The 2023 CMT Music Awards aired live April 2 from Austin, TX for the first time ever, with designer Tom Kenny, Lighting Director David “Fuji” Convertino and Programmer Felix Peralta working the gig at the new Moody Center. But the party started early on March 29 with a pre-show Congress Street Stage to entertain downtown crowds with performances from Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Carrie Underwood and Tyler Hubbard. Kenny also designed that show, bringing in Han Henze as Lighting Director and Matthew Piercy as Programmer.
Henze has been working with Kenny on various TV specials: as Lighting Director for the designer’s two CMT Storytellers tapings with Kelsea Ballerini and Dierks Bentley, and a CMT Crossroads with King & Country and Jimmie Allen. But after those street-level festivities, Henze goes literally underground with LD Allen Branton as lighting director and programmer for PBS’ The Cavern Sessions, taping in a subterranean amphitheater within Tennessee’s Cumberland Mountains. While some may have assumed Henze had retired in recent years, he simply “left the business to do another trade for a while. Big lumps of money brought me back,” he jokes.
Broadcast Specials
Marc Janowitz has a few broadcast projects lately as well. He designed production and lighting for HBO’s Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark, shot at NYC’s The Town Hall. The show was shot in December and started airing in February. The LD also just designed for comedian Wanda Sykes’ Netflix special, which he says, “won’t air for a while.” In concert news, he was in production for Aly & AJ’s music tour, which hit the road at the end of March.
Brandi, Demi, AGT
Emily Bornt reports in from Dubai as Lighting Director for Fireplay’s design for Demi Lovato. Following that she planned a return to Las Vegas as the programmer for Noah Mitz and Mike Berger on Full Flood’s residency design for America’s Got Talent Presents Super Stars Live at the Luxor Theater. She’s also the Lighting Designer, Programmer and Operator for Brandi Carlile’s upcoming mix of shows, which include being a supporting act for P!nk’s upcoming stadium tour. “Brandi’s design has to be versatile enough for that, as well as for some of her shows like the Joni Jam where she will do an evening with Joni Mitchell at the Gorge, and an evening with country supergroup The Highwomen,” Bornt says. When she’s not busy, she jumps in as a programmer for corporate events as well. She currently sees open dates in April, if needs arise.
SZA’s S.O.S.
The creatives at Human Person designed American singer-songwriter SZA’s SOS tour which finished a U.S. arena run in late March. From the Human Person team, Ian Valentine was the Show Director with Ben Dalgleish as the Production/Lighting Designer. Kasper Iseger programmed and directed lighting, with Stephen Hedges handling technical direction and calling the automation-heavy show.
Hayley Kiyoko
Danielle Edwards is out as operator with Hayley Kiyoko’s The Panorama Tour. “It was designed by myself in collaboration with Cort Lawrence and Anders Rahm at Raw Cereal,” she says. The tour for the American actress/musical artist plays Europe in April, and the U.S. in May. Edwards will also continue operating for rockers Greta Van Fleet throughout the year.
Dickerson, Tomlin
Scott Cunningham of Cut2Black Designs has designed and programmed Christian artist Chris Tomlin’s Stories of Worship Tour, with Nathan York as Lighting Director. Cunningham also developed a new show for pop country artist Russell Dickerson’s tour, with Programmer Luke Elrod and Lighting Director Nate Augustyn. Earlier, Cunningham created the new tour design for country artist Michell Tenpenny.
Brit Floyd
Mark “Junior” Jacobson has been the FOH Tech/Understudy Operator on the Weekends with Adele residency, which wrapped in March at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. At the same time, he was also preparing tribute band Brit Floyd for another tour. “This year the main theme is the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, so their setlist will be mostly about that.” Dates start April 12 in North America and continue through the year.
Billy Idol
Michael Duncan is touring with Billy Idol for the next two months and again in the fall. The Designer, Director and Programmer will simply carry a console and media server. “We’re using local production everywhere and I’m cloning my show file for each venue,” the LD says. One of his “interesting” stops of the itinerary is a film shoot at Hoover Dam.
Quick Cues
Jason Baeri says he got his Depeche Mode lighting design out the door for the Memento Mori World Tour, which started March 23, and then he’s “gearing up for another summer of The Weeknd.”
Joseph Gasque is Lighting Director and Programmer for John Mellencamp’s The Live and In Person Tour, carrying out Steve Cohen’s design, nationwide March through June.
Lenny Douglas is Designer, Programmer and Board Op for Australian rock band The Church, whose The Hypnogogue Album Tour 2023 launched in the U.S. March to April.
Ethan Weber is on his second run with John Mayer’s Solo tour, then fills in for Dan Hadley on a few West Coast Iggy Pop dates.
Meagan Metcalf is designing The Backseat Lovers’ Waiting to Spill World Tour 2023 with Gerry Dintelman Programming and Directing. Afterward, she’s “taking a little breather, and looking for a fall design,” she shares.
Keep Debi Moen posted with news of your upcoming summer touring plans. Reach her at dmoen@plsn.com.
