USA - Scorpions recently released the19th studio album of their, over 50-year, band career. After several weeks at the Zappos Theatre at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, they started the Rock Believer world tour in early May beginning with a special concert at Madison Square Garden, New York. Austrian Manfred Nikitser has been accompanying the internationally successful band as lighting designer since 2016. In addition to the lighting design, Manfred also created the complete show design (stage set and video) for both the Sin City Nights residency in Las Vegas and for the subsequent tour. Manfred selected the remote follow-spot system from Dutch manufacturer Follow-Me: Follow-Me 3D SIX. The centre piece of this redesigned show is a pyramid-shaped drum riser in front of a semi-circular stage set made of custom-made metal grilles, which houses numerous spotlights and blinde
UK - A complex, and reconfigurable Martin Audio Wavefront Precision design throughout the new Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre is the brainchild of system designer Samuel Williams of Derby-based Media Powerhouse. The first major building development at the Winter Gardens complex since the construction of the Opera House in 1939, the venue, set on two levels, is one of the largest of its kind in the north of England. It features the necessary infrastructure for hosting modern conferences and exhibitions. Media Powerhouse’s integration includes cutting edge projection video and smart lighting technology as well as Martin Audio scalable line arrays in each of the eight rooms The exhibition space is set on the first floor, with a large 2,000-capacity conference space on the second floor. It is conceived as four separate but reconfigurable venues on both floors.
Poland - The country’s largest drama theatre has reopened after lockdown, to reveal a major renovation to its various spaces, which took up much of 2021. In order to preserve its impressive heritage, it was recognised that Jan Kochanowski Theatre in Opole (JK Opole Theatre) would need to undergo full modernisation, and a thorough overhaul of its technical infrastructure, fulfilling a dream it had nurtured for several years. The cost of reconstruction was budgeted at PLN 25m ($6m US), with over half coming from EU funds. The project, which took eight months to fulfil, included the renewal of the main building façade, the entrance and surroundings, the modernisation of stages and auditorium (including ventilation), as well as sound and lighting systems. This included a complete Optocore fibre network, based around the deployment of five AutoRouters. The t
USA - Butch Allen and André Petrus lit Nigerian superstar Burna Boy’s two-hour One Night In Space show at Madison Square Garden on 28 April. The massive lighting design for the sold-out concert turned the venue into a giant lightbox that stirred the imagination with outer space images. Yet for all its multi-faceted flourishes, the design process followed a basic formula. “Burna Boy’s music provided the road map, and we followed it,” said Allen, noting that the end result was a design based on “visual harmony” between the image, atmosphere and the artist’s performance. Lighting the way on that road map and contributing to that atmosphere were Madison Square Garden’s house lights and an impressive rig provided by 4Wall Entertainment that featured 68 COLORado PXL Bar 16 fixtures from Chauvet Professional. The motorised RGBW COLORado uni
UK - Spectators who saw this year’s Allam British Open in Hull witnessed some of the world’s greatest squash players compete for the $165,000 (US) prize. With squash enthusiasts all around the globe also able to tune in to the event live via SquashTV, as well as via the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour, organizers were keen to create a riveting production. Toward this end, Firefly AV was brought on board to award the tournament with a sporty visual flair. Helping them in this endeavour were Chauvet Professional Maverick MK2 Spot and MK2 Wash fixtures, along with Rogue R1 Washes and R2X Beams. The squash facilities at the University of Hull’s Sports Complex provided an appropriate setting for the event in which World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy would defend the title he won in 2019. (COVID forced the cancelation of the 2020 competition, which is close to m
Spain - Casa Batlló, the famous Barcelona architectural work of the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí, has fused Panasonic projection technology with a pioneering cultural visit to create an award-winning experience. The multi-sensory museum offers a glimpse into the mind of the greatest exponent of Catalan modernism through an artistic immersive experience. Using Panasonic technology, Casa Batlló has reinvented various spaces across the building. The Gaudí Dome room uses 36 Panasonic projectors (PT-RZ660 and PT-JS200 models) and a dome with more than 1,000 screens to represent the mind of a young Gaudí. The natural universe that inspired the Catalan architect comes to life, allowing the visitor to participate in the creative experience. The projectors, equipped with ultra-short throw lenses, allow video to be projected onto surfaces that are difficult to map with any ot
