Production designer John Featherstone of Lightswitch turned to a classic design, one that reflected the duo's 1980s popularity, yet with updated contemporary elements. The design also fulfilled The Judds' wish to create an intimate setting suitable for more personal narrative, despite the fact the tour played in large venues.
Featherstone's design for The Last Encore tour consisted of curved trusses lined with MAC III Profiles, MAC 2000 Wash XBs and other automateds, with MAC 700 Washes mounted on an array of vertical trusses. A large arched video wall backdrop was lined with more MAC III Profiles, as well as moving mirror fixtures.
Featherstone incorporated the 1500W MAC III Profile into one of his designs for the first time. He stated, "With a big, bright LED wall we needed something that would slice through that with defined beams, something that could overcome a lot of light competition. The MAC III Profile provides the crispest, sharpest beam and gobo looks."
Lightswitch's Dennis Connors programmed the rig on a Martin Maxxyz lighting console with video delivered via a Martin Maxedia media server. Media content came from Lightswitch's stock library as well as content creator Austin Shapely of Vision Visuals and included both retrospective material of The Judds and image abstraction.
(Jim Evans)
