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15 April 2008
Training Course at Hong Kong Academy
 As part of its ongoing program of education in automation, Stage Technologies recently worked with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) to deliver a five day course to its students. The course combines a number of theoretical lectures and practical site visits and presents the students with an overview of theatre engineering and automation systems.
Mark Ager, Stage Technologies’ Managing Director, lead discussions on how automation is used in entertainment venues, including the practical advantages, cost implications and safety issues, as well as giving a technical overview of the equipment used. This information was then augmented with visits to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Wynn and Venetian hotel complexes in Macau, where Stage Technologies has recently completed commissioning several large systems.
The course was designed for students currently in their final year at HKAPA, studying Technical Direction. Ken Chan, Senior Lecturer of Technical Direction, believes the students greatly benefited from the course; he commented “the students have gained a much better depth of knowledge in ‘stage automation’ from this course. The lectures give them an understanding of the uses of automation and the options available, and the pros and cons of using it in the live performance industry. The students were also inspired by the visits to Macau, seeing real venue applications from back stage as well as from the audiences’ perspective.” One student from the course remarked “The classes were very informative and the site visits reinforced our understanding very well. I am looking forward to working with Stage Technologies in the future to learn more about how the systems work and how they are operated.”
Stage Technologies works with many higher education schools and colleges with an interest in theatre technology. For further information on day lectures or courses, contact Stage Technologies’ London office through their website.
Related links:
www.hkapaedu www.wynnmacau.com www.venetianmacao.com
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25 March 2008
Technical Transformation at the Royal Festival Hall
 Over 100 axes of automation control and machinery have been installed at the Royal Festival Hall; transforming the functional properties of the venue. ISG Interior Exterior, the main contractor for this project, contracted Stage Technologies to design, manufacture and install the over-stage suspension machinery and control system, as well as the control systems for the stage elevators and the variable acoustic elements.
The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre is a busy venue with a huge variety of performances; many of which are just a few days long or even for one night only. This poses huge logistical issues for the production staff who must often do the ‘get-in’, rehearsals, performance and ‘get-out’ in a single day. The major refurbishment carried out at the Royal Festival Hall over the last few years presented an opportunity to add to the infrastructure of the venue to make this process easier and quicker, and to add to the flexibility of the venue. Stage Technologies worked with theatre consultants Carr & Angier , the South Bank Centre management and architects Allies and Morrison to develop the scheme that has now been implemented.
The huge number of moving elements inside this world famous venue are controlled by just five Solo handheld controllers. Stage Technologies’ small portable controllers offer an interface that is extremely easy for the stage crew to learn and enables them to operate the system from the most suitable location, by connecting to one of the many control points located around the venue. As well as being flexible and easy to use, the Solo handheld controllers also offer all the benefits of Stage Technologies’ Chameleon software, such as variable speed moves and synchronised groups.
During the refurbishment the auditorium ceiling and all the services above it were completely stripped out and the 1950’s asbestos was removed, creating a new working space over the stage area. The floor of this attic is formed of precast concrete planks with many openings to allow suspension and electrical cables to be lowered. Suspended above this technical floor is a network of secondary steel which supports the winches that move the equipment suspended below.
Four large movable, lighting bridges were installed in the Hall; three of which can also be traversed up and down stage. Concert lighting bars are attached to the three traversing bridges. These can be lowered to stage floor lever for crew to position platform lighting, to maintain a safe working height. The Solo handheld controllers, running Chameleon software, make it possible to synchronise a number of axes for load sharing and use the combined lifting capacity of the bridges. This is extremely useful for lifting large mother trusses for a touring production for example; significantly decreasing the get in time and cost, and increasing the range of events that can be staged without the need for lots of custom rigging. Further over-stage suspensions are provided by three hoists for loudspeaker clusters, which can be moved up and down stage to set the optimum position. There are also three flying bars provided just in front of the refurbished organ for suspension of drapes or lighting equipment. All the flown items are wired with a mixture of lighting circuits, audio and data circuits for maximum production flexibility. To help the technical staff move production equipment into the attic, a goods hoist was fitted that descends from the centre of the ceiling in the auditorium to ground level where equipment can be wheeled on and off.
