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Designer Insight

‘Sugar Hill:’ The Ellington / Strayhorn Nutcracker

‘Sugar Hill’ is a reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s classic Nutcracker, composed by jazz icons Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Seen for the first time as a fully realized ballet at the Chicago Auditorium the dance story reimagining of the classic tale was lit by Lighting Designer Christopher Annas-Lee.

Kim Petras ‘Feed the Beast’ Tour

German singer/songwriter Kim Petras’ latest tour, ‘Feed the Beast,’ feels more like a play than a concert as it is broken into six distinct acts, and, as Lighting Designer Ricardo Rojas notes, each needed its own lighting approach.

Joji at the Garden and the Forum

The enigmatic Japanese artist, Joji recently performed two one-night only shows, at Madison Square Garden in NYC and at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Both sold-out in pre-sales less than a week after being announced. PLSN catches up with PM Andrew McClymont and Production Designer Travis Shirley about how the design supported this high-energy and multi-faceted performer.

Depeche Mode: ‘Memento Mori’ World Tour

For the first time in five years, Depeche Mode is back out on tour, in support of their March 2023 album release, “Memento Mori.” Always on the cutting-edge of music and pushing the boundaries of the synth pop genre, Depeche Mode’s 19th tour again delivers acoustically and visually. Lighting Designer Jason Baeri spoke with PLSN about the dynamic design and how it supports Depeche Mode’s music and audience experience.

Blake Shelton: ‘Back to the Honky Tonk’ Tour

From the creative minds of designers Steve Cohen and Bob Bonniol, working along with Felix Peralta, Blake Shelton’s “Back to the Honky Tonk” tour, with dynamic lighting, a cutting-edge video environment production design and a working bar stage extension, is a visually engaging theatrical experience. We catch up with the team to learn about the design and the practical solutions they relied on to realize it.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Marking 40 years of lighting Bruce Springsteen, Lighting Designer Jeff Ravitz is once more at the helm for Springsteen’s current tour. PLSN caught up with Ravitz right after the first leg kicked off to discuss his gear choices, how he has brought his years of experience with the artist—and the band—to inform his design and how to get fresh looks over a three-hour show.