They are also creating concepts for their next Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, their ninth CMA Awards, and their 10th Halftime Show for the upcoming Super Bowl 50 (No Roman numeral “L” for the Feb. 7, 2016 game, by the way; instead it’s “50.”)
LD Allen Branton is preparing for two big things: The Wiz Live, now in preproduction as an NBC Special airing Dec. 3; and, he’s consulting with LD Willie Williams on the U2 HBO Special from Paris, airing Nov. 14.
LD Patrick Woodroffe’s current design works include AC/DC’s U.S. tour. Black Sabbath’s Farewell Tour “The End” starts in January 2016 and The Rolling Stones’ South American tour is slated for early 2016. Also on Woodroffe’s drawing board is The Rolling Stones’ major memorabilia/photo/interactive exhibition celebrating 50 years at the Saatchi Gallery in London, opening in April 2016.
LD Bob Peterson shot the new season’s first show with Toby Keith for the iconic Soundstage TV series at WTTW Chicago. Associate Monica Rose assisted and lit the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends. The Americana Awards at Nashville’s Ryman followed.
LD David Hare just completed a 10-week tour as Chicago’s video director for Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire’s “Heart & Soul” tour. He’s gone into holiday mode, designing Six Flags Over Texas “Fright Fest” and Sea World San Antonio’s “Howl-O-Scream” attractions and shows. Next up: a nine-week, extended fall tour with Stevie Wonder, wrapping up Nov. 24.
LD Eric Cathcart of Bigtime Lighting Design has designed and programmed The Darkness, and will tour with it in the U.K. David Garcia is programming/operating the show for the North American and Australian tours. Cathcart is also working with Garbage, taking on multiple roles of designer, director, programmer, video content editor/creator and projectionist.
Patrick Dierson of Art, Resource & Entertainment production-designed this year’s “Budweiser Made In America Festival” over Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia. Lighting directors for the three stages were Michael Appel, David “Fuji” Convertino and Evan Bloom.
LD Chris Lisle, with associate designer Erik Parker, wrapped up the three-day Kaaboo festival in Del Mar, CA where he served as overall event lighting designer of seven stages and 103 acts. Lisle’s now kick-starting Miranda Lambert’s “Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars” tour, with Craig Richter as the touring LD.
LD Paul Hoffman is designing frightening lighting for Widespread Panic’s Halloween run in Milwaukee, WI and Asheville, NC and the American Roots Festival in Raleigh, NC. In related news, his brother LD Preston Hoffman just conjured up a new design for Grace Potter’s tour.
LD Cory Fitzgerald finished designing the Janet Jackson tour at the end of summer, and is teamed up with LD Roy Bennett on Beyoncé’s one-off performances at various events.
In Residence in Vegas
LD Craig Rutherford is designing the lighting for The Judd’s “Girls Night Out” residency Oct. 7-24 at the Venetian, the mother-daughter duo’s first concerts together in nearly five years. LD Michael Smalley is in the midst of Pitbull’s “Time of Our Lives” residency Sept. 23-Oct. 7 at Planet Hollywood. Smalley and Gabe Fraboni of Twin Designs handled lighting design, programming and content creation, all running on SMPTE, he noted.
LD Michael Ledesma is running Santana’s show during his House of Blues at Mandalay Bay residency, which resumes Nov. 4-15.
LD Jonathan Smeeton continues illuminating Diana Ross, whose second residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas runs most of November and again into spring. Don’t be surprised to run into him in the LDI aisles in Vegas – perhaps taking a break from compiling a 50-year video review for Miss Ross’ history at that time in Los Angeles.
Quick Cues
LD Mark Cunniffe is designing shows for Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams and Sir Tom Jones.
It’s early days for LD Stan Green in designing the next Tom Petty tour. Meanwhile, he’s been working for John Legend, operating LD Nook Schoenfeld’s design for festivals.
LD Dara Guiney is back out with Awolnation for the rest of the year on the second North American leg.
LD Lee Gipson is out as lighting designer/director on Kaskade’s “Automatic” tour, with dates until Oct. 31.
LD Jeff Rials is on the road with Godsmack’s eight-week fall tour, ending Nov. 14.
LD Susan Rose returns to the road as lighting director with Ringo Starr through Oct. 31.
LD Andy Cass just finished designing The String Cheese Incident’s fall U.S. tour.
With Dashboard Confessional and Third Eye Blind tour designs behind him, LD Mitch Schellenger went from programming lighting/ video for Jason Derulo to designing the J Balvin fall “Familia” tour that kicked off Sept. 23. He’s also been on the run as lighting director with Imagine Dragons for LD Sooner Routhier.
LD Chris Smith is finishing up with sister band Haim’s select dates on Taylor Swift’s “1989” tour.
LD Liam Tully has designed James Bay’s worldwide run.
LD Keith Hoagland of CKP Lighting designed, programmed and is operating Jason Aldean’s fall tour through October.
LD Libby Gray finishes her summer shed tour with Styx/Def Leppard on Oct. 5.
LD Bud Horowitz will light Yanni’s shows in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx this month, followed by a show in Dubai.
Lighting Director Justin Shaw has been jumping between Kid Rock and the Strokes for various one-offs around the country all month.
LD Justin Kitchenman missed a couple shows behind the console for Luke Bryan as he welcomed daughter Isabella Kitchenman into this world. We’re sure he would list it as one of the best productions he has ever been involved in.
Share your news with Debi Moen at dmoen@plsn.com.
