Details
Austria - The Vienna Volksoper, or People’s Opera, is Vienna’s largest theatre for opera, musicals, classical concerts and ballet. The theatre offers one of the most diverse musical programmes in the country, ranging from Carmen to Kiss Me Kate, and Coppelia to Cabaret, as well as productions for schools, lots of local German operetta performances and much more besides.
The venue is also the first in Vienna to open its doors to the public after the summer break, but more importantly in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, with a performance of Strauss’s Die Fledermaus on 1 September followed by a revival of Cole Porter’s classic musical, Kiss Me Kate on 2 September. Both will be benefitting from the audio reproduction of a new KV2

Details
Czech Republic - Škoda world premiered its new Enyak iV all-electric SUV in the main hall of the O2 Universum event and conference complex in Prague.
This event generated a buzz of excitement, not just because of this landmark vehicle, but also as one of the first properly ‘live’ events delivered safely and spectacularly in a post COVID-19 world.
Germany-based creative producers Schachzug collaborated with event planners Pure Perfection, technical specialists MacomNIYU and technical supplier Ambion, with the latter delivering the lighting, audio, video, SFX, staging, etc.
The MacomNIYU team had started speaking to lighting designer Chris Moylan from Berlin-based design company Optikalusion about the event back in in January, well before anyone realized how changed the world would be by showtime!
Chris created a highly flexible lighting scheme for the

Details
USA - When the entertainment industry’s lights were switched off by the global pandemic, Fuse Technical Group, like many others, had to come up with new and innovative ways to continue serving its customers. The solution became evident when the full-service production company decided to partner with LA-based Third Encore Studios and Monsters of Rock Cruise (MORC) to build a virtual live production environment for content streaming.
Regular events including MORC’s PPV live streamed music performances are delivered in front of rich visual backgrounds thanks to the processing power of Brompton Technology and its HDR solution.
“Third Encore Studios is a well-known rehearsal facility in Los Angeles. We’ve crossed paths many times, but never worked together on a project like this before,” says Fuse project manager, Benjamin Johnson. “The coronavirus pandemic and
featured content

Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

Details
USA - For decades, Willow Creek in South Barrington, Illinois has been one of the most well-known and influential non-denominational megachurches in the United States. However, like many houses of worship during the 2020 pandemic, its 7,200-seat Worship Centre has switched over to become a streaming-only broadcast site, a change that will continue to be the case throughout the remainder of this year.
To retain some physical sense of community, Willow Creek set up a large tent in its parking lot to host nearly 30 congregational events between 19 August and 6 October. The primary focus of these has been the church’s hour-long evening programme series of 16 Prayer and Worship Gatherings, comprising a live praise team set, a brief message from new campus pastor Shawn Williams, and a time of prayer for 100 pre-registered and masked guests.
To ensure that guests can prope

Details
USA - As drive-in concerts continue to provide an interim solution in the live sound market, bluegrass star Billy Strings put on his first shows with a live audience since March 2020. The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township, PA outdoor parking lot venue was powered by a Meyer Sound Leopard reinforcement system for three consecutive nights of Billy Strings’ Meet Me at the Drive-In Tour.
Dave Brotman and Mike Shoulson of Coatesville, PA-based rental company DBS Audio Systems were on hand to provide the audio solutions and support to the Billy Strings production team, including FOH engineer Andy Lytle. “What a wonderful experience it was to work a large show again - our first since December - and to work with such a professional crew and fabulous band as Billy Strings,” DBS Audio Systems president Dave Brotman said.
The parking lot venue

Details
USA - ADJ is offering lighting pros the chance to win one of three prizes simply by using their ADJ fixtures as part of a Halloween display and tagging the photos or video on social media.
With the Coronavirus pandemic disrupting live events and large social gatherings all over the world in 2020, it’s ADJ's aim with this contest to spread cheer and evoke a creative spark in lighting designers and haunt enthusiasts as we all celebrate Halloween in the ‘great outdoors'. With outdoor events becoming more prevalent, such as: pumpkin patches productions, drive-thru haunted houses and live music events, this is a an opportunity for lighting designers to share their creation and win prizes.
Entries could be a Halloween project you’re creating for a client or you could simply use your ADJ lighting, video or effects equipment to decorate your own yard, front porch or home

Details
Europe - CLF Lighting has announced the appointment of Licht Produktiv as second distribution partner in Germany. Licht Produktiv is an all-round distributor that serves its customers with quality brands and high service in all disciplines in the entertainment industry.
Licht Produktiv has a 15 year history of being a truss and stage products distributor. Later on, audio products were added. Director Nico Bruder says: “We received a lot of requests for high quality lighting products.”
Director René Haarseim continues: “Too many times we had to say no to our customers. From now on we can fulfil our customers’ needs to buy quality lighting products at Licht Produktiv, with the service they are used to."
"From the first moment that we talked, it was clear that CLF and Licht Produktiv have a strategic fit and the strong ambition to grow", says Martijn Gerard

