News

CARSON, CA— Wango Tango, held at the Stub Hub Center May 14, once again presented audiences with an all-star lineup, as the event’s organizers have strived to do since the event began in 1998. Visions Lighting was there again this year providing a majority of the events’ structural and visual elements for the line-up, which included Ariana Grande, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, Fifth Harmony and other top acts. The day-long concert is sponsored by Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM.

HOUSTON — Working with other law enforcement agencies, the Houston Police Department has made 80 arrests so far in an investigation into an organized crime ring that focuses on thefts of valuables transported via trailers. As of June 28, charges had been filed against 130 suspects in Houston and surrounding areas. A key break in the case, dubbed “Operation Wheels and Deals,” took place as police were tracking a van and trailer belonging to country music singer Zane Williams that were stolen outside a Houston-area restaurant on May 16, 2015. A GPS tracking device helped authorities pinpoint the missing trailer, and there they discovered motorcycle apparel and accessories that had been reported stolen in another trailer heist.

LITITZ, PA – Beame, the lighting and rigging company formerly known as Atomic Lighting, has invested in 50 Clay Paky Scenius Profile fixtures and 48 quarter-ton ChainMaster motor hoists.  A.C.T Lighting, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of both brands in North America. Eighteen of the just-arrived Scenius Profiles are set to debut on Univision’s Premios Juventud 2016, the network’s annual youth awards telecast.  Lighting Designer Carlos Colina is expected to deploy them as band key lights.

ATLANTA – Inspired by the hit TV show, American Ninja Warrior, SlingShot Entertainment’s indoor facility in Peachtree Corners near Atlanta makes use of Milos structural products for its 12,000-square-foot obstacle course. The course, with 24 challenging obstacles designed by American Ninja Warrior contestant Jason Huewe, makes use of Milos components including their QTL/QTV truss. 

KNOXVILLE, TN — A Celebration of Life service honoring Pat Summitt, longtime coach of the University of Tennessee’s Lady Volunteers basketball team will take place at UT Knoxville’s Thompson Boling Arena on July 14 at 7 p.m. Bandit Lites will provide lighting for the event for Summitt, who died June 28 at age 64.

SECAUCUS, NJ – Rose Brand Inc. is continuously adding additional resources for its customers to use. One of the newest additions to its list of technical data is the Rose Brand Guide to Projection Materials. The downloadable guide serves as a tool to help customers choose the best projection material for their production. Customers can easily get overwhelmed with the large number of options available. The new guide aims to eliminate the guess work for those looking to choose between materials based on performance. Pictured here is a show using front projection on an IFR Aglo drape: Missing You, Metropolis produced by Washburn University in Topeka, KS.

WICHITA, KS –– For the Wichita Riverfest, now held every June, the main stage featured 29 different bands performing under the light of an Erich Meitzner-designed rig. The lighting included a collection of Rogue fixtures from Chauvet Professional. Parr Sound and Lighting of Great Bend, KS supplied the gear.

MONTREAL – Les Feluettes (Lilies) made its world premiere at the Opera de Montreal recently, playing to full houses during its four-night run. Les Feluettes, with a book by Michel Marc Bouchard and music by Kevin March, is a play within a play.  It begins as a prison confessional and unfolds as a love story spanning 1912-1957, a time when same-gender relationships were conducted largely in secret. For Les Feluettes, LD Martin Labrecque lit eight tableaux showing different locations and time periods in monochromatic palettes of amber or blue. He used seven Clay Paky Scenius Spots for the new production.

LAS VEGAS — The deadline to nominate regional lighting companies for a 2016 Parnelli Award as Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year is only days away: June 30. Nominations have been coming in fast and furious for the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest regions, but for some reason (Global warming? Brexit? Who knows?) we’ve had fewer nominations coming in from the Northwest U.S. and Canada this year.

QUINCY, WA – The Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheater celebrated its 15th year with headlining sets from Disclosure, Major Lazer, The Cure (pictured here), Sufjan Stevens (pictured below), and Florence and the Machine. Stageworks Seattle provided lighting design and production on the main stage. The flown lighting rig was used by almost all of the headlining bands with minimal augmentation. The rig featured Martin MAC Viper Wash DX, Viper Profiles, Elation Platinum Beams, LED strobes, and 93,600 watts of DWE blinders. The gear was provided by Christie Lites’ Seattle office.