Designer Watch,” a new column written by award-winning journalist Debi Moen, has nothing to do with fashion timepieces. Instead, it focuses on people and projects – “the human-interest side of the industry,” as Moen puts it. Reach her at dmoen@plsn.com. She looks forward to sharing your news in her future columns. -ed.
What an exciting new way to start 2011. My own new column in PLSN is in reality your column, because this is all about what you are doing out in the field. So please feel free to drop me a line with the latest shows, projects, professional or personal news. The headline news in your life can make the print headlines here.
Rose-y Singing Future
LD Susan Rose knows not only how to light a stage but to “take” a stage. Her singing voice – a highlight of many industry jams – led to her lighting career. Now it’s come full circle. Rose hopes to launch her own singing tour this summer/fall, targeting the Asian market in China and Japan. Her set list will feature songs from her new CD. The single release, “This Is Who I Am,” comes out soon. Listen in at susanrosemusic.com. She’s one artist who can list herself as her own touring LD…
A New Gig for a Road Veteran
Billy Heaslip decided to “get a life” after 37 years on the road after Yes and Peter Frampton tours. He settled down in Austin, TX, but is busier than ever as the new production manager of the Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre. The state-of-the-art venue opened in late February as the new home of the Austin City Limits studio soundstage and as an entertainment venue. “This new venue is the right time, right place for me to be,” Heaslip says. “I didn’t want to work in an old venue, and this new facility is just amazing.”
Ungerleider’s Architechtural Side
Howard Ungerleider of Production Design International started up a new architectural division, Applied Light Media (ALM), which transforms environments, exhibits and events into enlightening experiences with the addition of the new 3D video technology…Ungerleider recently helped Kid Rock celebrate his 40th birthday on tour by designing a laser show for 60,000 people in Detroit in mid-January. He worked with Nook Schoenfeld and John Featherstone on the project (See Nook’s account of the gig in LD-at-Large, page 52), then flew to NYC for Chick Corea’s Return to Forever tour. The LD is ramping up Rush’s tour (see cover photo), which runs from March to July in Europe and the U.S., with Matt Druzbik directing…
Designing a Design Program
LD Seth Jackson packed his lighting awards and returned to his alma-mater, Webster University in St. Louis, MO. This new faculty member is creating a concert design program within the theatre training department of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts. “I’ve always believed a big part of my success is the grounding that I got in Conservatory,” he says. “I know about art, I understand color, I know the history of theatre, I’m exposed to all sorts of disciplines, and you develop a great worth ethic. When we started the discussion, the idea basically became: ‘lighting design is lighting design.’ It doesn’t matter if it is dance, theatre, concerts or a car show. There is a process and a procedure that leads to success. Over the next few semesters we’ll be building something special to take ‘convergence’ to the academic level. I loved my years at Webster, and it is fun being back on campus.”
From Dining Table to Office Space
When Jeff Ravitz left Visual Terrain – his creation and livelihood for the past 20 years – he set up his design shop at his dining room table. He pulled up another chair for his longtime associate Kristie Roldan, and the two at the new Intensity Advisors finished the year with a Fox-TV ice show and a YouTube holiday webcast called Project 4 Awesome. Days before the New Year, they cleared off the table and moved into office space nearby. The year is “nicely busy,” Ravitz says, with a Showtime comedy special starring Kevin Hart and a PBS music special live from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium featuring Irish talent Daniel O’Donnell. Ravitz invites industry friends to stop by when in Los Angeles…
Madagascar Live!
LD Mike Baldassari recently opened the national tour of Madagascar Live!, a family entertainment show based on the animated movie, produced by Dreamworks and Broadway Across America. Dave Gallo designed the set and Greg Barnes the costumes. After a stint at Radio City Music Hall in April, the tour runs through summer, with extensions likely.
…to The Late Show
London-based band The Boxer Rebellion asked Baldassari to light their recent performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Says Baldassari, “Tim Stephenson, the longtime Late Show LD is an old friend of mine, as is programmer Richie Tyndall, and they were both graciously allowed me to be ‘guest LD’ for the day. It was the band’s network TV debut, and for me it was a blast to be part of it and to see some old friends in the process.” Baldassari met the band last fall when designing theatrical lighting for the film Going the Distance. He then designed their tour afterward.
In the Mood at MODE
Bob Bonniol of MODE Studios is having a “hot year already.” Despite the winter weather woes all over the country, Bonniol pounded out content design for P Diddy’s appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the BBC and BET’s Concert Series. He sent a tour design out for up-and-coming band RED on the Winter Jam Tour, taught a few days of master classes at Full Sail, and is designing a mind-blowing scenic video arrangement for the upcoming TED (Technology Entertainment Design) conference…
Quick Cues
LD Phil Ealy is doing a non-lighting gig with Lady Gaga…Lighting Director Glen Johnson just started another James Blunt tour for the next 13 months, operating a design by LD Paul Normandale of Lite Alternative…Tim Grivas, automated lighting programmer on the current Rush tour, originated and designed a holiday lighting and sound experience called “Flipped on Christmas” in Austin, TX’s Zilker Park. The city was so turned on by it that Austin’s mayor proclaimed the nine days before Christmas as official “Flipped on Christmas” days…LD Charlie “Cosmo” Wilson lit an unplugged Foreigner show at a Maui hotel. There was no room for wiggle lights, but there was room to wiggle toes. “For the first time in my entire career, I ran a show barefoot!” Wilson declares. After a swim with the whales, Wilson packed up for Foreigner’s tour in India… Kirk Garreans of ALP Design & Production is doing a complete event design for an upcoming corporate event in April at Orlando’s Dolphin Hotel. “It’s no huge fancy show, but it’s our bread-and-butter in this industry,” Garreans says.