Details
South Africa - It’s a step in the right direction for the live events industry in South Africa as the country is scheduled to move to Level 1 of the risk reduction strategy implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19, this week. The eased restrictions will allow up to 500 people for outdoor gatherings, a maximum of 250 people for indoor gatherings and a max of 100 people for funerals, while the existing restrictions on sporting events remain in place.
The news has been met with mixed emotions. For six months, the live events and technical production industry has been unable to work due to the ban on gatherings made on 15 March. Movements such as #LightSAred and the #Flightcasemovement have organically grown to represent, to government, thousands of people who have had no income during this time. Companies have retrenched or have been forced to let staff go, while many other

Details
UK - The #WeMakeEvents campaign aims to raise awareness around the current plight of the live entertainments sector and its urgent need for financial support if it is to support the COVID-19 crisis.
Last month, it was announced that it would be steered by a collective of industry trade bodies, businesses and freelancers; all working in collaboration with each other. Over the past few weeks, the team has continued to build momentum around the campaign, working endlessly to rally the government for much needed support.
Following last month’s Day of Action which saw buildings across the UK lit up in red as a show of support, the #WeMakeEvents team has been busy capitalising on the extensive media coverage and attention this received. One of those involved is White Light’s managing director Bryan Raven, who comments: “The Day of Action was vitally important for our

Details
UK - KV2 Audio has announced the sudden passing of their sales director David Croxton.
The company says in a statement:
"It is with the deepest and most sincere regret that we have to announce the shocking and unexpected passing of our dear friend and colleague David Croxton as the result of a fatal accident. He was 59.
"David joined the family of KV2 Audio in 2011, to fulfil a new Sales Director role within Asia Pacific, but initially as a curious non-believer of the technologies and theories of our founder and developer, George Krampera Snr.
"As was typical of David, he soon discovered through deep thought, questioning and actual operating of systems that he could not only understand and accept what was being proposed, but provide essential and additional complements with his quiet considered approach, linked to a deep well of knowledge and advice, usua

Details
Italy - Powersoft, has launched its fully overhauled website, with a clean new layout and simple navigation structure designed to help users to quickly and easily access essential information, while offering a comprehensive understanding of the company’s value proposition, technologies and solutions.
The new website is also fully responsive, meaning that it is compatible with all browsers and can easily be navigated using any mobile devices.
“Through this easy-to-navigate design, users can learn about Powersoft including the services offered, said Powersoft’s brand, communication and trade marketing manager, Francesco Fanicchi. “It also details the applications the Powersoft’s products are suitable for, as well as providing support material, product guides, tutorials, applicat

Details
USA - As a specialist in visual content delivery, Jon9 has developed a productive relationship with the Green Hippo team and its Hippotizer Media Server range - the toolkit he finds best suited to enabling his vision.
Jon9 first used Hippotizers in building the media playback solution for Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE show in Las Vegas in 2004. It was a record-breaking system at the time. Since then, he has gone on to produce numerous immersive and experiential projects through his company Holonyne Corporation.
In 1987, he founded the first videowall programming company in the US - Programination Inc. From delivering 640x480 resolution visuals to trade show videowalls from ¾” tape decks, he progressed through Beta SP, to video discs and DVDs. “Disc-based media gave us random access and enabled interactive installations,” he says. “Finally, in the 90s, as pe

Details
USA - Pensacola Christian College teaches over 4,500 students at its Pensacola, Florida campus. Its students gather in the nearly 6,000-seat Crowne Centre frequently for community-building, events, chapel, for concerts, and church services on Sunday morning, and Sunday and Wednesday evenings.
Sunday morning services are recorded and broadcast as Rejoice in the Lord on the Daystar Television Network. All Pro Integrated Systems, a locally-based AV integration firm with international reach, recently replaced a number of loudspeakers, subwoofers and amplifiers in the Crowne Centre with a smaller number of Danley products, including Danley Jericho Horns, TH118XL subwoofers and DNA-series amplifiers with onboard DSP and optional Dante connectivity.
“We put the original sound system in the Crowne Centre when the building was new almost 20 years ago,” explained Sco

Details
USA - Following the recent launch of its new CORIOmaster2 all-in-one, multi-window video processor, tvONE has announced the first installation of the product, as part of a system upgrade for a 911 Emergency Operations Centre in Peoria, Illinois.
The centre has been handling emergency ambulance dispatch and critical medical services for regions throughout Illinois and Iowa for almost a decade, and its previous audio-visual system was beginning to fail. To fix the problem, they approached local company IAS Technology, a specialist in the design and installation of professional audio/video systems.
“Because of the critical nature of the centre’s work, the AV system plays a vital role in the provision of services,” says IAS Technology’s CEO and chief design engineer, Jeremy Caldera. “It displays GPS mapping/tracking, call data, and other critical information, whi

