News

PALERMO, Italy – Lighting designer Francesco De Cave used Clay Paky Sharpy Wash and Alpha Profile 1500 fixtures for Italian rapper Fedez’s tour, in support of his recent album Pop-Hoolista. The lighting design has been evolving to fit larger venues as the artist’s popularity continues to expand.

NEW YORK – For its 10th annual Spring Gala staged June 8, 2015, the Apollo Theatre hosted an array of artists ranging from Nile Rodgers and his band Chic to Ne-Yo, Luke James and Kimberly Nichole. LD Kevin Mignone, president of KM Productions, made use of 20 Legend 330SR Spots from Chauvet Professional.

SAN REMO, Italy — The Royal Hotel in San Remo gave its facade a fresh update with LED Glow UP color changers from Clay Paky. LD Gianmarco Maccario used 20 of the fixtures, controlling them with a Jands Vista S1 lighting console tucked away by the pool. Pico Service provided the gear, which was easily set up and removed for a special event.

LONDON – The first production to use ARRI Rental’s ALEXA 65 large format digital camera system has hit theaters: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Primarily shot with 35 mm film cameras by Academy Award winner Robert Elswit, ASC, the fifth installment of the spy series features a major underwater sequence, which was captured with prototype ALEXA 65 cameras in HydroFlex housings by Pete Romano, ASC.

OKLAHOMA CITY — For R5’s “Sometime Last Night” tour, Toucan Productions provided a rig featuring Elation Professional’s Cuepix Panels, Rayzor Q7 LED moving heads and Platinum Beam Extremes. Band family member Ryland Lynch served as board op and LD, working with Toucan director of show operations Brad Meyers, who served as lighting director/programmer for the seven-week summer tour.

SHIRLINGTON, VA – On Monday, July 20th, PBS Newshour, filmed at the WETA studio A, featured a new look that included new graphics, music, lighting and set. The show now features a clean, open, airy look consisting of large freestanding blue, red, and amber, acrylic panels carved into shapes evoking the PBS logo. Complementing the new set is a new lighting design by Dennis Size, vice president of design for the Lighting Design Group (LDG).

PRATT, KS – When the Miss Kansas 2015 pageant ended, the crew from Douglas Production Group received an unexpected surprise. The crew from The Texas Tenors, who performed at the event, left a note praising the show’s lighting director. For Kirk Longhofer, General Manager of DPG, it was not only flattering, it also represented validation of their decision to go with an LED rig made up primarily of Chauvet Professional fixtures. “This was the first time we had nearly 100 percent LED lighting,” said Longhofer.

BROOKLYN, NY — The Kings Theatre reopened in grand style with a Diana Ross concert earlier this year. The energy-efficient lighting setup includes close to 100 elektraLite 1018 Quad LED fixtures. Installed prior to the reopening in January, the fixtures were supplied by Long Island-based distributor Group One Ltd.

LAS VEGAS – Apartments.com made a big splash when it invited 3,000 guests to a poolside soiree at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas during Licensing Expo.  David M. Schulman, who designed the lighting for the pool surround and the wave pool, used a pair of grandMA2 Light consoles to control the rig, which included 26 moving lights. 4Wall supplied the gear, and A.C.T Lighting, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of MA consoles in North America.

ORLANDO — Stageco, Rhino Staging and Beyel Bros Crane and Rigging were among the production companies supporting the Rolling Stones at their 2015 tour stop in Orlando, FL this year. Writer/photographer Julian Leek, who also took these photos, provided an account of the event’s production to PLSN on behalf of client Beyel Brothers. His account follows.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The owners of The Manor Complex are drawing patrons to their bi-level, 20,000-square-foot nightclub with visual energy from a collection of fixtures from Chauvet Professional and Chauvet DJ.

ATLANTA — Full Circle Lighting & Productions’ president, Noah Hammer, added Chroma-Q’s Color Force LED battens to meet demand from the company’s lighting designer, rental and corporate clients. Chroma-Q’s North American distributor, A.C. Lighting Inc., provided 48″ and 72″ long LED battens.