Mamma Mia And Sonic Odyssey Aboard Quantum (With Lighting Plot)

Mamma Mia! in Quantum's Royal Theatre

Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas boasts The Royal Theatre, fit for a Broadway production. That's why Mamma Mia!, with lighting design by Ed McCarthy, and Sonic Odyssey, with lighting design by Todd Clark are featured productions on the tricked out smart ship.

Sonic Odyssey was inspired by musician/innovator William Close and his variety of one-of-a-kind instruments. Amptown System Company (ASC) installed the various entertainment technology systems aboard Quantum. ASC project manager Christian Broecker was responsible for coordinating and monitoring all of the installation stages on board Quantum of the Seas. "ASC entertainment systems, ranging from the very small to the very large, were installed in 40 different areas of Quantum of the Seas," he says. "In the theatre, between Deck 4 and Deck 6 in the bow of the ship, passengers enjoy genuine Broadway entertainment. The opening show, Mamma Mia, was planned on the maiden voyage in November 2014. The venue has space for around 1,600 guests and includes a complete stage with upper and lower rigging, making it even bigger than a conventional city theatre."

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ASC installed a Meyer Sound system, including M'elodie and Mina speaker components, along with QSC Audio amplifiers, Shure wireless microphones, and additional Sennheiser mics. The console is a DiGiCo SD5, while signals are distributed through an optical network incorporating DiGiCo SD racks.

Check out Mamma Mia!

Elation Professional EVLED20IP video panels adorn the Royal Theatre, with content played via coolux media servers. Lighting includes Elation Platinum Beam 5R Extremes, Platinum Wash ZFX Pros, Platinum Spot 35 Pros, Satura Spot LED Pros, and DesignBrick 70s; Martin Professional MAC Viper Performances and MAC Viper Wash DX units; ETC Selador Desire D40 Lustr+ wash luminaires, and ETC Source Four ellipoidals of varying degrees. Control in the theatre is via a High End Systems Full Boar 4 console with playback wing and DP 8000 DMX processor.

Check out Sonic Odyssey.

Christopher Vlassopulos, superintendent SLVR & architectural lighting for Royal Caribbean International, coordinated the design and specification for all the entertainment equipment in the ship’s public spaces, including the ship’s entertainment lighting systems. He explains that a key aspect of the smartship ethos is energy-efficiency. “The core reason why we have so much LED lighting onboard Quantum is because of a directive that there could be no incandescent lamps, which would have been quite the challenge three years ago but is now possible. There could be no lamps to change,” says Vlassopulos.

Ben Couling is project manager and lighting designer, acting as project manager for Entertainment Technology at Royal Caribbean International. Couling oversaw the design process and designers working in the various spaces.

Check out our full coverage, sponsored by Elation Professional, at our Project In Focus on Quantum of the Seas here, and check back often for continuing updates.