Details
USA - Located in Westfield, Indiana, the mission of Westfield High School is to provide rigorous and engaging experiences for all students with a performing arts programme dedicated to creating a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
With a busy annual event schedule which keeps their 868-seat auditorium in regular use, the antiquated house lighting design was often struggling to provide the illumination desired. Working with long-time partner Associated Controls + Design, the school decided it was time to renovate the aging house system for a brighter and more visually engaging environment using Altman Lighting Chalice LED downlights installed by Huston Electric.
“Westfield High School has been a long-time client of ours and we even sold them the first lighting control system when they originally built the auditorium,” began Mike Brubaker, Associated Controls + Desi

Details
Switzerland - In the age of social distancing, how can an orchestra and choir create a great musical performance when they cannot be in close proximity to each other? During the coming season, Switzerland’s Zurich Opera House will rely on Lawo IP technology to solve this problem.
The need to find a solution for future performances became clear in early 2020, after Switzerland’s lockdown went into effect on 15 March. That solution came in the form of an IP-based remote production installation from Lawo, designed specially for WAN-based remote productions.
Equipment includes a Lawo mc²36 console, Compact I/O stagebox units, and V__remote4 devices to transport and process video and audio signals, plus an upgrade of the Lawo Nova73 HD Core already installed at the Opera House which adds Ravenna networking and additional SFP Ethernet ports.
“At first we sat at

Details
UK - Peachy Playhouse, a new socially-distanced entertainment concept developed to deliver safe live performances during the coronavirus pandemic, closed its summer season at Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey, on a high note.
That didn’t just include a spirit-rousing performance and from the Ambassadors Band, the ground-breaking season, a big leap of faith and some serious planning and investment by Philip French from Peachy Productions, was a resounding success.
Philip and his team supplied 95% of the technical production infrastructure for the six-week period including staging, lighting, video, and audio. The Playhouse show schedule ran for two two-week sessions with a two-week break in-between, working alongside some carefully selected locally-based partners to provide the other elements including catering, generators, marquees, and toilets.
Robe moving lights

Details
UK - Last month, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre reopened with a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar, making it the first major London venue to do so post lockdown (a full technical report will be featured in LSi October). Having supplied the Open Air Season for many years now, as well as working on a host of outdoor productions over the past few months, WL was called upon to supply the lighting for this much anticipated concert.
Created by the team behind the Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winning production, Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert is a special staging of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber classic.
Complying with government regulations, this version is being performed in front of a socially distanced audience in order to ensure the complete safety of everyone in attendance.
While there has been a lot of changes to

Details
Europe - Shure has announced that its new Microflex MXN5-C Networked Loudspeaker is now certified for Microsoft Teams. The MXN5-C joins a select portfolio of Shure networked systems products - the Microflex Advance MXA910 Ceiling Array, MXA310 Table Array Microphones, and the IntelliMix P300 Audio Conferencing Processor - that are now certified for Microsoft Teams, providing a complete audio signal chain.
Introduced at InfoComm Connected in June, the networked loudspeaker from Shure provides high-quality speech reproduction for AV conferencing applications. PoE-enabled with an onboard amplifier housed in a low-profile design, the MXN5-C is optimised for easy installation in drop-ceiling configurations.
Microsoft Teams provides a complete solution that includes online meetings, live broadcasts, Microsoft Team Rooms and audio conferencing. Whether it’s a corporate con

Details
Denmark - HEX! Museum of Witch Hunt has recently opened in Ribe, Denmark, complete with a Smart IP loudspeaker solution from Genelec designed and installed by the Moesgaard Museum Exhibition Design Studio.
As Denmark’s oldest town and home to Maren Spliid, the country’s most famous witch, the setting is ideal for a museum that aims to tell the stories of these witches – who they were, why they were so feared, and the myths and superstitions that surrounded them. In order to create the best possible visitor experience, HEX! turned to the museum technology experts at the famed Moesgaard Museum led by Johan Ahrenfeldt.
“We wanted to create a complex soundscape for the various stories being told in each of the nine exhibition rooms,” explains Ahrenfeldt. “However, the building itself posed a few challenges as it’s an old listed building in the center of Ribe.

Details
USA - Kentucky-based production designer, Bobby Grey, already had a wealth of real-world experience behind him - ranging from theme parks to theatre, touring and designing top-end festival stages - by the time he had reached 30.
Concentrating on lighting he came under the influence of Joe Paradise - and it was he who introduced Grey to his current charges, veteran rock band 311. Along the way Grey became an associate designer with Sightline Design Group, before starting his own company, Notan Creative in January 2020.
The band are now noted for their summer tours and legendary ‘311 Day’, held annually at the Park Theatre, Las Vegas (Park MGM) on 11 March. But this year the event went into overdrive as they celebrated their 30th anniversary over three nights. Bobby Grey designed another bespoke rig, using an abundance of GLP X4 Bar 10 and Bar 20 and JDC1 hybrid st
Page 581 of 3465

Latest Issue. . .