LONDON – Based on the 1984 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman in which an aspiring earth scientist transforms into an unlikely superhero after falling into a vat of toxic waste, The Toxic Avenger – The Musical is now earning critical praise in the UK. Driven by an intense rock score by Bon Jovi band member […]
CHANHASSEN, MN – The Chanhassen Dinner Theatres complex has been a beehive of activity since it opened in 1968. In a typical year, its kitchen will serve 14 tons of steaks, four tons of prime rib, 120,000 chicken breasts, 18 tons of fresh green beans and half a million dinner rolls. Things are equally busy […]
Round stages are on a roll. We’re seeing more of them at concerts and festivals, as well as at pop-up theatrical venues and dinner theatres. While they offer a greater sense of engagement and a unique viewing experience for audiences, these distinctive stages also present a complex set of challenges for lighting designers. CHAUVET Professional […]
VENTURA, CA – Time: its passage and the way it shapes our lives, is at the heart of “Gulf View Drive,” the third and final drama in Arlene Hutton’s classic Nibroc Trilogy, which follows the lives of a young couple over a decade during the post-World War II era. Helping to convey this evocative theme […]
There are many good reasons why aerial lighting is an integral part of so many designs. Aerial effects not only make a show look bigger, even when relatively few fixtures are used, they also add a sense of architectural depth to the stage. This depth draws attention to the stage itself, even though the lights […]
LES EPESSES, FRANCE – Typically, when Koert Vermeulen creates a lighting design for a theatrical production, it’s the fixtures, not the theatre and the audience, that moves; but then there are few things about Le Dernier Panache at Puy du Fou that can be considered “typical.” The largest permanent theatrical production in the history of […]
HOLLYWOOD, CA – The third time was definitely a charm for the CHAUVET Professional Student Lighting Showcase. Held at a new venue, the iconic Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, the third annual rendition of this educational event reached new heights in terms of student participation, lighting designer involvement and the overall learning experience. “Our first […]
Back in April the lighting trade magazines ran an article entitled “Nelson Enterprises Helps Schools Step Into The LED Future.” The story focused on how this Bloomsbury, NJ company worked with a local high school to transform its theater by replacing its aging incandescent system with a new largely LED rig just in time for […]
LEWISBURG, PA – The Stephen Sondheim production Company won widespread acclaim when it debuted in 1970, not to mention six Tony Awards, for its trailblazing treatment of adult relationship themes and its departure from the traditional “linear storyline” that characterized musicals of its era. Lighting designer William Kenyon reflected a similar outside-the-box spirit recently, when […]
WICHITA, KS – Like a proverbial cat, the stately building on 412.5 Douglas in Kansas’ largest city has gone through many lives. Starting out as a movie theater, it later morphed into a penny arcade, pool hall, recording studio and cocktail lounge, before becoming a cabaret that featured theatrical performances for 22 years until closing […]
PHOENIX – When you’re a lighting professional you don’t go to the opera only to enjoy the soaring music and beautiful set designs, you also can’t help but cast an analytical eye on the lighting rig. Peter Nolle, technical director of the Arizona Opera, knows this very well. Visiting an out-of-town opera, Nolle was awed […]