Using vintage Fresnel film lights fixed to a series of moving pantographs, Travis Shirley has created a unique style for Stevie Nicks’ current concert tour. As the designer of her production and lighting, Shirley was asked to go out as lighting director as well, something he hasn’t done for several years, he notes. “Stevie’s people thought it was important that the designer should be present,” he explains, saying for the first month and a half he’s been on location. ”I have to say, I’m enjoying the thrill of being out there every night; it takes me back to my early days.”
Assistant LD Chad Smith and Programmer Chris Smith (unrelated) are out there assisting him as he adjusts the design to accommodate various festival rigs as well as empty sheds on her own headlining amphitheater shows. Working with the Fleetwood Mac vocalist is a “career highlight,” he says.
Raising the Roof
Brent Clark designed and programmed the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raising the Roof tour. “It is definitely a career highlight for me. I am a big fan of both of them so to be able to sit in rehearsals and watch them work was amazing. It’s not a big show,” Clark describes. “No lights in the face or movements or crazy chases or haze. So I took it as a great challenge to brush up my theater chops. Its’ just light trying to reflect the moods of the songs.” Jeff Davis is out as lighting director.
As Clark embarks on Stereophonics’ tour, his design for the current Barenaked Ladies’ Last Summer on Earth tour is being operated by Scott McLaughlin. “It’s been a busy few months,” he happily declares.
Hare’s Dream Job
After his recent LD stint with Reba McEntire, everything “fell into place” and LD David Hare landed his dream job as Director of Entertainment for Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. “The departments I am directly involved in range from developing the live show productions along with costume and high profile characters, to creating haunted attractions, park-wide décor overlays for various festivals and Christmas lighting in the Park. We create what the guest will experience from an entertainment point,” he notes. He also oversees the technical services department, which handles audio, lighting, video and scenic construction along with the themed park audio background music throughout the park.
“So I am semi-retired from the road,” he adds, “but I can still do my George Strait and Stevie Wonder shows, since they are kind of retired as well, only doing a handful of dates each year. I will also still remain active in designing and accepting new clients.”
So while he waves goodbye to the road and bus life, he’s excited to start his new career adventure and catch up with his wife, daughter and three dogs. And he invites his touring family to call when they come through Dallas. “I know all the best Mexican food and BBQ places around,” he promises.
The Tale of Fable
LD Victor Fable had been working in the TV world since his move to L.A. in 2001. But returning to live event lighting was always in the back of his mind. When Covid-19 hit, it was the opportunity to make the move. And he did, relocating to Virginia to be closer to family and picking up live event lighting work again. “TV was getting redundant,” Fable says. “The old ADHD was kicking in. I’m doing corporate work again, and also started a new path in houses of worship and permanent installs.”
Residency Roundup
Miranda Lambert has two design teams working on her current shows. Paul “Arlo” Guthrie has designed Lambert and Little Big Town’s current co-headlining run, The Bandwagon Tour. Taylor Price is out as operating director for Lambert, while André Petrus operates LBT. It’s a whole new team for Lambert’s “Velvet Rodeo” residency at the Zappos Theater in Las Vegas. Starting in September, she opens her customized show with a production design from Raj Kapoor and Tom Sutherland.
Meanwhile, John Legend’s “Love” residency is taking the stage at the Zappos Theater. Alec Spear, who designed the production, says that TJ Hoover worked on the lighting design and programming. Other programmers were Josh Lowenstein and Kevin Labitan. Hal Dieter, Legend’s touring LD, is running the show.
Campground Creations
LD Sarah Landau reports in on the road making do with a “pretty sparse” Internet on a camping road trip in Namibia in South Africa. Yet she’s still managed to create the lighting and co-production design for rock band Puscifer, whose U.S. tour started in June with Joe Watrach programming and Dustin Snyder operating. Her production design for Sofi Tukker’s world tour started in May, with Lauren Sego programming and Eric Taverna operating. Purity Ring began their world tour with her lighting design and Brett Bolton’s video design, with Erin Peters as operator. About her remote working situation, Landau says, “I just warned everyone I’d be away, and made sure I had good teams who could make the decisions I would, for me.”
Quick Cues
Collyns Stenzel is technical director and designer of deadmau5 We Are Friends tour, which hits the road in July. He says he will have a programmer/operator, unnamed as yet, out on the tour.
Ciara Hegl is heading out on tour as lighting director for Motion City Soundtrack, designed by Lenny Sasso of Sonus Productions.
Chris Lose is starting a new position as lighting director for the Jason Mraz La La La Love Song Tour 2022, hitting the road in July. Tess Falcone says it’s a loose term to call her a “designer” on this one. “It’s mostly just a basic floor package and all the cool stuff Chris is going to program on it. Fun design coming next year for the album cycle, hopefully.”
Send your design news to PLSN Co-Editor Debi Moen at dmoen@plsn.com
