Kuressaare Castle on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia, provided a magical backdrop and a beautiful setting for the 2024 Saaremaa Opera Festival. This year’s host company, Fundació Òpera Catalunya (The Catalan Opera) from Spain produced a week of special back-to-back opera shows and related events, with lighting equipment and crew supplied by Tallinn-based rental specialist E&T, comprising almost all Robe luminaires.
The Royal Opera of Versailles is part of the famous Palace of Versailles commissioned by King Louis XIV and has its own iconic place in French history. Inaugurated in 1770, it was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and is also known as the Théâtre Gabriel. The interior decoration by Augustin Pajou is constructed almost entirely of wood – for enviable acoustics – and painted with a faux marble technique. After years of neglect, the venue was transformed by two complete more recent restorations – the 1200-capacity main room was re-gilded in 1957 and the stage and machinery were revamped in 2009. Since then, it has been busy hosting an annual program of concerts of baroque music, operas, and ballets.Read More »The Royal Opera of Versailles Invests in Robe
Visionary Scenic Designer Robin Wagner’s Passing Honored; SMA Announces Del Hughes Awards
Robert Juliat announces the arrival of its first Arthur LT followspots in South Korea. Five of the 800W LED Long-Throw followspots were installed at the Seoul Broadcasting System Open Hall studios in Deungchon-dong, South Korea by RJ’s exclusive distributor for the region, C&C Lightway.Read More »Robert Juliat Arthur LT Followspots in a First for Seoul Broadcasting System
Romania’s Bucharest Opera recently staged The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest-running musical, with a wide array of Claypaky fixtures illuminating the beloved play’s romantic and thrilling scenes. The production at the Bucharest National Opera House ran from March 31 to May 14 with the first performances selling out hours after tickets went on sale. The show’s staff worked with teams from Broadway and London’s West End to ensure a high artistic level was achieved.Read More »Claypaky Fixtures Shine for ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in Bucharest
Maxi Gilbert says that he draws inspiration for his designs from opera sets. At first that may seem a bit surprising, since the Madrid-based designer has created lightshows for stars like multi-Grammy winner Alejandro Sanz, and chart-topping Manuel Carrasco. But anyone who sees his work on Carrasco’s current Corazón y Flecha tour will readily appreciate the connection.Read More »Maxi Gilbert and ChamSys Soar for Manuel Carrasco
PLSN catches up with Lighting Director and Programmer Amy Melia who is building her career on a solid foundation with education and hard work. She is busy pursuing her ‘Plan A’ and setting her sights on a long career in lighting.
The Howell Binkley Fellowship Program announced their third Fellow for 2023, Amara McNeil; and a 2023 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to Production Supervisor and Production Stage Manager Lisa Dawn Cave. We also look at the Tony design nominations and present the news of appointments and promotions at the Washington National Opera (WNO).
A look at some noteworthy books, including ‘The Production Manager’s Toolkit Second Edition,’ by Cary Gillett and Jay Sheehan; ‘The Projection Designer’s Toolkit,’ by Jeromy Hopgood; ‘Bloody Brilliant: How to Develop, Execute, and Clean Up Blood Effects for Live Performance,’ by Jennifer McClure; ‘Off Headset: Essays on Stage Management Work, Life, and Career,’ edited by Rafael Jaen and Christopher Sadler; ‘The Assistant Lighting Designer’s Toolkit,’ by Anne E. McMills; and ‘The Scenic Charge Artist’s Toolkit: Tips, Templates, and Techniques for Planning and Running a Successful Paint Shop in the Theatre and Performing Arts,’ by Jennifer Rose Ivey.
Experiencing tremendous growth, 3LR Design, a lighting and controls systems design, consulting, and experiential services announces the addition of Consultant Ziggy Jacobs to the team.Read More »Ziggy Jacobs Joins the UK Team at 3LR Design
Washington National Opera General Director Timothy O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello announce two new appointments that will oversee the newly defined Artistic and Production departments. The delineation aims to create clearer lines of responsibility, a more sustainable workload for Washington National Opera (WNO) staff, and new support for WNO’s mission. Chelsea Antrim Dennis will join WNO as Director of Production, beginning August 7, 2023. Dennis comes to WNO from Santa Fe Opera, where she currently serves as Director of Production and where she began her career in 2004. Dennis’ position will oversee the technical production, costumes, lighting, stage management, facilities planning & administration, and rehearsal departments.Read More »Chelsea Antrim Dennis Joins the Washington National Opera as Director of Production
Florence and the Machine’s grand world tour, which began late last summer in North America and subsequently spanned shows as far afield as Melbourne and London, will again prove that distance is no barrier as the festival season looms, with imminent outdoor events in Brazil and Europe. Masterminded by a largely new creative team, the lighting is based on an original concept from the highly imaginative Andi Watson, complementing Es Devlin’s set design. However, one long-term Florence collaborator is the show’s Lighting Director, Sam O’Riordan.Read More »GLP Flies High with Florence and the Machine Supporting LD Andi Watson