USA - The Bob Burton Centre for the Performing Arts is a 532-seat live performance venue in Fallbrook, California that serves as a joint community/school facility with Fallbrook Union High School. Used for everything from high school productions to local theatre, dance, and music performances, the venue’s aging stage lighting rig was recently upgraded with Elation Professional fixtures as part of an energy reduction grant project Production and installation company Pyxis Industries of Wildomar, California, worked with the venue on the energy efficient lighting upgrade, which included Netron data distribution, as well as Magmatic brand atmospheric effects. Chad Costanzo, president at Pyxis Industries, has had a long-term relationship with the venue and explains the project. “The school received an energy savings grant – funding for California schools to pay for e
USA - It is all fitting that the image of the waif Cosette sweeping Thénardiers' Inn serves as the basis (in slightly cropped fashion) for the emblematic image of Les Misérables. Here, within the grimy walls of this old chop house in Montfermeil, the conflicted forces that at the heart of the musical are crystalized: from the pitiless justice of Javert who seeks to punish the hero Valjean, to the blackmailing mendacity of the Thénardiers, who conspire against him. From his perspective as a lighting designer, Christopher Robin found Thénardiers' Inn to be one of the most powerful scenes of the play. “I am moved by the look of The Inn,” he said. “It’s a dusty and grungy place that captures the poignancy of this story.” At a recent production of Les Misérables at the Greensburg Salem School outside Pittsburgh, Robin reflected the remorseless p
USA - Full Flood Inc. has chosen Ayrton MagicBlade FX lighting fixtures for NBC’s new, eight-episode American Song Contest, the domestic answer to the popular and long-running Eurovision Song Contest. Volt Lites supplied the MagicBlade FX units, which are exclusively distributed in North America by ACT Entertainment. Hosted by Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg, American Song Contest will feature 56 live original song performances by artists from all 50 states, five US territories and the nation's capital. It debuted on 21 March 21 and wrapped with a finale featuring the winning performance on 9 May 9. Episodes are also aired on NBC.com, Peacock and Hulu. Lighting designer Noah Mitz and lighting director Will Gossett, both from Full Flood, are using 144 Ayrton MagicBlade FX for American Song Contest, which shoots on the Universal Studios lot in Los Angeles.
Europe - Genesis’ much-rescheduled The Last Domino? tour had in its lighting inventory 64 Ayrton Karif LT ultra-compact 300W LED beam-spot fixtures. The lighting and production design was co-created by Patrick Woodroffe – also show director - and Roland Greil of Woodroffe Bassett Design, and Jeremy Lloyd from Wonderworks who is responsible for the technical integration. Lighting programmer was Marc Brunkhardt. Woodroffe and Greil had a number factors to consider for what potentially could be Genesis’s last tour. “The band has a rich history of pushing the limits when it comes to lighting and show design, so we needed to come up with something that maintains their reputation for being at the forefront of show design.” The team decided to take a theatrical approach, giving every song its own visual identity with a unique look and feel, and simultaneously
Australia - Working with Western Australia’s Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA), Plan E Landscape Architects recently enlisted Engineering Technology Consultants (ETC), Light Application and Show Technology to design an architectural lighting display for Kings Park using Martin Professional Exterior LED fixtures. Kings Park is a 990-acre park in the centre of Perth that features sprawling areas of manicured green space, natural bushland, a botanic garden and multiple memorials. One of the park’s most notable features is Fraser Avenue, a picturesque path lined with lemon-scented gum trees planted in 1938 and equipped with in-ground lighting to highlight the trees. When the existing fixtures came to the end of their serviceable life, the BGPA hired Plan E Landscape Architects to coordinate a replacement capable of producing a wide range of colours and effects
Finland - Nordic Entertainment Group’s Viaplay streaming TV service has a new studio in Helsinki, complete with wraparound LED screen backdrops driven by Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers. The broadcaster’s built-for-purpose studio, designed and ordered by Viaplay and built in collaboration with NEP Finland, features a curved 2.6mm LED screen behind the presenter’s table comprising 4416 x 960 pixels and standing large at 11.5 x 2.5m. It displays live feed, pre-made and branded content as the channels air sport, film and original drama. Rigged to the right of that is a straight 2.6mm screen that is 1920 x 768 pixels or 5 x 2m and there are two further screens – a circle screen above the table is made from 2.9mm flexible LED panel that is 3612 x 172 pixels or 10.5 x 0.5m and another 98" Panasonic display. All of this is VideoMapped using the Hippotizer Boreal+
