Two grandMA full-size, one as a back-up, and six MA NSPs, (Network Signal Processor) including two spares, form the heart of the lighting control for a rig that comprises 80 Clay Paky Alpha Beam 300s, 64 Vari*Lite VL 3000 spots, eight VL3500 washes as well as Coemar, Syncrolite and Martin fixtures. In total, the lighting consumes 16 DMX universes.
Lighting designer Baz Halpin explains his design, "The show is a recap of the last 50 years of the career of one of the most stunning female artists in history. We tried to create a system that was versatile enough to cope with not only the stylistic changes but also the physical changes as the set transforms during the show. The design went through several versions before we settled on the current one. Tina Turner is heavily involved in all aspects of her show. She will have specific ideas on how something should be treated and has a clear vision of how her shows should look.
"The show is divided by a 30 minute interval", continues Halpin, "The first section starts off with some older uptempo pop tunes with basic lighting and the focus on the music rather than the production. The second act in the first half is a more production heavy section with songs like Private Dancer and We Don't Need Another Hero. After the interval Tina returns to the stage with the unplugged section which sees the band in a more casual downstage arrangement sitting on bar stools. The final section is the most production heavy part of the show. This is also the section where the upstage video wall tracks open to reveal the 80 Alpha Beam 300 which are hung on custom brackets."
Lighting director and operator Kathy Beer worked with Halpin on pre-programming for a week in Los Angeles. "I've been working for seven years with the grandMA and the console never let me down. When Baz let me choose the desk for the tour there was no second thought about my favourite tool."
PRG delivered the lighting equipment, Nocturne Productions the video equipment. Ian Tucker is the lighting crew chief, Doug Eder and Thomas Bider work as dimmer technicians. Craig Hancock, Michael Merle, Russell 'Bits' Lyons and Stuart Lee are the lighting technicians.
(Jim Evans)
