Upgrading Theater Lighting

Part of what I think makes a good show is the stimulation of the senses. Performers like Rick Wilcox stimulates places in our brains that are associated with wonders and amazement. The sights, sounds and energy all collide to make a great show. You feel the pulse of the show through the music and subsonic frequencies rattling your seats. You have a great talent on stage guiding you through a well rehearsed performance.

One thing that a lot of people typically never consider about a show though is the lighting. Great lighting can be the difference between a thrilling adventure and a side stage performance at your local shopping mall on a Saturday afternoon. This past winter Rick and Susan Wilcox took a break from performing to redo the entire theater lighting system. That act was a performance all to itself.

Before any new lighting could be installed, all of the old lighting had to be removed. Yes so step one, dismantle an entire theater’s lighting system. Step 2, install new lighting system. That’s easy enough, hang em up and plug em in, Check! Now get yourself a lighting console that is suited for a Metallica show plug all the lights up to it and program a new set up for each trick in the show.

Yeah, it isn’t as easy as saying, “Go from red to blue Rick.” The aim of the lights, the marks on the stage, the color of the props, the color of wardrobe. Do I want neon paint for a black light trick? I mean we have talked about Rick’s catalog before when I asked him what his favorite trick was and when you consider the sheer magnitude of tricks and illusions that he has to choose from, there are literally hundreds of lighting combinations that can be considered.

Then let’s not forget “standards.” These are illusions that are fan favorites that people come to the show to see each time they come. One person came to a show and their favorite trick wasn’t in it and believe you me, we were asked what happened to it online. For a lot people these performances conjure memorable emotions. It takes them back to moments in time that they want to relive remember and be happy with. My point is, a new lighting system has to produce the same effect that the old one did or else it begins to alter that memory for some people. Kind of like your morning coffee, it just has to be.

In the video below, Rick and Susan discuss what it took to put the new lighting system in and what it takes to keep up with its complexities. Hope you enjoyed the read and I look forward to talking with you next week.

Chris Taylor