Stage Directions

UK-based automation specialist and manufacturer Kinesys will be in Booth D15 in Hall 3.0 at the Prolight+Sound 2018 expo in Frankfurt, Germany, 10^th – 13^th April. The latest Kinesys Apex chain hoist system will be a big focus, and it will also be running an eye-catching motion controlled ‘art-tech’ centrepiece on the stand. Other popular Kinesys products like Elevation 1+, LibraCELL, DigiHoist, and the Dimension Pendant controller will also be highlighted.

Electronic Theatre Controls has announced that is extending the ratings of its LED fixtures as well as the warranties on their line of LED fixtures. To explain the testing that resulted in this decision, ETC sat down with industry consultant, Mike Wood, ETC's LED technical product manager, Dave Cahalane, and marketing product manager, Jim Uphoff, to clear up some of the misconceptions around L70 and LM84 and to explain how ETC is using the standard to test their LED fixtures to their limits.
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Following the introduction of the finished ZOT LED followspot product at USITT, an initial production run has commenced at Lycian’s Sugar Loaf, NY factory. The ZOT LED, a prototype of which was shown at LDI, has had numerous improvements following that showing. Upgrades include optical changes to yield an even smoother beam. Controls include a Lycian manufactured heavy-duty nichrome iris, and new mechanical fader. An internal, manual five color boomerang is included as well as gobo slot. The LED light source is a long-life LED.

No, it wasn't a fluke. The partnership that helped bring the 17th annual Parnelli Awards gala to NAMM 2018 and Anaheim, CA this January has been extended at least to NAMM 2021, according to a mid-March agreement struck between Joe Lamond, NAMM president/CEO and PLSN/FOH publisher and Parnelli Awards executive producer Terry Lowe.

A new development has been introduced for the entertainment design and production industry that may well change the way lighting designers, lighting fixtures, lighting consoles, and lighting visualizers will work together. The new data format, named the General Device Type Format (GDTF), creates a unified definition for the exchange of device data between consoles, CAD, and previsualization software. This format was jointly conceived and developed by MA Lighting, Robe, and Vectorworks. 

The Tony Award-winning musical soul adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, made its way back to the stage this month at the historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Projection Designer Clint Allen brought modern projection mapping technology to this musical feast featuring soul, gospel, R&B, and pop. This production of The Wiz featured a scenic design by Jason Sherwood, lighting design by Rui Rita, costume design by Kara Harmon, sound design by David Budries, and hair and makeup design by Dave Bova and J. Jared Janis.

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Winston-Salem author John Ehle, 92 a noted author and a leading voice in support of the arts and humanities in North Carolina, died at his home in Winston-Salem on Saturday, March 24th. In addition to being an accomplished writer, he helped spearhead the development and founding of what is now the UNC School of the Arts. News of Ehle's death was reported in The Winston-Salem Journal and calling him "one of the state's greatest writers and a formidable promoter of the humanities in North Carolina."

Here's a story from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the history of ETC, where they are at today, and where they are heading. It talks about Foster's history with renowned lighting designer, teacher, and mentor, Gilbert Hemsley and how the charismatic designer inspired Foster and three other UW-Madison students to start ETC in 1975.

Once, which is set in a Dublin pub, tells the tale of an unrequited love involving two musicians. Critical to adding to this captivating imagery was a richly colored and subtly textured lighting design by New York City-based Cory Pattak. The designer drew on the output and color rendering capabilities of CHAUVET Professional Ovation E-910FC and Rogue R2 Wash fixtures from the John W. Engeman Theatre's house rig. For this production of the Tony Award-winning musical, the profile of the lighting was raised over the more subtle  design of the original production.
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Celebrating its 10^th Anniversary, the music venue and multimedia art cabaret (Le) Poisson Rouge in the heart of Greenwich Village, on the former site of the Village Gate, is well-known for its unique and eclectic synthesis of popular and creative culture in emerging music, theatre, film, and fine art.