It’s been a summer of musicals for lighting supplier White Light, and it will soon turn into an autumn of musicals. Having already supplied the lighting for the acclaimed new production of Evita, the company is getting ready to supply lighting for three new musicals and one incoming tour in London, as well as one upcoming show in Moscow.
The Palace Theatre in London will house Spamalot, with lighting designer Hugh Vanstone’s Broadway production recreated for London; the show is designed by Tim Hatley and directed by Mike Nichols. Vanstone’s rig features a wide range of Vari-Lite equipment, including tungsten and arc VL1000s, VL2500 Washes, 80V VL500s, and VL3000Q Spots, as well as ETC Source Fours, Wybron color changers, and control from an ETC Obsession and Flying Pig Hog iPC. Working with Vanstone will be production electrician Fraser Hall, with production management by Stewart Crosbie and Simon Marlowe. The show previews from October 2nd.
Dirty Dancing, will open at the Aldwych Theatre in London, after successful productions in Australia and Germany. The production will feature lighting by Tim Mitchell, working with associate lighting designer Adrian Barnes and production electrician Keith Johnson. Mitchell’s design includes Vari-Lite VL3500Q Spot, VL2000 Wash, VL1000TS Spot, and Martin Mac700 Spot units, Robert Juliat Aramis followspots, ETC Source Fours, White Light VSFX cloud effects, and Rainbow color scrollers, with control from a Strand 500-series console.
At London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, the music of seventies sensation BoneyM forms the basis of the musical Daddy Cool, which opens in mid-September. The lighting for the show is being designed by Rob Halliday, making use of Vari-Lite VL3000Q Spots and Washes, High End StudioColors, and Martin Mac700 Spots, as well as ETC Source Fours, and Rainbow color scrollers. Control will be from a Strand 500-series console. Working with Halliday on the show are production electrician Ian Moulds, programmer Vic Smerdon, and assistant lighting designer Anna Macinnes.
At the Haymarket, the touring production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will arrive in London. Lighting designer David Howe’s rig includes Martin Mac2000 and Vari-Lite VL1000TS Spots, Clay Paky Alpha Wash Halo washlights, as well as ETC Source Fours and Source Four Zooms, Strand Cantata F and Alto F fresnels, Thomas 4-cell battens and Rainbow color scrollers, again all running from a Strand 500-series console.
Further from White Light’s London base is the latest production of Mamma Mia. Having been seen all around the world, the show is now opening in Moscow, once again featuring lighting by Howard Harrison. The rig is based on the Belgian production, which White Light supplied, and includes ETC Source Fours, Wybron color scrollers, Robert Juliat followspots, DHA Digital Light Curtains, VL2000 Spot and Wash units, Martin Mac2000 Performances, VL1000AS Spots, and VL5 washlights, along with ETC dimming, all running from an MA Lighting grandMA console. The lighting installation for the Moscow production will be overseen by production electrician Martin Chisnall.
These new shows join the many other musicals and other shows using lighting from White Light - in London these shows include Evita, Billy Elliot, The Producers, Footloose, Les Misérables as well as corporate productions and events such as the HAC Summer Parties.