News

SALT LAKE CITY  – On the show floor at USITT, A.C.T Lighting made their first “Pledge-a-Product” donation to Behind the Scenes, reflecting proceeds from the sale of the dot2 Series of Lighting Control Solutions from MA Lighting. Brian Dowd, Vice President of Sales for A.C.T Lighting, presented a check for $5,000 to members of the Behind the Scenes Foundation Board of Directors. Pictured here, from left, are Mark Heiser (BTS Foundation), Brian Dowd (A.C.T Lighting) and Rick Rudolph, Lori Rubinstein, and Todd Spencer (BTS Foundation).

SALT LAKE CITY – On the show floor at USITT, Rosco Laboratories presented their eighth annual royalty check from the sales of Roscolux #359 Medium Violet to Behind the Scenes, the charity that assists entertainment technology professionals in need due to serious illness or injury. This year’s proceeds amounted to $3,200, bringing the total contribution since this program began to $21,548. Pictured here, from left, are Todd Spencer, Rick Rudolph, Rosco’s Stan Miller, Lori Rubinstein and Mark Heiser.

NASHVILLE – “The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson,” a tribute concert that took place March 16 at Bridgestone Arena, featured a lineup including Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Lady Antebellum, Lee Ann Womack, Buddy Miller, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Darius Rucker and Hank Williams, Jr. LD Paul Hoffman used a Bandit Lites-supplied rig that included Martin MAC Vipers, Bandit 5x5s, GLP X4-10 Strips, Eurolight strips, Robe Patt 2013 and Martin MAC 2000 Wash fixtures, with a grandMA2 Full and grandMA2 Light console for control.

SOUTH BEND, IN – The city of South Bend, Indiana, which celebrated 150 years in 2015, commissioned a permanent, interactive lighting installation called River Arts to brighten what had been a gloomy downtown area. The five-part lighting attraction includes art structures, architectural lighting for a bridge and an illuminated section of the St. Joseph river.  Aaron Perri, executive director of Downtown South Bend Corporation, worked for three years on a project, teaming up with LD Rob Shakespeare for the lighting design. James Thomas Engineering, part of Area Four Industries, also played a key role in the project.

SAN FRANCISCO – Kid Cudi, known for his distinctive atmospheric and emotionally-gripping live performances has just finished the first leg of a new US tour supporting his Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven album, complete with a moody and evocative lighting design by Brett Lorins that centers on Robe moving lights. The rig included 10 MMX Spots, 12 LEDWash 300s and two LEDWash 600s with the MMX Spots being the main workhorses. This core touring package was complemented by some house lights at each venue. The lighting package was supplied by TERI Productions, coordinated by Jay Coatney and Jason Murphy.

NEW YORK –– Rachel Platten performed during a Manhattan “cardio party” recently, singing her workout-friendly “Fight Song” at an invitation-only event held to mark the launch of a 10-city coast-to-coast fitness tour sponsored by Target and SoulCycle. The 150 guests were also treated to a light show by LD Barrett Hall that featured 45 Next NXT-1 moving LED panels from Chauvet Professional. WorldStage supplied the gear.

MILWAUKEE, WI – For Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s recent tour dates, lighting designer Paul “Arlo” Guthrie served up a variety of looks punctuated at times with white tungsten blasts created by STRIKE 4 LED fixtures from Chauvet Professional. Guthrie positioned 47 of the 100W COB LED fixtures throughout his rig. PRG supplied the fixtures.

NASHVILLE – More than 8,000 high school and middle school students gathered to worship and hear the Gospel message at the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) March 11-12. Working with Orchestrate Experience, Bandit Lites provided the lighting package for the event led by Kent Shingleton. Featured guests included Ed Newton, The Skit Guys and YEC Worship Band.

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada – For the Fire and Ice Gala, a fundraising event held within the Garnet B. Rickard sports complex, Matthew Beauchamp of Mobile Productions was able to easily add a transformative visual touch with strategically placed WELL Series uplighting fixtures from Chauvet Professional. The event raised money for Community Living Oshawa/Clarington, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting achievement for people with intellectual disabilities.

GLENCOE, IL – After operating out of two separate leased spaces for the past 23 years, Writers Theatre now has a new home to call their own, featuring the 250-seat Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre and the 99-seat black box Gillian Theatre in the Chicago area. Auerbach Pollock Friedlander played a key role in the development of the new venue.

KANSAS CITY, MO – Christian artist Toby Mac, who can jump from hip hop to rock to EDM and funk music stylings, likes to refer to his style of music as “musical gumbo.” For his current “Hits Deep” tour, LD Jason Norris is using gear from 4Wall Nashville. The rig includes Vari*Lite VL4000 BeamWash fixtures, Martin MAC Quantum LED Profiles, Clay Paky Stormy Strobes and Elation Platinum Beam 5R Extremes.