|
Los Angeles, September
15,
2006
With a reputation for astonishing stage spectacles, Madonna has
launched her Confessions Tour 2006, and lighting designer Roy Bennet
and lighting programmer Troy Eckerman are using an extensive array of
moving lights and effects, controlled by a grandMA console, to
spotlight her dynamic performances. A.C.T Lighting is the exclusive
distributor of grandMA in North America.
Confessions will tour the US, Canada, Europe and Japan this spring and
summer. It follows Madonna’s current CD,
“Confessions on a
Dance Floor,” which debuted at #1 in 29 countries.
Known as a real operator’s console, the grandMA is the
largest
console in MA Lighting’s range. Its three-color touchscreen
and
up to two external monitors make for an extremely comfortable
programming environment. Twenty motorized faders, a built-in keyboard,
mouse, mouse pad, trackball, and four-parameter encoders provide a
luxurious programming and playback surface.
“Every Madonna tour is big, and this tour is probably the
biggest
one she has done,” says Eckerman “There are 26
trucks of
equipment, lots of video, set pieces, things that fly, costume changes.
Our lighting system has to be very versatile to accommodate so many
elements. We use cyberhoist moving motors for all the lighting pods;
that enables us to change looks going from a very heavy rock to a disco
dance feel. grandMA controls all of the lighting -- it’s the
only
way to go for a show this big where we have eight separate cue lists
running simultaneously and multiple layers for some songs.
grandMA’s doing great!”
The lighting pods feature 99 VARI*LITE 3000s, eight VARI*LITE 2500
washes, five VARI*LITE 500 arcs, 31 Mac 3K washes, 13 Syncrolight B52s
and 82 Atomic Strobes with color scrolls.
“Motors and trusses are everywhere” in the show,
notes
Eckerman The nine lighting pods move independently on the main grid
with additional large pods on the side with square truss grid above
each. A runway projects about halfway into the audience with trusses
parallel to and above it. A B stage in front of house sports another
truss; Madonna makes her entrance coming out of a huge mirror ball
supported by its own truss.
Additional lights controlled by grandMA include 128 white-light Color
Blast LEDs, 58 Color Blast regular units, 50 Thomas Pixeline fixtures,
48 Martin Mac 700s, and 692 SACO mini LEDs for pixel balls and the main
mirror ball. An additional grandMA is on hand for back up.
Mac Mossier is lighting director for Confessions Tour 2006. Corey
Fitzgerald served as the second grandMA programmer.
MA Lighting is
exclusively distributed by A.C.T Lighting.
A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T
Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge
products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company
provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its
clients.
For more information call 818-707-0884.
Copyright © ACT Lighting 2009. All rights reserved.
|
