Production Profile

I look at the security guards standing next to me. He’s wide-eyed and he looks crazed. I lean over and ask him a question, “Have you ever seen anything like this before?”

Without hesitation, he replies, “Never!”

Abigail Rosen Holmes’ sizeable résumé includes working with some of the most creative talents in the music industry. Among the many people for which she has provided lighting and video are the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Pet Shop Boys, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Bonnie Raitt, Thompson Twins, Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus and in more recent years, Cher, Janet Jackson and The Cure. She is currently on the road with redhot Latin sensation Shakira, who, in addition to burning up the charts, is selling out arenas across the globe on her “Oral Fixation” tour. We caught her two-night stay in San Jose at the beginning of her U.S. leg where we spoke with Holmes about her past experience and the current tour.

Two-thousand attendees. Dozens of high-powered executives. A cavalcade of actors and one rock star, Lenny Kravitz, topping off the night. Putting on the annual Turner Upfront event, where TBS and TNT sell their upcoming season and programs to advertisers of Turner Broadcasting, is no small feat. This year set designers Atomic Design not only transformed the Theatre at Madison Square Garden into a flashy corporate showcase, they also reinvented the lobby as a glitzy faux nightclub for the after-party.

Martina McBride’s new album, Timeless, features a selection of classic country songs that were originally recorded 30 or 40 years ago. Naturally, when she started touring in support of the album, she wanted the look of the show to reflect the simple but eloquent nature of the traditional country sounds. Tom McPhillips of Atomic Design was an integral part of creating a set with those production values.

Live music is already a challenge in the modern world of multimedia concerts. Dealing with changing venues, multiple crews, gear issues and the requirements of different artists is certainly not easy. Envision touring with the Black Eyed Peas, a hot hip-hop crossover group that features four singers, four live musicians, backing tracks, samples and a variety of instruments. Then imagine that there are no production rehearsals—ever. In fact, they never had any prior to the tour.

My first experience seeing Queen live was in 1976 at the historic Winterland Auditorium in San Francisco. It was one of those rare magical moments that you don’t forget. There is no one on the rock scene who can match the singing and stage presence of Freddie Mercury. Freddie’s gone, but not the memories that will live forever. Brian May, whose unique guitar style is unsurpassed, and Roger Taylor, whose rock anthem drumming defines the style of the band, have embarked on the first Queen tour in 20 years. They’ve brought with them the talent of Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers to sing the hits of both bands, from “Tie Your Mother Down” to “Can’t Get Enough” to “We Are the Champions.”

Lighting director Pat Brannon has been with Bon Jovi in one capacity or another longer than many of his colleagues have been in the entertainment business. But his current position on the tour is now in its sixth year.

“I started with the band in ’88. I was brought in by the LD at the time and had responsibility of over 200 Color Mags,” Bannon says. “From there, I was asked to be the lighting director in ‘89 and returned on the next tour as crew chief and computer motor operator and programmer. Before 1995, I was the moving light operator and programmer. So in reality, I have been with the band for 18 years.

Lighting designer Chris Lisle started in the business in 1992 when he toured with the St. Louis-based rock band Novella. Along his way, he has picked up experience as a production assistant, stage manager, tour manager, production manager, assistant producer and producer. In 2003, he won the Bandit Lites “Rookie of the Year” award, and he recently picked up the “Rock” award from the same company. And now, he can add to his resumé lighting designer for one of country music’s hottest commodities, Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year for 2005, Keith Urban.