Peter Morse spent the past two years designing the elaborate lighting for a large German production show, The ONE Grand Show, which runs for two years in residency at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin. The extravaganza, called “the most lavish show in Europe,” started previews at the 97-year-old theatre on Sept. 22, with the world premiere set for Oct. 6 and more shows planned through mid-2018. With a budget of 11 million Euros ($12.3 million), the show aims to take the audience “on a dreamlike journey through time in search of the person who means everything to us: The One.”
A technical highlight is the stage floor construction, which allows the stage to “drift apart,” achieving levels of blurring and losing the ground under one’s feet in a dreamlike manner. The entire underwater stage area required building a huge floor tub.
Morse shares some of the particulars. “The show includes a cast of 100-plus, along with tracking stage platforms that open to reveal flowing water, and a large complex of automation above and below the stage surface,” he says. “The physical dimensions of the stage alone are quite impressive: 165 feet deep by 120 feet wide, plus 100-by-80 foot wing space, plus two levels of subterranean hydraulics/turntables/water tanks/ice rinks. Quite unique and challenging!”
Benny Kirkham is helping program, and Morse says the lighting gear covers technology produced over the last 25 years, including new products on the market. Also requiring extra lighting consideration are the 16-piece show band and the 500 fanciful costumes designed by fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier.
Debating in the Best Light
In between lighting auto shows, Jim Tetlow of Nautilus Entertainment Design is the lighting consultant for the Commission on Presidential Debates. Though the four presidential debates are in four different locations, Tetlow will ensure both candidates and moderators shine in the best light. Tetlow has been working debates since 2000 and previous to that he did both Republican and Democratic conventions. He and the Nautilus team also do work for the Senate and House of Representatives in Washington DC. “No real rules or considerations,” he says, regarding the lighting. “I just try to make each candidate look as good as possible.”
Wonder in the Woods
Lightswitch gets back to nature. LD John Featherstone is again designing Illumination at the Morton Arboretum in the Chicago area, which won a CODA (Collaboration of Design + Art) award in the Landscape category this year. The event features a walk through a mile of innovative lights and projections. In fact, if you hug or talk to the trees – they will respond. Billed as “music, motion and magic filling the winter woods,” it runs Nov. 18-Jan. 2, 2017. Visit plsn.me/Morton-Tree-Lighting.
Meanwhile, Lightswitch LD Chris Medvitz also branches out with Enchanted: Forest of Light. The interactive, nighttime experience at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles features a one-mile walk through 10 distinct lighting displays. The event runs Nov. 25-Jan. 8, 2017. Visit enchantedla.com.
44 Designs Expands
Owner/LD Jeff Lavallee created 44 Designs in Nashville as a space for creatives to collaborate. But when music video shoots were scheduled, the company cleared out the warehouse and left for the day. To keep business humming 44 Designs has now added a dedicated room for show prep, rehearsals and music video shoots. This allows Lavallee a space to test out new ideas as well. Lavallee says, “Great things are in store!”
Quick Cues
Ethan Weber is designing Green Day’s tour again, starting January 2017 in Europe. “First run is promo using whatever venue has to offer,” Weber says. “(I) still have Stones stuff; so Tom Horton is going to direct Green Day.”
”I’ve switched gears and put my cowboy hat on,” says LD Eric Cathcart. He has designed and is touring with the Canadian Dallas Smith tour, a mixture of support shows for Keith Urban and their own headline shows. Cathcart also designed/programmed lighting for Chase Bryant’s video shoot in Nashville. Then there’s LoCash, who hits the road the end of September/early October with a new lighting rig that he designed and programmed.
Lighting director Kevin Cauley decided to stay local, doing in-town gigs in Los Angeles for a bit, so he signed up as programmer with The Ellen Degeneres Show, with Tom Beck as LD. “It’s really weird driving to work for a change, even stranger being done and home by 6 p.m.,” he says.
Fraser Elisha recently programmed/operated the Parisian Macao grand opening. “It was a large outdoor event under a half-sized Eiffel Tower for the Parisian Hotel and Casino,” he says. Bryte Design’s Cate Carter and Michael Smith served as LD and assistant LD. Elisha operated the outdoor show, while Tim Fawks programmed/operated the indoor show, also designed by Carter. Visit plsn.me/PLSN-macao for related videos.
Production designer Chris Lisle sent out Lighting Director Ralphie Rehbein on Ben Rector’s “The Biggest Tour I Have Done So Far” tour. Next up was the KAABOO festival in Del Mar, CA, in mid-September. Lisle also recently signed an exclusive management deal with Alpha Sports + Entertainment LLC. He’s the first signee under the company’s new division that is adding management services to their usual legal representation for its entertainment clients.
Lenny Douglas designed/directed the Club stage at the FYF festival, and now prepares for lighting success on L.A.-based band Failure’s tour.
On Oct. 1, LD/lighting director Scott Pearson embarks on the Kansas “40th Anniversary Leftoverture Album Tour,” a 2.5 hour nonstop show including a performance of the entire album.
When Irish group Other Voices comes to Austin in October, LD Bryan Schrumpf will work with their longtime LD Liam McCarthy for a special TV shoot at Arlyn Studios. The group is known for mixing in guest stars, and Schrumpf figures a few local musicians may lend a Texas twang.
LD Marsha Stern was inducted into The Legends of Vinyl Hall of Fame for her lighting legacy. “I’m the first LD to be recognized by this organization, which is all about the ‘Glory Days of Disco’ and pioneers in the dance music world,” Stern notes.
Update: LD Jeremy Roth took over design duties for Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, sending LD Amy Kozack to run it while Roth tours with Wilco in South America/ Europe through November.
Share your upcoming holiday projects. Email Debi at dmoen@plsn.com.