Three large acoustic reflectors, specified by Kirkegaard Associates, were also installed. These can be raised and lowered, and changed in angle from near horizontal to near vertical to change the acoustic properties of the hall. In addition to the three reflectors there are 32 roller banners, 3 concertina banners and 10 tapestries that can all be deployed to change the acoustical properties of the auditorium. These variable acoustic elements were provided by J&C Joel.
Delstar Engineering supplied 11 lifts to form the stage platform. These allow the stage layout to be reconfigured in many ways to suit the nature of the performance taking place. Each lift is driven by two motors so that if, in the unlikely event, either motor fails, the lift can still be moved using the other. Two small lifts are also provided in the auditorium to create a small pit for a sound desk when needed.
Related links:
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
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17 March 2008
Rapunzel in New York
 A small, portable Saxis control unit and BigTow winch, from Stage Technologies, is being used to create clever effects for the touring production of Rapunzel. Following a sell-out tour in the UK, the Kneehigh Theatre’s non-traditional rendition of Rapunzel has opened at The New Victory Theater in New York.
Stage Technologies worked with Production Manager and Lighting Designer, Alex Wardle, on this project, and provided a simple, easy to use system, capable of flying a small platform carrying two performers. The red, oval-shaped piece of floor is flown to stage level during the show, to bridge a gap in two circular stages. The same oval piece is also flown approximately six feet above the stage and supports the two performers who use the platform as a swing.
Alex Wardle commented “Part of the reason we chose the system is that the Saxis is simple to program and operate; during the performance, it is operated by our Stage Manager (Amy Griffin), who is in costume, running round the stage passing props to actors, setting off pyrotechnics, fetching the rabbit from its hutch and flying two hemp sets; so it's got to be simple! Also, the tour in the UK played in the round, which meant that the winch was in the same room as the audience, so it was important that it runs reasonably quietly”. The compact size and flexibility of the Saxis unit and BigTow winch make the system extremely easy to install and transport, making it a perfect option for small and touring productions.
Related links:
www.kneehigh.co.uk www.alexwardle.co.uk www.newvictory.org
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12 March 2008
Platinum Sponsor for North American Theater Engineering & Architecture Conference (NATEAC)
 Stage Technologies is delighted to announce its Platinum Sponsorship of the forthcoming North American Theater Engineering & Architecture Conference. The two day conference will be held in New York on July 20th and 21st 2008.
Stage Technologies was the first company to commit its support to this important industry event, by signing up to be one of the two principal sponsors.
Based on the model of the London TEA conferences, produced by Richard Brett in 2002 and 2006, NATEAC promises to bring together many world-leading theater consultants, architects, engineers, technicians and technical managers. The conference will offer a forum to address issues concerning planning, design, construction and equipping all manner of entertainment venues, from grand opera houses through to school theaters.
Stage Technologies’ decision to become platinum sponsor of NATEAC, follows the success of the London TEA 2006 conference, for which it was the sole platinum sponsor. The company’s rapid expansion in the field of stage automation makes it acutely aware of the speed at which the industry is developing and of the technical and commercial challenges that this presents. Recognising the importance of sharing, discussing and documenting the issues we face, Stage Technologies believe the conference is a unique stimulus for future development and education.
Kevin Taylor, CEO of Stage Technologies Inc said, “By supporting the conference as platinum sponsor, we hope to contribute to the communication within our technical industry. Increasingly, precision engineering and automation are playing a vital role in entertainment venues around the world. The conference will enable us to share our specialist knowledge and also gain valuable insight into the concerns or aspirations of our colleagues in this industry so that we can address the needs of our clients in the future”.
The NATEAC website announces “It is the mission of the North American Theater Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC) to promote communication between the architects, engineers, consultants, and manufacturers responsible for designing and building new theaters and renovating existing facilities in North America. It is also our goal to promote a higher level of interaction between these professionals and the end users of their facilities."
