PixelFLEX LED Screens For Broadway Show Tour
Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
We hadn’t dealt with PixelFLEX before so learning that this Nashville, Tennessee-based company had developed a new projection and LED video component that would allow a Broadway show to go on tour with the same visually dynamic impact as the original design certainly won our attention.
After a successful run on Broadway, ‘If/Then’ has now embarked on its inaugural tour starring Tony-Award winner Idina Menzel. The show is a contemporary musical that follows the life of a city planner rebuilding and restarting her life in New York City. In preparing the production to travel across North America, projection designers Peter Nigrini and Dan Scully were asked to reimagine a new projection and LED video component that would allow the tour to maintain the same visually dynamic impact as the original design.
Working with event technology provider WorldStage, Nigrini and Scully identified and implemented a unique LED video design comprised of 22 FLEXCurtain HD LED screens from PixelFLEX.
“I have worked with the design team behind ‘If/Then’ for a number of years, and the idea for the redesign of the tour was really driven by the wonderful impossibility of the original Broadway production,” says Nigrini. “The original design had a large 36’ x 20’ flying, tilting mirror which was absolutely fantastic, but there was no way it could go out on tour. As a result, there had to be a dramatic redesign to create an equality dynamic if much different production. After consulting with WorldStage, we decided to use a combination and video projection and 22 FLEXCurtain HD LED video screens to help replace the mirror element.”
The FLEXCurtain HD is an ultralight, flexible LED wall that weighs 60%-90% less than other large LED screen options and is available in an array of custom sizes. Using the PixelFLEX quick-lock system, the FLEXCurtain HD can be easily set-up and broken-down, and it accepts video and photo content from any DVI-D source.
“WorldStage does a lot of work in the theatre industry and we often work with projection designers who come to us looking for assistance in identifying the ideal technology that will most advantageously help them achieve their designs,” says Lars Pedersen, WorldStage director of emerging technologies. “When deciding upon the use of the FLEXCurtain HD, we looked at it from both the designer and production management perspectives, and it was really the best fit for both. On the design side, it had the correct imaging capabilities and was the right size; and then from the production perspective, it was easy to set-up and itoccupied a small footprint in the truck. It was ideal in all aspects and its working great for the If/Then tour.”
“On tour, the video system (and everything else for that matter) has to load-in quickly and truck space is always a concern,” says Scully. “We ultimately chose to use the FLEXCurtain HD because it could handle all the visual design elements, but could also handle the physical demands associated with a touring production while maintaining a reliable performance night-after-night.”
With the FLEXCurtain HD now in the video design, Nigrini and Scully got to work designing the content that would work in conjunction with the HD rear video projection also used on stage.
“As we started to explore the difference between the FLEXCurtain HD LED video content and the HD projection content, we needed contrast,” explained Scully. “While the overhead, rear projection images are very sharp and clear, we are using the FLEXCurtain HD in conjunction with a diffusion panel to create softer images with motion and animation directly behind the performers. A lot of what we have created for the tour is governed by the desire to keep the design aesthetics as close the original production as possible, and the diffusion panel in front of the FLEXCurtain HD gives a wonderful feeling of frosted glass which keeps the actors at the center of our attention.”
With performances currently scheduled through August 2016, the ‘If/Then’ tour will be delighting audiences throughout North America for months to come.
“When we first started looking at curtain-type LED products to use, we did not find anything that was truly comparable to the FLEXCurtain HD,” says Pedersen. “As it relates to touring productions, the beauty of the FLEXCurtain HD really comes down to how easy it is to set-up and the small amount of truck space needed to transport it. Both of these are a premium advantage for any touring company, and while this may have been my first time working with PixelFLEX, it certainly will not be my last.”
The American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. It offers a complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens.
Follow DailyDOOH