Updates to Old Shows

[derekleffew]

Verrry old post, but I figured I'd share this. A friend just posted a photo on facebook of the dimmers coming back from Phantom on Broadway - they just swapped out for Sensor touring racks, and this is what they sent back.
View attachment 7832

Stage Directions | A Quarter-Century Tune-up

 

[DavidNorth]

OMG! CD80 packs and a 72-way Dilor Litepak. I used to service Dilor touring racks. Yuck!

 

[alyx92]

Wicked on Broadway recently upgraded to an MA2

ACT Lighting | Press : grandMA Gets WICKED on Broadway

 

[LampyTom]

As has been said really - there's no point upgrading a show just for the sake of it!

Phantom in the West End still has (or did when I went to see it a year or so ago if I remember correctly!) Strand Patten 123's 23's, 743's and lots of old strand kit. I couldn't see a Source 4 - certainly not upon a quick glance! It was running off a Strand 520 I believe.

To re-design a show can take a lot of time, effort, and monry. If the show is completely redesigned, then sometimes it'll be programmed again from scratch. Or if it's just transferring consoles then that can be a little easier - but can still be a headache!

Lots of West End shows hire their kit - a primary supplier being "White Light". They do a West End run in a truck every day going round the theatres taking away the broken kit and replacing it with spares/new units.

 

[VCTMike]

Aww, crap, I should read ahead - I see Derek got it already.

This just in...

Stage Directions January 2013 issue has a story on the upgrade for Phantom. 25 years. three consoles - Strand Light Palette, in 1995 upgrade to a Strand Light Palette 90 and in June 2012 upgraded to a ETC Ion.

Stage Directions | A Quarter-Century Tune-up