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Vari-Lites Overcome Challenges at Calgary Stampede

Calgary Stampede

Vari-Lites Overcome Challenges at Calgary Stampede

CALGARY – Every night during the annual Calgary Stampede a unique performance combination and conversion takes center stage.  First, the GMC Rangeland Derby races around the dirt track and then the Grandstand Show, featuring The Young Canadians, caps off each night.  As this conversion between race and extravaganza takes place, crew members are taking part in a finely-tuned, choreographed routine.  Designer Pierre Marleau specifies VARI*LITE luminaires, supplied by Epic Production Technologies.

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Eagle Market in Derby

Eagle Eye View for LTP

LLANELLI, UK – Lighting Technology Projects (LTP) was asked by Lancashire-based Lite Ltd. to bring to life their lighting design for a new, illuminated cube array feature at the city’s Eagle Market within a new shopping center. The nine internally lit cubes are suspended from the ceiling and illuminated with more than 3500 nodes of Philips CK i-Color Flex SLX. Twists, scrolls and swirling rainbows share time with straight color-changes to entertain and attract more shoppers.

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Nocturnal Wonderland 2011

Nocturnal Wonderland 2011

In late September, electronic music fans were treated to some beats dropped by top artist such as Avicii, Sebastian Ingrosso and Kaskade at Nocturnal Wonderland 2011, held at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, CA.

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Doing What You Love

The fall is the most exciting time of the year — at least for me it is. I love the changing of the seasons, the vibrant colors in the Blue Ridge mountains. Football is back, the pennant race has begun, the crispness in the air. It’s a wonderful time of year. Most importantly, two of our industry’s biggest trade shows happen. I consider this time of year important for our industry. Call it our Super Bowl, if you will. Two times during the fall, we come together to learn, explore and celebrate.

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Anything Goes photo by Joan Marcus

Anything Goes: Lighting for “Musical Theater Time”

One of the hottest tickets on Broadway is Anything Goes, the vibrant, colorful revival of the famed Cole Porter musical. The mixture of classic showtunes, a lively cast, the return of the charming Joel Grey and the exuberant energy of star Sutton Foster has won over audiences and critics. The fun, fluffy tale of romantic and criminal shenanigans on the high seas was a hit in the Depression and now resonates with modern audiences seeking similar relief from economic stress. And the new production’s three-tiered boat set, which includes smaller set pieces that slide out from its nooks and crannies, is a triumph of scenic design.

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Rihanna photo by Steve Jennings

Rihanna’s LOUD Tour

Rihanna’s LOUD Tour 2011 is not originally named for its decibel level — although the ears would say otherwise. Production designer LeRoy Bennett uses loud as another word for “intensity.” Loud in looks. Loud for the eyes. Loud as in, “Pay attention and look.”

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The Barcelona load-in

U2’s 360: Reflections on an Epic Journey

After more than two years performing 110 shows over three legs that visited much of the world, the U2 360° tour took its final bow this past summer. Boasting the highest-ticket grosses and a record-breaking final attendance of over 7,000,000 concertgoers, the both commercially and critically successful tour pushed the envelope of every production discipline. At PLSN, we wondered how some of the production team would reflect back on their incredible journey now that it had come full-circle (Okay, you had to see that coming.)

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Production Nightmare: Packing a Truck

Packing a Truck

Loading up a truck. Even though this is a crucial skill that, when properly executed, can save a production rental company lots of time, money and headaches, it’s a skill that isn’t often taught, and even less-frequently learned.

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Santana

HES SHOWGUN 2.5s Shimmer on Santana

AUSTIN, TX – LD Lee Gipson shares his recipe for lighting designs: see what ingredients are in the warehouse, make sure it fits the budget, and then create with what you’ve got. But one thing he specifically looks for, he said, are SHOWGUN 2.5s from High End Systems. “I always try to make sure I have them in my rig,” he said. He specified 18 for his current tour.

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