USA - Advanced Audio and Lighting recently completed a technical redesign of the Third Reformed Church in the city of Pella, Iowa, opting for a Martin Audio line array solution. The integrators were re-engaged, having successfully carried out an earlier sound and lighting installation for the client. Explaining the necessity for the upgrade at the Pella facility, the company’s president (and senior design engineer) Graeme Brown, said, “As so often happens, the existing system was a case of fine products having been installed, but completely misapplied within the environment, so that coverage was extremely inconsistent.” He noted that the building’s unusual geometric had provided challenges in this regard. “The space is quite unusual - a modified fan-shaped building with lots of ceiling angles and a massive custom centre truss that required out-fills and dela
USA - Country music singer and songwriter Luke Bryan wanted to make a spectacular impact for his first Las Vegas residency shows at the Resorts World Theatre, so he hired show designer / director Brian Burke and lighting / set designer Tom Sutherland from DX7 Design to work their visual magic on his much-anticipated performances throughout 2022. As the show design started to evolve, Tom and his team discovered that the house lighting rig at the new 5,500 capacity Resorts World Theatre venue features large quantities of Robe moving lights, all of which were supplied by Solotech, who completed the install and also co-ordinate the venue’s on-going technical services. Tom lost no time in getting 108 x Robe MegaPointes on the lighting plot for his main effects lights, together with 54 x Tarrantulas – Robe’s largest LED wash beam – and 17 x BMFL WashBeams which are
France - When the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships were held recently at Montpellier’s South of France Arena, technical solution provider (and Optocore partner) GB4D, was called on to provide an elaborate communications network for all the technical elements. This included Optocore and BroaMan routing, designed in a star topology. The event itself was organised by the French Federation of Ice Sports, and the integrators were contracted by Charles Gueydan, their technical production manager. Under the direction of proprietor Gilles Bouvard, GB4D has a rich pedigree in that sector, having previously worked on the European Championships in Lyon in 2006, and later the 2012 World Championships in Nice. On top of that, for nearly two decades they have been involved with the televised Les Étoiles de la Glace, the French Federation’s skating gala. This year,
Spain - Located in Murcia, Odiseo is a venue dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure. Boasting three restaurants, a sports bar, a nightclub, a show room and multiple terraces, as well as Europe’s largest cantilevered pool suspended 27m above the ground, Odiseo’s space of 15,500m2 is distributed across three levels. The venue’s audio infrastructure includes DiGiCo 4REA4 processors and a Quantum225console supplied by RMS Proaudio, DiGiCo’s distributor in Spain. Odiseo is owned by Orenes Group, one of Spain’s fastest growing businesses in the leisure sector, Orenes Group hired sound design consultant Lolo Moldes, who worked in close collaboration with the team at RMS Proaudio to deliver the audio installation. “When Orenes Group contacted me about the Odiseo project at the beginning of 2019, I was immediately hooked,” says Moldes. “Architecturally stunning an
UK - The new production of Life of Pi in London’s West End was the recent winner of five Olivier Awards, including best lighting design. To bring his design to life, lighting designer Tim Lutkin chose to use three core Martin fixtures; the MAC Encore, MAC Aura XB, and JEM Glaciator Dynamic. All fixtures were supplied by Sparks Theatrical, with Tim Lutkin’s team including associate LD and programmer Elliot Smith, and production technician Theo Chadha. “The MAC Encore CLD is the only moving head profile used in the production,” Tim explains. “We’re using two as manual follow-spots, and a further 18 in the rig acting as the workhorses of all the lighting. “We’re using absolutely all their versatility; as follow spots with a soft edge, for traditional theatre shuttered framing, for beautiful water effects, and big deep colour washes. We even po
USA - LD Steve Lieberman was putting the finishing touches on his design for The Looking Glass stage at Insomniac Productions’ Beyond Wonderland, when things suddenly changed just a few weeks before the festival opened. Instead of being outdoors, as originally planned, the stage was moved inside to the San Bernadino Nos Event Centre’s Orange Pavilion. “Essentially, it was a full redesign at the 11th hour,” said Lieberman. “Our office really stepped it up in terms of completing the revisions and getting them over to Insomniac and 4Wall to execute. All parties involved performed at the highest levels. The rig looked fantastic when I walked in.” The thousands of fans who came to The Looking Glass stage to see progressive techno and house artists like Joris Voorn, Len Faki and Nox Vahn would readily agree with that assessment. Lieberman and his team turn
