LED-based VLZ range delivers Vari-Lite continuity for Dreamgirls

LED-based VLZ range delivers Vari-Lite continuity for Dreamgirls posted: 16/03/2020

Vari-Lites VLZ fixtures recreate the original color palette for Ken Billingtons Dreamgirls lighting design.

To update his original 2008 lighting design for a modern touring production of Dreamgirls, renowned lighting designer Ken Billington chose the LED-based VLZ fixtures from Vari-Lite, a Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) entertainment lighting brand. After seeing a demo of the VLZ fixtures, he was satisfied with them as the next-generation luminaire that would reproduce the look and feel of his original Vari-Lite rig.

Billington specified 32 VLZ Wash, 22 VLZ Spot and 12 VLZ Profile fixtures to form the show's entire overhead lighting rig. The fixtures are bright, said Billington, in fact a bit too bright! We run them at 50-70% most of the time. When you fade the LED, there is no beam degradation, which you would see if there was a shutter dimming a discharge fixture.

Vari-Lites VLZ fixtures recreate the original color palette for Ken Billingtons Dreamgirls lighting design.

A key aim for this production was recreating the original color palette, which the VLZs matched well. The colors are really clear, clean colors that don't muddy the beam or hurt light output, said lighting programmer, Jackson Miller.

Vari-Lites VLZ fixtures recreate the original color palette for Ken Billingtons Dreamgirls lighting design.

The VLZ's four-blade framing system was also praised. It's impressive how much beam control you can get without compromising the soft edge of the wash or the intensity, says associate lighting designer, Ben Travis.

Vari-Lites VLZ fixtures recreate the original color palette for Ken Billingtons Dreamgirls lighting design.

The shutters are pretty great, agreed Miller. They all seem to exist on the same plane, optically speaking. All four can be sharp at once, which is some sort of amazing witchcraft, considering every other full-frame shutter unit I've seen will only sharpen to one or two at a time.

Vari-Lites VLZ fixtures recreate the original color palette for Ken Billingtons Dreamgirls lighting design.

Overall, the fixtures have been widely welcomed by the Dreamgirls lighting team. The quality is great, concludes Travis. They have met, and exceeded, our expectations.

About Vari-Lite and Strand

For over a hundred years, we've been blending innovative engineering and a love of performance to create the high-quality solutions that drive some of the world's most extraordinary experiences. With advanced optics, innovative control, and complete end-to-end entertainment lighting system solutions for installation and rental, Vari-Lite and Strand enhance the passion and performance of artists around the globe, whether that's a school play or a world tour. Vari-Lite and Strand are part of the Signify portfolio of brands.

About Signify

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact connected lighting systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. With 2019 sales of EUR 6.2 billion, we have approximately 32,000 employees and are present in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We have been named Industry Leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for three years in a row. News from Signify is located at the Newsroom, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors can be found on the Investor Relations page.

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