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St. Vincent “Fear the Future Tour”

Creative director and scenic designer Willo Perron (Drake, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z), worked with choreographer and show director Annie-B Parson (David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, David Bowie) to collaborate on the “Fear the Future Tour” with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Anne Erin “Annie” Clark (better known by her stage name, St. Vincent.) We spoke with the tour lighting and production designer Jesse Blevins (Jay Z, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Lenny Kravitz) and lighting director and programmer Meagan Metcalf (Sheryl Crow, Fleet Foxes, Metric, Chromeo) to get some insight on the show.

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Matthieu Larivée, LD/Production Designer with Børns

TOUR: First North American leg, Jan 18- Feb 24; Australia, UK, Europe, more North America through 2018.

DESIGN: “A show is about a mood. It changes every time. It is interesting to work with technology these years because we have super graphic lights, mood lights, video panels, etc. My approach is larger than lights. Depending on the project, I might be looking for something to be lit, like a set piece. Or I might use lighting to do arial looks. I like to define space. It all starts with what is my canvas.”

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The Rhythm (of Transitions) is Gonna Get You

As it crisscrosses the country, the Tony Award-nominated musical On Your Feet continues to bring the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan vividly to life onstage, chronicling their ascension from modest beginnings to musical royalty through their group Miami Sound Machine. Six months in, the national tour has picked up after the show finished a nearly two-year run on Broadway. The original production, which features scenic design by David Rockwell and projections by Darrel Maloney, sweeps through dozens of scenes as it compresses decades of real life into key narrative moments.

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Winter Olympics Close with a Feeling of Harmony

As I sat watching the closing ceremonies at the Olympics, I found myself in a peaceful place. The projection on the floor was superb, in my mind. The choreography, scenic design, visual elements, pyro and of course, the drones, made us forget about the issues of the days (such as today’s turmoil within the White House or this week’s school shooting). They did what good entertainment is supposed to do — take your mind to another place.

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A Different Kind of Beast

I had a great time at NAMM. It was a totally different, and at the same time, refreshing show from the usual ones I attend. I put it more on a scale of the Prolight + Sound show than any other trade show, as it featured gear from all aspects of the entertainment biz. Everyone I ran into remarked that it was a great time, some called it a different beast.

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NAMM Evolves with Large Lighting and Theatrical Presence

NAMM is certainly not a new show for the entertainment business. It’s an annual event held in Anaheim every January and is one of the two largest music product trade shows in the world. Its European counterpart is the Musikmesse in Frankfurt. NAMM stands for the National Association of Music Merchants. The group has evolved into an international association whose members now include commercial companies, distributors, affiliates and manufacturers.

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Building a Better Backdrop

While more and more Broadway shows have been shifting from traditional scenery to video walls and more elaborate practical sets, the art of the painted backdrop appears to be slowly waning. But in reality, many scenic designers still rely on this familiar stage element to create dynamic backdrops, and they can create a heightened sense of perspective when used the right way. Scenic designers Beowulf Boritt, Anna Louizos and Kevin Depinet all shared stories about their experiences with traditional backdrops on various productions they have worked on over the years.

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Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull, Live

Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull enjoyed a very successful co-headlining tour across North America last year where they switched off night to night, performing to packed arenas. Following their 2015 “Time of Our Lives” co-headlining trek, the 2017 tour, “Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull Live,” netting a combined $40 million in ticket sales from separate tour legs in June/July and October/November, according to Billboard. We spoke with designers Travis Shirley (Enrique) and Tom Sutherland (Pitbull), along with Pitbull LD and programmer Craig Caserta.

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Ozuna’s ‘Odisea’

When lighting designer and production manager Alex Soto talked to his team about creating a look for reggaeton star Ozuna’s homecoming concert at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan last fall, he set a clear directive “Let’s make it look big!”

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The Killers ‘Wonderful Wonderful’ World Tour

The Wonderful, Wonderful world tour is the fifth major concert tour by the Las Vegas rock band The Killers, to support their fifth studio album (of the same name) which was released last September. Back behind the lighting console is Steven Douglas, the only LD they have had since he started working with them in 2005. The band started the tour playing festivals last fall, then touring in the U.K. and Ireland before Christmas, where they have had a large following for most of their career. They embarked on a U.S. arena run at the start of the year.

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Rigging Focus: Acass-Systems Keeps The Killers’ Tour Wonderful…and Safe

As is the case with most large-scale designs, an artist and his production staff will sign off on some great artwork that paints a beautiful picture. Then it’s up to the production manager, with the aid of said designers, to find someone that can make this vision a reality. This often requires some engineering of the serious kind, as life and death can be involved when tons of scenery are moving overhead.

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