Manufacturers Honored for Innovation in London

LONDON — In addition to the Gottelier Award, given posthumously to Pasquale “Paky” Quadri, founder of Clay Paky, and accepted by Pio Nahum, pictured here, a number of manufacturers were honored for product innovation at PLASA 2014. They included (with products in parentheses) Clay Paky (Mythos), Elation (Sniper), Philips Vari-Lite (VL4000 Spot), Philips Strand Lighting (Emergency DMX Bypass Switch), GDS (ArcLamp), RC4 Wireless (DMX4dim Series 3), Neutrik (XIRIUM X) and  Robe (BMFL). This year, the optional Gold Award was also presented, to LumenRadio for its CRMXchip. The awards ceremony was held Oct. 7, 2014.

LONDON – The organizers of PLASA announced a new three-day format for the 2015 event, which is set to return to ExCeL London from Oct. 4-6, 2015. Also in the works: a new floor plan and an expanded educational focus.

LONDON — The industry stepped up at PLASA 2014 to care for its own by supporting Behind the Scenes UK, the new charity that will provide financial assistance to entertainment technology professionals in need due to serious illness or injury. Through its raffle and other charitable donations, the charity received close to £40,000. Pictured here is White Light’s John Simpson, who also serves as chair of the Behind the Scenes UK Board of Trustees, with Amber Etra, winner of the Third Prize, a £500 hotel voucher. The Second Prize  (£1,000 Amazon gift card) went to Phil Hurley of Stage Sound Services Ltd in Cardiff. The First Prize was won by an American – Jerome Dunn of StageLight in Texas.

CHICHESTER, UK — Stephen Sondheim’s Gypsy is playing at the renewed Chichester Festival Theatre this month following a £22 million refurbishment project by architects Haworth Tompkins and theatre design consultant Charcoalblue.

BRUSSELS – Stageco supported a special one-off performance staged at the Grand Place here on the eve of the release of the Lady Gaga/Tony Bennett collaborative album, Cheek to Cheek.