Cirque KA on Discovery "Really Big Things"

[Jezza]

Was channel surfing yesterday on a day off (I know, amazing right) and I came across a behind the scenes look at Cirque's KA on Discovery's show "Really Big Things" -- I guess they thought KA was worthy and they were right.

I really didn't/don't know anything about the show, but even the little bit that discovery showed really took by breath away. The main stage is incredible and can do some really unique things. Just the sheer magnitude of everything that seems to be going on backstage is impressive. It seems like they took every state of the art theater technology, put it on steroids, and then installed it for this show -- pretty cool stuff.

Anybody seen it yet or better yet, worked on it?

[Grog12]

That's an old episode...but a good one.

I've toured backstage at Ka numerous times...one of the best things that they never talk about is that if you go up in the grid you can't get on a plane because of all the pyro dust.

[sobenson]

I know one of the riggers that put the show into the theater and was on the running crew. He said to move the main stage into the building the had to jump it between motors because it was so heavy and in one piece.

[Charc]

I've been to a couple of cirque shows, it was interesting, but in my pre-theater days.

What do they do for labour? IATSE?

Unrelated:

KOOZA is coming my way in early may, it wold be interesting to see that load-in/out, or run: I can imagine load-in would be a sea of (what is it they use?) Petzl head-protectors.

[Jezza]

I think they are called helmets Charc.

[What Rigger?]

Originally Posted by Grog12

That's an old episode...but a good one.
I've toured backstage at Ka numerous times...one of the best things that they never talk about is that if you go up in the grid you can't get on a plane because of all the pyro dust.

I used to work in that room back in the day when the show was "EFX", during Tommy Tune's stint. Yes, you cannot get on a plane after being in the grid- pyro dust o rama, and again that was true years ago. A buddy actually got "detained" when his jacket tested hot at McCarren airport. Had to call his boss to explain to the authorities what he does and that he is legit.

When I saw KA, the weirdest part was trying to explain to my wife that "Honey, there used to be a FLOOR upstage of the proscenium, and it DIDN'T move!" Well, except for the elevator platforms. I guess the 30foot deep basement is still quite useful even now.

[sobenson]

Originally Posted by charcoaldabs

I've been to a couple of cirque shows, it was interesting, but in my pre-theater days.
What do they do for labour? IATSE?
Unrelated:
KOOZA is coming my way in early may, it wold be interesting to see that load-in/out, or run: I can imagine load-in would be a sea of (what is it they use?) Petzl head-protectors.

The guy I know is a card holder, but Cirque will hire the best of the best and then pit them against each other to create a very tense and competitive atmosphere. He told us a story about while loading the show into the theater they had like 50 or so riggers all rigging the stage, and only 1 rigger dropped 1 nut. Now this was during load in, no one was on stage, no audience, but that rigger was called down and fired on the spot for being careless.

[Charc]

Originally Posted by Jezza

I think they are called helmets Charc.

Haha, yes, I looked at this page for about 5 seconds, the word "Helmets" didn't immedieatly jump out at me, but "Head protection did", so I went with that...

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by What Rigger?

I used to work in that room back in the day when the show was "EFX", during Tommy Tune's stint. Yes, you cannot get on a plane after being in the grid- pyro dust o rama, and again that was true years ago. A buddy actually got "detained" when his jacket tested hot at McCarren airport. Had to call his boss to explain to the authorities what he does and that he is legit.
When I saw KA, the weirdest part was trying to explain to my wife that "Honey, there used to be a FLOOR upstage of the proscenium, and it DIDN'T move!" Well, except for the elevator platforms. I guess the 30foot deep basement is still quite useful even now.

Hehehe...EFX I saw that show...that's all I really have to say about that.

You wouldn't believe the amount of spiral lifts they have down there now.

[Darthrob13]

From the lighting side it is huge.

5x Strand 500 Series consoles
40 or so SN110 nodes
More SLD (shudder) racks that I would care to think about.

It's a nightmare of a system for it's sheer size.