Back in high school, we all had our absolute favorite albums, the ones we played over, and over, and over again without end until adulthood intervened. For most of us, those records continue to play themselves in our mind on occasion long after our high school days are over, giving rise to some great memories. But Andre’ Petrus was lucky, he not only got to remember that special record, he is also turning it into a spectacularly dynamic visual experience as the production and lighting designer on John Legend’s Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour.
“Getting the chance to design John Legend’s 20th Anniversary of Get Lifted was a full circle moment for me,” said Petrus, of Outrage Media Group. “I clearly remember that album in high school and I wore it out. That style of music is 100-percent my vibe. I have deep roots in Gospel and R&B so designing that show came naturally.”
Petrus’s unbridled enthusiasm for lighting the anniversary tour comes across loud and clear in his sweeping ebullient design. Moving seamlessly through a dramatic flow of bold looks, he captures the magical range of his multi-award-winning client. At times, he covers the stage in lush colors, reflecting the mood of Legend’s performance on the piano; at others, he turns up the heat, boldly backlighting the superstar and his dancers for R&B numbers.
Helping Petrus create these panoramas is a collection of 160 CHAUVET Professional fixtures, including 73 COLORado PXL Curve 12 motorized battens, which helped him express the core of the vision guiding his design. (The fixtures were supplied by Volt Lights for the LA rehearsals, Neg Earth for the EU leg of the tour, and Upstaging for North America.)
“The best thing about this show is that it’s all about music and lights,” noted Petrus. “We have no video, no special FX, no intricate staging, just pure performance. It’s refreshing to put together a show with exactly what the show calls for, and nothing more. Let the talent speak for itself! Keeping the show interesting visually was the goal — and that’s exactly why we chose the Chauvet PXL Curve. Used correctly, you can get infinite looks and energy from that fixture. To be honest it’s one of my favorites on the market. If you know how to use it, the possibilities are endless. I love having a wall of light, and the ability to ‘bend’ light is definitely the theme of 2025. This style of fixture is going to be around for quite some time.”
Also contributing to Petrus’s design were the 88 Color STRIKE M units in his rig. He arranged the motorized strobe-washes on the stage side-by-side to create a powerful aura around the performance area. “John said he wanted it to feel like a club show, like something he would have done 20 years ago,” said Petrus. “So, we achieved that by having loads of STRIKE Ms define the performance area. This gave us the ability to bring the energy when needed. It was also a nice way to fill the stage with color.”
The colors Petrus chose to fill the stage with were often monochromatic, in keep with the style and taste preferences he shares with his client. “Most of the shows I light have a certain visual esthetic, so using more than one or two colors at once is just a no go for me,” he explained. “The challenge is keeping the show interesting both live, as well as for photographs and videos. At the end of the day, we are here for John Legend and his brand. So, when I design, I always keep the big picture in mind.”
“White light is also prevalent in the show,” continued Petrus. “In many ways it is the best light. It’s all the colors at once. When using white you can really compliment the wardrobe and set. In my opinion it’s the best complimenting color. You really cannot go wrong.”
Working closely with John Legend and his management team, Friends at Work, as well as Creative Director Jemel McWilliams, Petrus focused on making the rig flexible so it could convey the same mood at festivals, arenas, amphitheaters and theatres. He also emphasized floor lighting.
“I generally put my focus on the floor lights,’ he remarked, adding that the stage floor is “where the action is,” and in the case of this tour, it’s also where memories of a life changing album come to life, for a gifted LD as well as an untold number of other John Legend fans.
Further information about CHAUVET Professional: www.chauvetprofessional.com
