of the hit musical Phantom of the Opera has debuted in Montreal and Quebec City where lighting designer Jean-Francois Couture, of Montreal’s La Boîte à Lumière, utilised grandMA3 full-size console for lighting control. The new production, featuring 20 singers and a 40-musician orchestra, enchanted audiences at the Théâtre St-Denis in Montreal and the Grand Théâtre de Québec. It was presented by Spectra Musique through a special arrangement with The Really Useful Group. Couture has used grandMA lighting consoles for the last two decades. Phantom of the Opera was his first experience with the grandMA3, which he ran using grandMA3 software. The system was provided by Francis Giguère of Omnison, Montreal. During the Christmas holiday Couture taught himself the grandMA3 “using the same process as when I s
Europe - Regular users of GLP solutions, 30 Seconds to Mars, spent last summer playing festivals and indoor arenas across Europe, including two special ‘Mars Island’ shows on a private Croatian Island. Piloting their lighting and visual show was production designer Tom Campbell of MIRRAD, himself a regular user of GLP’s award-winning fixtures over the years. “The original impression series was one of the fixtures I had used regularly back in the day and it’s great to see how far GLP has evolved ever since,” he says. Campbell joined the technical team last May after finding himself unexpectedly being contacted by the band’s leader, singer/songwriter and actor, Jared Leto. “I received a random phone call from him about lights, having already spoken to the production managers, Pete Abbott and Ed Slaney,” he confirmed. And the designer quickly learn
UK - Event production specialist CPL started the year with some major investments in lighting and video products. This includes the acquisition of the acquisition of Barco UDM 4K22 projectors – one of the first three companies in the UK to invest in these brand-new machines – plus Portman P1 Mini LED fixtures, Astera Titan Tubes and OXO Pixyline 150 LED battens. This is in addition to the 40x new Robe LEDBeam 150 wash beam moving lights that joined the CPL lighting inventory in December 2019. Eight Barco UDM 4K22s join the company’s already extensive fleet of Barco - and other - high-powered projectors, purchased for their quality, reliability and innovative features. CPL plans to use these projectors on several upcoming projects. Also new for the lighting department is the Portman P1 Mini LED from Polish manufacturer Portman. The P1 Mini comprises s
South Africa - Vectorworks Spotlight Training workshops will be presented by Dylan Jones at DWR Distribution in Cape Town (15 -17 April) and Durban (20 - 22 May). The three-day sessions will allow users to explore the power and flexibility Vectorworks Spotlight has to offer. Dylan will cover topics such as layouts and palettes, basic tools, classes and layers, Spotlight tools, intermediate tools, worksheets and reports, 3D modelling, resource management and file import and export. Delegates are requested to supply Vectorworks Spotlight installed on a PC or MAC, a keyboard, mouse, screen and a valid ID. The cost is R2,100 and includes a light lunch and refreshments.
USA - US-based trade show USITT has been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event was was due to celebrate its 60th anniversary edition this 1-4 April. A statement from the shows organisers reads: “The USITT Board of Directors, in an unanimous vote, has cancelled the 2020 Annual Conference & Stage Expo scheduled for April 1-4 in Houston.” USITT executive director David Grindle said in a video message posted on the show’s website: “I have to let you know that we have cancelled this year’s annual Conference and Stage Expo. This is a very, very difficult decision. At USITT we talk a lot about safety and health and making sure our workplaces are safe spaces. Today, we had to make the hard decision to ensure the safety and health of our members.” He conti
France - The first sponsors of Showlight Quadrennial (Fontainebleau, France – 22-25 May 2021) have been announced by its organisers. Joining Headline sponsor Robert Juliat, the 100-year old, family-run, French manufacturer of lighting equipment are: Platinum sponsor, Ayrton; Gold sponsors, Eyetidy, Robe and SFL Group; Silver sponsors, ABTT, ACT Lighting and White Light, and Bronze sponsor, PRG. Media Partner for Showlight 2021 is LSI, with generous support from LSA and PLASA. “We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors, partners and supporters, but this list is just the beginning,” says Showlight. "It is a little-known fact, but Showlight is organised entirely by volunteers and would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. We are currently looking for more sponsors to make Showlight 2021 a success, so why not get involved? There are many ways to become a
USA - When Alaskan rock band Static Cycle found themselves in need of a location to shoot their latest music video, Boxes, Bandit Lites offered use of their rehearsal space, Venue One, a 10,000sq.ft facility equipped with the capabilities of hanging a rig, virtual programming rooms and more. The band, comprised of Jared Navarre, Andy Sheridan and Lester Estelle Jr. have been dubbed the “hottest rock band out there” by MTV. Lighting designer Carter Fulghum configured a versatile plot using a box truss that could transition between big, concert moments and tighter, more intimate looks. The band started in the centre of the box with a mid truss above them outfitted with GLP Impression X4 fixtures. These not only painted the set but also supplied zooms for beams. GLP X4S lights were placed on floor-standing side trusses for a low side light as well as beams for the h
