News

CINCINATTI, OH – USITT announced that 280 exhibitors are confirmed for its 2015 trade event in Cincinnati, setting a new record for the exhibition. The exhibitors list also includes 60 first-time exhibitors.The exhibition takes place March 19-21; the event including conferences runs March 18-21.

LAS VEGAS, NV – The Target ads featuring Las Vegas-based band Imagine Dragons that were seen by a record TV viewing audience during Super Bowl 2015 got a behind-the-scenes boost from Creative Conners. The company’s control products helped elevate the stage from All Access Staging & Productions that the band used for the commercial. The photo here, from All Access Staging, shows the stage in its lowered position; the image below shows the stage in its extended mode.

AUSTIN, TX – High End Systems launched its Hog Factor national collegiate lighting show programming competition two years ago. Eligible participants include students enrolled at recognized colleges and universities throughout the U.S. The top college lighting teams in the country will be invited to the 2015 LDI trade show in Las Vegas, where they will compete for prizes including a Hog 4 console (MSRP $44,000), a $20,000 scholarship for their school and an internship at High End Systems, with the opportunity to join the company full time following a successful trial period.

GLENDALE, AZ – NBC aired Super Bowl XLIX to a record viewing audience, and held a big Super Bowl party of its own – just across the street from the University of Phoenix Stadium. Angel City Designs planned the event, lavishly lit by James Schipper of Kinetic Lighting. Schipper used LED fixtures from Chauvet Professional to light the NBC pre-game party tent.

NASHVILLE, TN – The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular hit the road for their 2015 leg with Christian music from Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Building 429, Family Force, Newsong, For King & Country, Blanca, About a Mile, Veridia and speaker Tony Nolan. Bandit Lites provided gear including Clay Paky B Eye K 20 wash lights, Martin Vipers, Vari-Lite VL 3500 washes, Clay Paky Sharpys, Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes, 4 lite inline moles, Color Force 72 wash lights. The visuals setup included 60 foot black A type circle truss divided into 3 sections all lined with 12 mil LED product.

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Women’s World Cup Kickoff Celebration, featured on Fox Sports 1 and Timer Warner Cable, included performances by Flo Rida and DJ Blaze. LD James Schipper of Kinetic Lighting created a dynamic stage backdrop for the performances with 40 Nexus 4×4 panels from Chauvet Professional. The event, held at Hangar 8 at Santa Monica Airport in early Dec. 2014, also featured a 22 projector video mapping projection from Sweetwater Video and Bart Kresa Design to bring attention to FIFA soccer matches in 2015.

SYRACUSE, NY – Eleven promising young theatre artists will receive 2015 USITT Awards for Young Designers & Technicians in the Performing Arts – the YD&T awards — at USITT 2015 in Cincinnati. The show runs from March 18-21 at Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center. The awards will be presented March 19. USITT’s 2014 YD&T winners had their work displayed in the front window of New York City’s Drama Book Shop recently. Patrick Rizzotti, winner of the 2014 USITT Scene Design Award sponsored by Rose Brand, installed the display.

ORLANDO, FL — PLASA Focus: Orlando’s educational seminar program will kick off at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 with a presentation by lighting designer Richard Pilbrow. The presentation, titled “Light and Theatre – 50 Years of Change,” is sponsored by elektraLite and Avolites distributor Group One Ltd. It will be held at the Rosen Plaza Hotel.