The Palace Theatre in London will house Spamalot, the smash-hit Broadway musical "lovingly ripped off from" the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Lighting designer Hugh Vanstone was nominated for a Tony Award for his work on the Broadway production, and will re-create his design for London; the show is designed by Tim Hatley and directed by Mike Nichols.
Vanstone's rig for the show features a wide range of Vari*Lite equipment, including tungsten and arc VL1000s, VL2500 Washes, 80V VL500s and VL3000Q Spots as well as ETC Source Fours, Wybron colour changers and control from an ETC Obsession and a Flying Pig Hog iPC. Working with Vanstone will be production electrician Fraser Hall, with production management by Stewart Crosbie and Simon Marlowe. The show previews from 2 October.
A second film adaptation, Dirty Dancing, will open at the Aldwych Theatre, after successful productions in Australia and Germany. The London production will feature lighting by Tim Mitchell, working with associate lighting designer Adrian Barnes and production electrician Keith Johnson. Mitchell's design includes Vari*Lite VL3500Q Spots, VL2000 Washes, VL1000TS Spots, Martin Mac 700 Spots, Robert Juliat Aramis followspots, ETC Source Fours, White Light VSFX cloud effects and Rainbow colour scrollers, with control from a Strand 500-series console.
At the Shaftesbury Theatre, the music of seventies sensation BoneyM forms the basis of the musical Daddy Cool, which opens in mid-September. The lighting for the show is being designed by Rob Halliday, making use of Vari*Lite VL3000Q Spots and Washes, High End StudioColors and Martin Mac 700 Spots as well as ETC Source Fours and Rainbow colour scrollers; control will be from a Strand 500-series console. Working with Halliday on the show are production electrician Ian Moulds, programmer Vic Smerdon and assistant lighting designer Anna Macinnes.
At the Haymarket, the touring production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will arrive in London. Lighting designer David Howe's rig includes Martin Mac 2000 and Vari*Lite VL1000TS Spots, and Clay Paky Alpha Wash Halo washlights as well as ETC Source Fours and Source Four Zooms, Strand Cantata F and Alto F fresnels, Thomas 4-cell battens and Rainbow colour scrollers, again all running from a Strand 500-series console.
Further from White Light's London base is the latest production of Mamma Mia: having been seen all around the world, the show is now opening in Moscow, once again featuring lighting by Howard Harrison. The rig is based on the Belgian production, which White Light supplied, and includes ETC Source Fours, Wybron colour scrollers, Robert Juliat followspots, DHA Digital Light Curtains, VL2000 Spot and Wash units, Martin Mac 2000 Performances, VL1000AS Spots and VL5 Wash lights along with ETC dimming all running from an MA Lighting grandMA console. The lighting installation for the Moscow production will be overseen by production electrician Martin Chisnall.
These new shows join the many other musicals and other shows using lighting from White Light - in London these shows include Evita, Billy Elliot, The Producers, Footloose, Les Misérables as well as corporate productions and events such as the HAC Summer Parties.
(Chris Henry)