Belgium - Jan Van Lindt captured the power and complexity of singer Tamino’s music in light for a recent one-off the star performed at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp in advance of his upcoming North American tour. Drawing on a collection of over 90 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Splendit, Van Lindt created an appropriately transcendent mood on stage by balancing warm, intimate moods with intense theatrical effects. “Because of the size of the stage, I tried to go for a more dramatic look,” he said. “However, the lighting also needed to be subtle and small to relate to the emotions of Tamino’s music. By balancing the right lights, we were able to be punchy and big at the appropriate times in order to fill the large arena, without losing that sense of intimacy.” Anchoring this lighting concept were 36 Nexus AW 7x7 fixtures that were hung from nine ce
Greece - Technically Creative are in the midst of completing a project in Athens. The Xplore FEC just outside of the capital, is due to have the second phase of installation completed, with the Technically Creative project spanning five months from September of last year. The family entertainment centre is split into three sections, the Exploratorium, Adventureland and the Aquarium. Children and parents have the opportunity to play a laser harp, or a giant piano. They can design and service a car, or race each other in the racing simulator. You can even feed virtual fish. There will also be a new product debuting from Technically Creative at Athens FEC, Virtual Village. The product design and programming for this exhibit has taken the team nearly six months of preparation, and once installed visitors will use various transport types, such as boats planes, trains and au
Spain - Lighting designer Joan ‘Teixi’ Teixidó used 30 x Astera AX3s ‘Lite Drops’ on the most recent tour for singer Alfred García, who played over 50 dates around Spain. Emerging from popular TV talent show Operación Triunfo, this was Alfred Garcia’s first full production tour to date and the first time that Teixi had worked with the artist, who headhunted him to be part of his creative team after the series’ 2017 season. Alfred Garcia’s first studio album 1016 was released at the end of 2018 and shot straight to number 2 in the Spanish album charts, and the tour campaign to support it ran from February to November 2019. The lighting design was initially inspired by scenographer Lluis Danes’ set, and the brief was to bring a bit of extra ‘magical touch’ to the stage with the lighting. From Earth to Mars is one of Alfred Garcia’s
USA - Vari-Lite has announced that the Vari-Lite VL800 Eventprofile is now shipping. Originally debuted at LDI 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the VL800 Eventprofile is the newest member of the popular VL800 Series of event luminaires. The VL800 Eventprofile brings the DNA of Vari-Lite in a compact profile luminaire designed for the event market. “The VL800 Series has already been embraced by designers on tours and installations alike,” says Martin Palmer, senior product manager, Vari-Lite and Strand Luminaires at Signify. “This latest member of the family is a compact framing profile with a high output and professional-grade features, making it the ideal tool for a variety of applications.” With a tour-ready build and a small form factor, the VL800 Eventprofile was designed to look and feel like a Vari-Lite, with full CYM+CTO colour mixing and the signature “Vari
UK - GLS Lighting, based in Southampton, is celebrating 25 years of offering lighting solutions to all walks of the entertainment industry. Recently, GLS invested in Elation Professional Artiste Picasso LED profile moving heads, along with multifunctional Paladin Panel lights. “Elation is, in my opinion, one of the most exciting brands out there today. They are charging to the front now, bringing products that are head and shoulders above the rest,” stated Ian Turner, one of two founding directors at GLS. “Everyone has been waiting for a product to do what Picasso does. We all need a bright workhorse spot fixture, LED, good framing blades, bright and crystal-sharp optics – simple! The noise level is also important, and the Picasso is so quiet.” GLS worked with Elation's distribution partner in the UK and Ireland, Entedi, to evaluate and demo the Elation prod
UK – The Prolights LED lighting range is helping Huddersfield Town Hall to meet its improved energy efficiency and production value goals for events. The multi-purpose venue’s concert hall is at the heart of the Huddersfield community’s cultural activities, hosting concerts, comedy shows, awards ceremonies, conferences and other events. Andrew Wrixon, technical manager for Huddersfield Town Hall and other venues managed by the Kirklees Council, chose Prolights fixtures when the concert hall’s traditional rig was due to be upgraded to an energy-efficient LED system. He commented: “We invested in Prolights fixtures as we have been very pleased with them at our other venues. Their price is very good and they achieve excellent results for us.” The venue invested in over forty fixtures, including EclipseFC full colour LED profiles, Stark400 LED wash/
