Professional Lighting & Production - Summer 2017 | Page 29

you can do, their data transfer capabilities are
pretty much wide open. After all,” he adds, “this
is the first stage of the system, and it will evolve
in the next few years.”
Eady is proud of how seamlessly the entire
project came together, particularly considering
the timeline. “It was a great coming together
of the right people at the right time,” he says
succinctly.
Kantorovich adds that the synergy between
the collaborators was a significant benefit, and
that venue administration and IATSE Local 58
members have directly expressed their satisfac-
tion with how everything was conducted and,
perhaps more importantly, the system they
now have at their disposal.
McKendrick lauds his longtime partners
at Christie for their role in the refit. “They were
our first step towards a much different Massey
Hall – one that will be a lot friendlier to visiting
productions.”
That will include a proper loading dock,
new lobby and performance spaces, and some
other technical enhancements, including better
capabilities for live broadcasts and remote
recordings.
Of course, the first installed performance
lighting system in the venue’s 123-year history
will also heighten the experience for the ven-
ue’s esteemed patrons, now and as the iconic
landmark enters a new era of entertainment
in Toronto.
Andrew King is the Editor-in-Chief of
Professional Lighting & Production.
Christie Lites Rentals come in and prep the rig
in the shop as they would for any world tour –
every cable tested, colour-coded, and ready to
go. So we walked in as if it was coming with a
touring package with no concerns about what
went where.”
Kantorovich notes that, once the rig was
delivered, they had it up and running in about
four hours.
The new stage lighting system is driven
by an MA Lighting grandMA 2 with a redun-
dant backup PC-based package. Dike says the
desk’s ability to be configured to operate like
other popular consoles was a big factor in its
adoption. “The built-in stage view is extremely
useful in this situation, as due to the seating
requirements of some shows, the operator can’t
always see the downstage truss,” he adds. “The
Gear at a Glance
Massey Hall’s new stage
lighting package
Control
1 x MA Lighting grandMA2 Full Console
1 x MA Lighting grandMA2 on PC with
Fader Wing (Backup)
Custom Data Racks for FOH and Stage w/
Fibre Optic Snake, including equipment
from ProPlex, Pathway Connectivity &
City Theatrical
ability to clone in fixtures from a current touring
show is well-known to designers and operators
using the console and has the power to quickly
adapt the show to a new rig, saving a lot of time
for tours adapting their shows to the rig.”
Eady notes that the control configura-
tion for the rig is one of the more interesting
aspects of the job: “They have a vast amount
of redundancy and major capabilities between
FOH and the deck.”
Between the Pathway Connectivity Path-
port DMX/RDM Ethernet gateways, ProPlex
fibre links, and other solutions, he says they’ve
virtually future-proofed the package as far as
data transfer via several popular protocols.
“All the capabilities are built in, so while the
building currently limits the size of the show
fantastic,” he enthuses. “It was really, once we
got going, probably the sim plest and most
trouble-free purchase of this size we’ve made
in my time here. It was on target, went in on
time, and everything worked. The ongoing
support we’ve received has been great, just like
everything else.”
Massey Hall is now amidst the earliest stages of
its $135-million enhancement, which will see
its doors close in mid-2018 for about two years
while the auditorium is significantly revitalized
and a new building is added to the rear of the
hall on its south side.
“Everyone from top to bottom is impressed
and excited about the new lighting system,”
McKendrick says proudly in closing. “This is
Dimming
ETC Smart Pack Dimmer System
Flown Fixtures
16 x Clay Paky Sharpys
12 x Martin MAC Viper Performances
15 x Martin MAC Viper Profiles
29 x Martin MAC Aura XBs (w/ Custom
mounting solution for truss clearance)
13 x Martin Atomic 3000 LED Strobes
Ground Fixtures
11 x Robe Spiiders
2 x Look Solutions Unique 2.1 Hazers
Truss
140 ft. Prolyte S36-PRF Pre-Rig Truss
PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING & PRODUCTION • 29