NEW YORK – When the new musical Fela! opened recently, it also marked the Broadway debut of the PRG V676 lighting console. Much of the lighting in Fela! takes place beyond the stage, and PRG worked closely with LD Robert Wierzel and Timothy Rogers, the lighting programmer, on the production. Fela!, directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, is a musical about Afrobeat standout Fela Kuti. Jones relied upon the design team, which also includes Peter Nigrini (projection), Marina Draghici (scenic/costume designer) and Robert Kaplowitz (sound), to transform Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre into Fela's Shrine Club in Nigeria.
"When you enter the theatre, you are immediately aware of being inside the club," Wierzel said. "Gor our production, there is nearly as much lighting equipment in the theatre house as there is on-stage. We use LED fixtures in the orchestra and on the anteroom walls, wrapping the entire room in color."
Onstage, Wierzel uses an LED video wall and a large automated lighting system.
Of the new console, Wierzel said, "The desk is so flexible and fast, the designer doesn't get delayed with programming issues. You can tell that a lot of time was spent on the design of the front panel because it is really well laid out. This was particularly apparent when using a feature like the effects engine, which we used a lot on this show."
"The rehearsal process was very organic; things were always changing and evolving," noted Rogers, of the programming challenge. "I found the V676 worked well, allowing me to work very quickly. I could easily adjust to the changes.
"The thing I like the best is that it brings a lot of features to the surface that used to be hidden or menu-driven," Rogers said. "Even though it was a new hardware platform, it absolutely sped up the programming process. The buttons, the flexible monitors, everything just seems to be in the proper place. And it is really well made, the hardware is robust."
Both Wierzel and Rogers were pleased with the level of support they received from PRG. "PRG has been great about responding to questions and quickly incorporating feedback. They've been really great to work with," said Rogers.
For more information, please visit www.prg.com .
Photo: Monique Carbon
