Skip to content

‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ Takes a Tour Bus Ride Without Leaving the Stage

When the production team of the Hulu series’ “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” had an episode that took place primarily on a tour bus, they brought Carstage, an In-Camera Virtual Effects (ICVFX) specialist, onboard. While dealing with ICVFX for such a large vehicle like a bus may seem daunting, it was something Carstage had already tackled. They also got a big assist from Nationwide Video’s Secaucus, NJ location, which was just a five-minute drive from the filming stage.

Trey Anastasio Band and Goose: Four Heads are Better than One

Trey Anastasio Band (TAB) and Goose co-headlined an arena tour in the northeast with Lighting Designers Marc Janowitz for TAB and Andrew Goedde for Goose. Joining them on the road were Lighting Directors / Programmers Patrick Hayes for TAB and Tony Caporale for Goose. Their great teamwork and creative synergy resulted in two equal but distinctively different full blown shows every night.

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.

ODESZA: ‘The Last Goodbye Tour’

Electronic music with live music from drumline and horn sections produces a unique acoustic and visually arresting live musical experience for ODESZA’s audiences. Co-Creative Directors Luke Tanaka and Sean Kusanagi along with Lighting Designer Kyle Kegan have been working with the band and PM Shane Crowl to ensure the visual design reinforces the dynamic performance on tour and at festivals during “The Last Goodbye Tour.”

Streaming The Last Rockstars at the Hollywood Palladium

The Last Rockstars, a Japanese supergroup, played sold-out dates in Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles. We speak with Lighting Designer Peter Morse about his rocking design that showcased the band in the best light, and with Video Director Kevin Garcia about capturing and livestreaming the Hollywood Palladium show globally, including to 100 movie theaters in Japan.

Willa Kim Scholarship & Exhibition; News from Perdue and USITT

The Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the recipients of 2023 The Willa Kim Costume Design Scholarship, honoring costume designer Willa Kim’s legacy and her life’s work as a pioneer, legend, and inspiration for many of today’s theater artists. Kim’s iconic work in ballet, theater, opera, and television is also the subject of a career spanning retrospective at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts as noted in this month’s theater news, along with a new online course in Structures for the Stage from Purdue University. We also look at USITT’s Gateway Program and USITT’s 2023 Joel E. Rubin Founders Award honoree, Elynmarie Kazle.

Bringing Down the Chandelier on Broadway’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’

Broadway’s longest running show in history, The Phantom of the Opera, takes its final bows and will go dark, closing in mid-April. PLSN speaks with some of the creative and production team who have been with the show since the beginning 35 years ago. Sharing their thoughts are Lighting Designer Andrew Bridge, Associate LD Vivien Leone, Head Electrician Alan Lampel. We also talk with Gary Fails about the fog system, which is integral to the overall impact of the show.

Designer, Author, Educator James L. Moody, 80

Designer James L. Moody died this year at the age of 80. A pioneering lighting designer for concerts, television, and theater as well as a professor, lecturer, author, and mentor, Moody had an amazing and varied career that influenced many throughout the live entertainment industry.

Partnership With Audinate Brings DANTE AV-H Operability to Marshall IP Cameras

Marshall Electronics, a trusted provider of high-quality and reliable AV equipment for broadcast, proAV, video streaming and multimedia worldwide, announces a collaboration with Audinate, developer of the industry leading Dante® AV-over-IP solution. As part of the collaboration, Marshall will integrate Audinate’s Dante AV-H to its line of AV over IP (H.265/H.264) camera offerings with up to UHD60fps resolution.Read More »Partnership With Audinate Brings DANTE AV-H Operability to Marshall IP Cameras

Chauvet Acquires LynTec

In keeping with its mission of providing customers with cutting edge technological solutions, Chauvet has acquired LynTec, a leading global supplier of electrical power solutions for lighting, video, and audio systems. Founded in 1982, Lenexa, KS-based LynTec is widely known for its advanced lighting control panels, with these products installed in well over 10,000 sites throughout the world.Read More »Chauvet Acquires LynTec

IPS Supports Drama of ‘The Thorn’ with Powerful Visuals from Elation Professional

Illuminate Production Services (IPS) plays an integral role in creating the visual magic that is The Thorn and again this year enhanced the drama using a large package of Elation Professional lighting. Lighting Designer Caleb Franke of IPS uses the dynamic lighting to help sculpt the inspiring story while wowing audiences with a variety of visual effects.Read More »IPS Supports Drama of ‘The Thorn’ with Powerful Visuals from Elation Professional