CHICAGO- The 380-seat McLaughlin Theatre at St. Ignatius Prep is long on charm and character. With an interior modeled after the legendary Chicago theatres of the late 19th century, it provides an evocative setting for audiences. All that being said, however, its iconic “Bob Newhart Stage” isn’t the most capacious in the city, measuring only […]
ST. LOUIS– Optimism is always a sign of courage, never more so than when expressed during challenging times. Such was the case on October 21, 2020, when, in the depths of the pandemic, a group of backers unveiled their plans for a new state-of-the-art live entertainment center. “It’s time to put a positive spin out […]
MOLD, FLINTSHIRE, WALES – The joys of lighting panto are many. High on that list is the opportunity it affords a designer to unfurl a rainbow of colors and transform the stage into a playland that delights actors and audiences alike. Johanna Town, award-winning designer and Chair for ALPD, will readily attest to that. “Panto […]
NAGANO, JAPAN – With its flowing, curving, abstract form, the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre presents a fitting architectural testimony to the poetic beauty of the Japanese theatrical tradition. Widely regarded as the masterpieces of internationally renowned architect, Toyo Ito, the inherent beauty of the 18-year old structure, is characterized by a speckled pattern of 20,000 […]
GHENT– (For Immediate Release) — Primordial and powerful, essential to life, but merciless in its destructive wrath, fire holds a relentless grip on the human imagination. Who hasn’t been transfixed in awe, admiration, and more than a little fear by the sight of dancing flames? Perhaps this is why “The Big Fire That Never […]
FLANDERS, BELGIUM – (For Immediate Release) — The sounds of growling guitars and drum solos have resonated throughout Muziekodroom ever since the industrial-style venue opened in 2007. That was until the pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt over a year ago. Happily, now artists are once again performing inside the 850-capacity venue. Before […]
BARCELONA – The Elton John- Lee Hall coming of age musical Billy Elliot is the stuff of dreams, not just how they uplift, inspire and define an individual, but also how they run up against (and sometimes prevail over) harsh realities. Winner of multiple Tony and Olivier Awards, the story brilliantly juxtaposes divergent forces, such […]
RIOBAMBA, ECUADOR – (For Immediate Release) — Even during the toughest times, those who look forward to the future give those around them reasons to hope for better days ahead. The team involved in the restoration of Teatro León demonstrated that in convincing fashion during the pandemic. Once one of Latin America’s cultural gems […]
LONDON – The Maverick Silens 2 Profile doesn’t attract attention to itself because of its sound; the 100-percent convection-cooled LED PCB fixture operates in virtual silence. However, the versatile 560W luminaire did make waves recently when it was honored with a 2021 PLASA Award For Innovation. The only moving fixture (and one of two […]
PETERSBURG, FL – As stories on stage unfold, they are invariably carried on their journey by the ebb and flow of light. This is true of virtually every dramatic production, but there are some where lighting is so intricately woven into the story that it becomes part of the narrative itself. Pagliacci falls squarely into […]
VANDERGRIFT, PA – “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” So wrote the American humorist Charles Addams, whose penchant for poking fun at all things conventional, inspired him to create a series of cartoons that ultimately led to the iconic TV program The Addams Family. Robert John […]
OAKMONT, PA – (For Immediate Release) — Reality and fantasy often work wonders on stage when they’re allowed to flow freely together. Pippin provides delightfully entertaining proof of that. The emperor Charlemagne did indeed have a son named Pippin (actually “Pepin”) — and the struggles of the young protagonist to find meaning in his life […]