Related links:
www.nateac.org
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07 January 2008
Automation System fit for a Queen
 Stage Technologies were delighted to see the Queen Victoria set sail on her Maiden Voyage this Christmas, with the fully automated Royal Court Theatre on-board ready to entertain the passengers whilst they cruse Europe’s northern seas. Stage Technologies installed and commissioned the complete stage rigging system on-board Cunard’s new vessel, built by Fincantieri in their Marghera ship yard, near to Venice in Italy.
In early 2006 Stage Technologies were awarded the contract to supply the complete stage engineering package for the Royal Court Theatre and Queen’s Room venues on-board. The Royal Court Theatre is an 830 seat venue and the first cruise ship theatre to ever have a Royal Box and private boxes on each side of the auditorium, like those seen in a Victoria style West End theatres.
The stage is well appointed with automated equipment, which includes motorised lighting trusses, both over-stage and front-of-house, two stage lifts with 2-part sliding lids, two storage lifts, 18 flybars, six Serapid stage tracks, curtain tracks, safety curtain, and roller projection screen. The control system includes Maxis ID drives, Acrobat control console and a number of Solo hand-held controllers. Also included within the scope of the contract is the complete stage floor structure and finished vinyl flooring which had to be coordinated with all the stage machinery contained within it. The flying system features BigTow2-290 winches and Stage Technologies unique TanJent guidance system developed specifically for cruise ships.
This was the first stage rigging contract that Stage Technologies have been awarded by the Marghera shipyard and whilst the equipment is very similar to that installed onboard Emerald Princess, which was delivered earlier in the year, the hull itself was different from that of a Grand class vessel. The ‘new’ design and tight construction schedule was a challenge for all the sub-contractors working within the Theatre. Stage Technologies Project Manager Jim Roberts commented “the massive coordination effort by Fincantieri and Nautilus Entertainment ensured that the owner received the venue they wanted. A major effort by the Stage Technologies team in Italy ensured that the stage rigging equipment for both venues were complete before the ship left for Southampton.”
Stage Technologies are also working on two further vessels for Fincantieri; P&O Ventura delivers in March 2008 and Ruby Princess in October. Both vessels are being built in the Monfalcone shipyard where Stage Technologies have a full-time base.
Related links:
www.cunard.co.uk
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13 December 2007
Chitty got off to a flying start in Singapore!
 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang completed its final night at the Esplanade theatre in Singapore this weekend. Following 24 successful months touring the UK, the production of Chitty was loaded into a container and shipped out to Singapore in October.
With just seven days to install and commission the entire show, Stage Technologies’ rental engineers worked hard to get the show’s automation system up and running.
The first containers arrived at the loading doors of the Esplanade on Sunday the 21st October. With two full days of hard graft, all the equipment was unloaded and put into position backstage; the show deck was laid down with the floor-track winches already installed inside and the Performer Flying sliders were motored up into the air by Chain Hoists on lengths of truss. For the next 3 days Stage Technologies’ engineers set about commissioning the automation system. The equipment was powered up and tested; mechanical and software limits were reset to the requirements of the new venue and the Performer Flying winches were rigged with metal weights for load testing. Stage Technologies’ Project Manager, Mike Savage, was on site to make sure it all ran smoothly, “The automation system comprises five floor tracks, two lifting and traversing performer flying systems, two automated sliding door panels, a four metre diameter rotating windmill, two large doors which open to reveal the Toymakers workshop and of course the flying car which itself comprises of six axes, a mixture of electric and hydraulic. Along with this there is a complicated hydraulic door system in the stage floor which opens to allow the car to fly, but at other times provides a flat stage for the company to perform amazing sequences such as those in the Fun Fair and Sweet Factory. In total, eleven winches are used on the show, a mixture of BigTow and MiniTow winches. The control system for the show automation required its own shipping container to transport it to Singapore, including over 5000m of electrical cable and 100m of Fibre optic cable installed and removed at each venue.”
On day 6 of the installation the star of the show arrived on the back of a lorry. Chitty, the magical flying car was fixed to its mechanical arm and put through its paces with all the usual checks. “The system is controlled from a front of house position using an Acrobat console running Chameleon and Visual Creator software. During the car's 'flights' all the axes to control the car are synchronised to three virtual master axes using Visual Creator to create the complex movements. At the peak of the show the control system requires 160A of power.” comments Mike Savage.