USA - Paul Siebert makes no bones about it: every night, as soon as punk rockers Menzingers strike the first snarling note in one of their Hello Exile tour sets, he kicks his lightshow into fourth gear. “I really try to introduce a lot of energy into the room as early as possible,” he explained. “This is a punk show at heart, so all the transitions between songs are really fast, and most of the band’s songs come out of the gate swinging. The earlier I can get the crowd moving, the better the show will be for everyone.” Helping Siebert launch his show with supercharged ferocity is a collection of Chauvet Professional Rogue fixtures supplied by Squeek Lights. With four Rogue R1X Spot fixtures on side truss and four Rogue R1 Wash units hung on pipe and positioned by the drum riser, he has plenty of firepower to cover the stage with intense colours and patterns, while
Europe - The list of exhibitors to withdraw from the postponed Prolight+Sound tradeshow has continued to grow today, with Artistic Licence, Ayrton, Chauvet Professional, Robe Lighting, Robert Juliat, CLF Lighting, and Roe Visual among those who have cancelled their plans to attend the fair. “The latest Covid-19 developments in Europe and the potential threat for those travelling to Frankfurt from around the world have led us to take a sensible and measured decision after considering the current facts and the dramatic spread of the virus,” commented Robe CEO, Josef Valchar. “I am sure that the industry will pull together to get through these challenging times. Prolight+Sound is the busiest and most important European trade show for us in terms of the rental and staging sectors, and an important showcase for new and emerging technology. We look forward t
USA - Magmatic atmospheric effects is shipping the first snow machine in its Polar series of high-output snow effects - Polar Crisp. Crisp is a professional, high-volume snow machine with intuitive innovation that makes it easy to create scene-setting wintry settings. Compact and lightweight, Crisp is capable of producing high volumes of naturalistic snow with the capacity to adjust snowflake size for greater versatility, says the company. Small flake or large, short throw or long, this 1250W high-volume snow machine can project snow up to 40ft with the flexibility to adjust to the occasion. An all-in-one APF (Air Pump Fan) system together with an auto-clean feature lowers the risk of clogging and reduces the need for maintenance. An easy-to-open housing and serviceable design add to its user-friendliness. Built to withstand travel and repeated use, Crisp feat
USA - Claypaky Xtylos laser source moving lights made their Pepsi Halftime Show debut at Super Bowl LIV where they added even more impact to the dynamic performances of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Xtylos created a network of intense beams in varied colours as well as wave effects that served as a background for the stage. Lighting designer Bob Barnhart of 22 Degrees, who has 21 Super Bowl halftime shows to his credit, selected 50 Xtylos for the event after seeing the fixtures at LDI 2019. “I was impressed with the beam quality, which was so pure and consistent in intensity from the outside edge to the centre,” he says. “Xtylos was incredibly crisp and clear; its really hard edge intrigued me and stayed on my mind as the halftime show took shape.” “It takes a special breed of person to use a new product on a project like t
Germany - When Circus Flic Flac rolled into town at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund for its ninth annual Christmas show, it brought with it a 1,200-capacity circus tent, an array of human-only artistes and an Ayrton lighting arrangement by lighting designer, Christopher Rostalski, from CR-Lichtdesign in Soest. Rostalski chose to work with the latest Ayrton products to create his design in this setting, employing 20 Khamsin-S profile spots, 20 Bora-S washlights and 10 MiniBurst graphic strobe fixtures, all of which were supplied by Stefan Kniess at B + B Veranstaltungstechnik in Dortmund. Circus Flic Flac was needing powerful lighting for the inside of this dark and dramatic performance setting and the Ayrton fixtures had features that suited this environment. “We really liked the fact that Khamsin and Bora both have the Ayrton 100% framing system which are perfect for an a
USA - To update his original 2008 lighting design for a modern touring production of Dreamgirls, lighting designer Ken Billington chose the LED-based VLZ fixtures from Vari-Lite. After seeing a demo of the VLZ fixtures, he was satisfied with them as the luminaire that would reproduce the look and feel of his original Vari-Lite rig. Billington specified 32 VLZ Wash, 22 VLZ Spot and 12 VLZ Profile fixtures to form the show’s entire overhead lighting rig. “The fixtures are bright,” he says, “in fact a bit too bright! We run them at 50-70% most of the time. When you fade the LED, there is no beam degradation, which you would see if there was a shutter dimming a discharge fixture.” A key aim for this production was recreating the original colour palette, which the VLZs matched well. “The colours are really clear, clean colours that don’t muddy the beam
UK - White Light has provided the lighting equipment for the UK tour of Ghost Stories, having also supplied its recent West End run at the Ambassadors Theatre (see LSi March). Written by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, Ghost Stories has been terrifying theatregoers for over a decade. The show invites audience members to enter a nightmarish world, full of thrilling twists and turns, where their deepest fears and most disturbing thoughts are imagined live on stage. The lighting designer for the show is James Farncombe, who comments: “What was clear from the outset was that the design needed to be as much about the absence of light as much as anything else.