Europe - Follow-Me 3D systems recently toured internationally with Woodroffe Bassett Design and Roland Greil for The Last Domino Genesis tour. Roland co-designed the lighting together with Patrick Woodrofe (show director The Last Domino tour) who has also been the LD for Genesis and Phil Collins’ solo tours in the past. For Roland this was an important and challenging honour, describing himself as “the new kid on the block” with his first collaboration as co-LD for Genesis with their Last Domino tour. The WBD team felt it important to use a remote follow-spot system as this would be far more versatile than classic follow-spots. Due to WBD’s previous positive experience with Follow-Me 3D Systems on tours such as Rammstein, it was an easy choice to make: “The system gives the possibility to integrate an unlimited number of manufacturer independent light fixture
UK - As part of a progressive upgrade, the Royal Albert Hall has added 26 x Martin MAC Ultra Performance framing spots to the 18 x MAC Encore Performance CLD they acquired in September 2019 - respectively replacing older generic and discharge moving lights. Both orders were fulfilled by theatre lighting specialists, White Light, with all Martin lighting products sourced from their UK distributors Sound Technology. According to RAH lighting designer Richard Thomas, this is the third straight swap out to Martin lighting over the past four years, as prior to that a complement of MAC Vipers had also been chosen as replacement wash lights. “However, we are not driven by brands,” he stated. “We pick the lighting based on what’s best for us. In the case of the MAC Ultras we looked at a number of top brands but this fixture ticked all the boxes.” Both the MAC E
Germany - Following the launch of JH Audio’s new flagship in-ear monitor, the Sharona, KLANG:technologies now reveals that it will be giving away five custom KLANG-branded pairs of the latest JH Audio IEM model for free following a month-long contest. To enter the giveaway, contenders will need to take or find their favourite photo of themselves with any KLANG product, then simply go online to https://www.klang.com/win and upload the image. The competition closes at 11:59 p.m. (GMT) on Friday, 3 June, at which point five lucky winners will then be chosen from the images received, with the announcement of the Sharona recipients being revealed on Friday, 1July. “Having the best in-ear monitor sound is key to having the best live performance, which is why KLANG’s immersive processing power and JH Audio’s experience in delivering pristine audio quality are a perfec
UK - Blending technology with creative direction, London-based Bild Studios specialises in visual engineering and creative design for live productions. Founded by live industry veterans Rowan Pitts and David Bajt, Bild now has a 14-strong team that has decades of experience working on some of the world’s largest video installations. After a successful pilot in summer 2020, Bild ventured into a new territory of film and TV by introducing its MARS Volume virtual production facility. Powered by Brompton Technology Tessera LED processing and featuring an AOTO LED volume, the facility is dedicated to technical precision and has been serving up the infinite creativity of VP technology to companies of all sizes and budgets with the aim to service the widest range of projects “Traditionally a live events company, Bild Studios worked mainly in media service, specifying cont
Finland - Akukon is a leading specialist in acoustics, noise abatement and audio-visual design services in Finland and the Baltics. Their aim is to create better living conditions by protecting people from environmental noise and promoting the safety and operability of facilities, as well as their visual appearance In late 2021 the company opened a pioneering new facility – the Akukon DemoLab – which is a tool for modelling and listening to acoustics and noise in spaces prior to their construction. The room is equipped throughout with Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers supplemented by a pair of 7350 Smart Active subwoofers. “Acoustic design is an essential part of modern construction and environmental projects,” says Akukon acoustician and project manager Perttu Laukkanen. “Akukon’s DemoLab takes acoustic design to the next level.” Laukkanen explains that
USA - For most, the name Woodstock brings to mind New York’s famed 1969 rock music festival, or perhaps Snoopy’s feathered friend from Peanuts. But Atlantans will tell you that Woodstock is a city 30 miles north of downtown ATL, and that one of the longstanding beacons of that community is First Baptist Church Woodstock (FBCW), whose history traces back 185 years to 1837 when it was founded as Enon Church. In 1986, when former Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny M. Hunt joined the church as senior pastor, FBCW truly flourished, leading to the 2005 construction of a 7,200-seat worship centre to accommodate its booming congregation of more than 20,000 members. Seventeen years later, the church has taken another major step forward by becoming the site of the world’s largest permanent installation of L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound technology. Technology s