The following day the automation cues were run from start to finish, ensuring that every last detail was working perfectly. At the end of the day, Sunday 28th October, the show was fully commissioned and the ‘Get In’ mission complete.
After a further five days of light focusing, sound testing and cast rehearsals, the show was ready for opening night. On Friday the 2nd November the music started, the curtains opened and the stage show magic began for the largest ever touring production to visit Singapore. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang staged eight performances a week until it closed in Singapore on the 9th December 2007. This is when the ‘Get Out’ begins and the ‘Get In’ starts all over again when the show returns to the UK for another series of touring dates, starting in Bradford in February 2008.
Related links:
www.chittythemusical.com
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29 October 2007
Flying Witches in Japan
 In a story of desire, seduction and scandal, three female protagonists give an impressive display of their seemingly magical powers which are actually provided by Stage Technologies' stage automation. The audience can anticipate something special is about to occur as the three Witches Of Eastwick's feet begin to lift from the stage floor.
Encouraged by their mysterious, charismatic seducer, Darryl Van Horne, the witches Alex, Sukie and Jane rise into the air, fly out above the audience and prompt spontaneous applause.
Once again Stage Technologies worked with Toho Co Ltd’s Theatrical Division to create the flying effects for Japan’s third production of ‘The Witches of Eastwick’. The musical’s famous story is based on a John Updike novel of the same name and was a West End hit in 2000 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Stage Technologies supplied the complete automation systems for the original Cameron Mackintosh production in London and for subsequent productions. The show was later re-designed to fit smaller theatres and travelled overseas to Australia and Japan. Stage Technologies supplied the complex flying system for the latest Japan production in just 2 days, from load in to flying demonstrations. The production company was delighted with the ease and speed of the installation at the Imperial Theatre Tokyo where it opened on the 9th October for a 4 week run.
Nine BigTow winches were installed by Stage Technologies to achieve the flying effect. Each performer is flown by a group of three winches. One winch is mounted above the stage and another is mounted to a truss above the auditorium, which traverses along the length of truss with the use of a third winch. Controlled and programmed from an Acrobat control desk, the group is synchronised such that the performer can be lifted and flown within a specific area. Using Stage Technologies’ Visual Creator software, a fourth ‘virtual’ axis is added to the group to determine the length of the path and the position of the axes along that path; this generates and performs a 3-dimensional curve. The control system is programmed with a carefully constructed flight path for the individual performers as they fly above the audience.
The absolute accuracy of position, speed, acceleration, deceleration and repeatability gained when using automated performer flying, ensures the performance is identical every time. Of course, flying into the air on two lengths of steel wire rope is not an easy concept for any performer new to the task. In this production, two of the three leading ladies had worked with Stage Technologies during the previous two shows in Japan and were delighted to take flight again. The experience was new to the third actress, so Stage Technologies’ engineers performed the usual demonstrations and test flights by flying themselves, the Stage Manager and a stage hand up into the air to dispel any nerves or anxieties. So with encouragement and support from the crew and the two other witches, she took flight for the first time. The reliability and safety of the system instils faith in the performer, allowing them to dazzle their audiences on stage without a second thought to the technology behind the action.
Related links:
www.tohostage.com/eastwick
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01 September 2007
New Address for Stage Technologies’ US Office
 From 31st August Stage Technologies’ American office will be closer to the heart of Las Vegas. Recent projects such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie Hall , the San Francisco Opera and a large number of new US contracts have resulted in Stage Technologies’ American operations quickly outgrowing their current office and workshop facilities.
The company has experienced rapid expansion over recent years and believes that the new 8000sq. ft. premises will provide its engineers with better facilities and allow it to respond and deliver a high quality service to its clients. The new office is ideally located within close proximity to major interstates 15 and 215 and is within 6 miles of McCarran International Airport.
