"We designed the CP7 around the tri-colour RGB light engine of the COLORado 1-Tri IP," said Paul Weller, Morpheus' managing partner. "The result is a versatile, weatherproof fixture that delivers plenty of punch and vastly reduces power consumption. At only 616-watts, the CP7 efficiently replaces traditional nine-lights with colour changers that drew close to 6,000 watts."
Jeff Ravitz, of Los Angeles-based Intensity Advisors (the long-time lighting designer for Springsteen), was looking for an alternative to the usual workhorse for audience coverage. "We showed him a basic prototype last December," said Weller. "Jeff metered it in direct comparison to our old tungsten blinders and said he thought it was a very promising concept. We then collaborated on refinements to the design, fast-tracked fabrication of the fixtures and got them to tour rehearsals in early March."
"Lighting the audience is crucial on a Springsteen show," said Ravitz. "Bruce is out there looking to bond with the audience in a communal experience. The fixture we use must have long-throw capability and broad coverage, but we tell our story with colour. The COLORado 1-Tri IP colour system gives me a great range of saturated colours that help integrate and incorporate the crowd into the stage picture."
For arena shows, which are performed in the round, 12 CP7s are placed strategically illuminating the audience, all around the stage, including behind it. Stadium shows are performed under a proscenium 'roof' thus the fixture count doubles. "Ten shoot forward from the trusses of the main rig; 10 more from above the IMAG screens in the wings, and four more from the two 60-foot followspot towers out in the audience," said Ravitz. "It's an impressive look."
(Jim Evans)
