Stage Directions

The Erlangen Theatre, located in Erlangen Bavaria, Germany, has modernized its audio technology. A Crescendo-T, a 32-fader mixing console from Berlin-based Stage Tec, was installed in an existing Nexus network. The theater opened on January 10, 1719 and this year celebrated it's 300th Anniversary.

Questex, with holdings that include the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), Nightclub & Bar, and the SIBEC Sports & Health Industry event, announced December 3 that it is acquiring the Live Experience assets including Live Design (LDI), Club Industry, and World Tea Expo. The company said the acquired portfolio “aligns perfectly” with Questex’s focus on the “experience economy,” and the newly acquired entities will join Questex’s other assets focused on the hospitality industry.

Located in Ketchum, the principal city of Idaho’s Sun Valley resort area, The Argyros Performing Arts Center presents a broad spectrum of performances in its 462-capacity theater, ranging from comedy to drama, and dance, as well as film, lectures, and concerts by local and touring classical, jazz, blues, and pop/rock musicians. To provide the optimum acoustic environment and transparent amplification for all events, The Argyros has installed a Meyer Sound Constellation^® acoustic system together with a direct reinforcement system based around LINA™ compact line array loudspeakers.

Nook Schoenfeld, the Editor-in-Chief of PLSN magazine wrote this great show report on what he saw at LDI 2019. Enjoy his musings and photos from the show!

My favorite place to stop and take a break was at the Dot Image booth. This Japanese company had a customized circular truss system that had a wide variety of LED twinkling products going up and down on a set of kinetic winches. There were Saturn-type rings with gyroscope-looking activity, chandeliers of stunning imagery bounced in formation everywhere with so many light sources. I don’t think I ever saw the same thing twice.

Peter Sargent, the founding dean of the Webster University Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, died on the afternoon of November 27, 2019. He was 82 years old. Sargent spent his life dedicated to the arts in St. Louis and beyond and was a mentor to many in our industry. A celebration of his life is planned for Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 10am at the Loretto-Hilton Center. In this video from Webster University, Sargent reflected on the Conservatory's history during its 50th anniversary season:

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“Immersive,” the word is more often used to describe a lighting design on the touring stage than a trade show booth, but it accurately sums up the effect one experienced visiting CHAUVET Professional at the just-concluded LDI show. That’s a key reason why the company was honored with the 2019 LDI Large Booth Design Award. Described by the award organizers as a “welcoming and easily walkable” exhibit that “beautifully integrated” lighting and video, the booth engaged visitors with its seamless visual displays that appeared ideally balanced when viewed from any angle.

Epson announced that its laser technology will help transform Boston’s public spaces into an activated urban canvas as the exclusive video projector provider for ILLUMINUS 2019. Consisting of artwork created with new media technologies, performances, and immersive light and sound experiences, ILLUMINUS 2019 is an annual festival in downtown Boston that features projects at the intersection of art, design, technology, and science. 
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ETC continued its remarkable commitment to caring for entertainment technology professionals in need by presenting a check to Behind the Scenes during LDI for $23,628.98. This represented the most recent proceeds from the company’s iRFR and aRFR (Radio Focus Remote) applications. Since the launch of the iRFR in 2009, ETC’s mobile app sales have now generated over $390,000 in donations.

The longstanding technical crew of South Africa’s Joburg Theatre, headed by Enos Ramoroko, were jubilant to receive new equipment to complement their very busy and well looked-after theater situated on Braamfontein Hill, Johannesburg. Part of the delivery from Robert Juliat’s exclusive distributor for South Africa, DWR Distribution, was four Robert Juliat Cyrano 2,500W HMI followspots which have been installed for use in the 1,000+ seat Mandela Theatre.

As one of this year’s most anticipated Broadway musicals, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. Its remarkable performances and production design combine to create a truly extravagant experience thanks to the talent on and off the stage—and, in part, to the power of Eos.