Stage Technologies Inc
6651 Schuster Street
Las Vegas
Nevada 89118
USA
Telephone: +1 (702) 990 0864
Fax: +1 (702) 990 0878
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02 August 2007
Automation install at the Historic Tabernacle
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has completed the renovation of their 140 year old Tabernacle building in Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Tabernacle was built in the 1860's but now contains some of the most technically advanced lighting, sound and automation systems ever installed in a historic building of its kind.
Stage Technologies installed a 24-axes automated rigging and a 2-axis stage lift control system to enable the same high level of flexibility and safety as a modern performing arts venue.
Stage Technologies was responsible for overseeing the entire rigging installation at the Tabernacle, working with Jacobsen Construction, McLaren Engineering Group, Pook, Diemont & Ohl Inc, Tomcat Truss, Conductix and AMC Fabrication. Fourteen BigTow390 winches were installed to control lighting trusses and speaker clusters. BigTow290 winches were also installed to automate seven large chandeliers. This allows the chandeliers to be lowered to a safe working height to be maintained and cleaned. Three BigTow200 winches are used to carry personnel up to the organ loft for the cleaning of their world famous 11,623 piped organ. The system is controlled from a Stage Technologies' Nomad console and a Solo radio handheld controller.
The unique elliptical shape of the Tabernacle's roof structure made working space and access for equipment and cabling very limited; a complex challenge for the installation. The Church directed design to preserve as much of the original structure as possible. Nathan Wells, Stage Technologies' Project Manager, comments 'We overcame many of the limited space issues with a large number of custom sheaves, mountings and steel wire rope diverters'.
The Tabernacle was closed for two years during the renovation and officially reopened 31st March 07. Technologies for Worship magazines recently reported a dramatic increase in expectations within the worship arena over past years. The Tabernacle is a fantastic example of the diversity of these venues and will be used for conferences, public lectures, musical concerts and other entertainment.
Related links:
www.lds.org
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17 May 2007
Emerald fit for a Princess
 There were celebrations last month when the Emerald Princess set sail on her maiden voyage following a successful 2 year build at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. Stage Technologies has been working as the main stage rigging contractors on this project, responsible for the install and commissioning of the complete stage machinery package onboard this new Grand Class ship from Princess Cruises.
The theatre system installed on board the Emerald Princess is amongst the most sophisticated afloat and uses equipment more typically seen on major West End and Las Vegas shows. The installation includes a stage floor system incorporating two stage lifts, sliding lift trap panels and nine Serapid floor tracks. The flytower houses a 22 axis power flying system, lighting trusses, a projection screen and 3 curtain tracks. The latest generation of Stage Technologies BigTow winches provide the muscle for the power flying, using the unique TanJent guidance system which was developed for Princess to meet the particular requirements of guiding scenery on board ships. The control system features the Acrobat console running the latest version of Chameleon software, which is fully integrated with the Maxis ID position control system.
The Emerald Princess was formally handed over to Princess Cruises by Fincantieri on the 30th March 07 and marks a major milestone for Stage Technologies. Working in Italian, French and Japanese shipyards, Stage Technologies has supplied and commissioned stage automation systems for every Princess Cruises new build since Grand Princess in 1998. The Emerald Princess however is the first ship that Stage Technologies has been responsible for the entire stage machinery package as the principle Stage Rigging Contractor. This has enabled them to ensure that the quality of the entire installation is consistent with the high standards it has established for automation systems over the last 12 years.
Stage Technologies Project Manager Jim Roberts comments “Emerald Princess was the first contract Stage Technologies had won to work directly for Fincantieri to supply a turn-key cruise ship project. Managing the entire project, including installation, enabled us to work directly with the shipyard to ensure the contract was delivered on schedule and to the very high standards that Princess Cruises have come to expect of our work.”
Stage Technologies managed this project locally from their Italian office, whilst working on three other ship installations simultaneously, the Crown Princess, Cunard’s Queen Victoria and P&O’s ‘Ventura’. With 4 ship installations progressing simultaneously, all in different phases of delivery, Stage Technologies’ efficient project management skills were fundamental to the successful completion of the Emerald Princess.
Related links:
www.princess.com
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