The Broadway production of Six is also due to tour the US in 2022 (photo: Joan Marcus)
USA - Lighting designer Tim Deiling chose two MDG Atmosphere generators to provide the ambient haze for his lighting of the Broadway production of Six. The British musical is a modern retelling of the story of Henry VIII’s six wives, presented as a pop contest – a production report on the musical will feature in LSi December, out next week.
The show’s signature style is very much that of a rock concert, utilising an abundance of beam effects to take the place of set changes, which simultaneously give a different look and identity to each of the queens.
To achieve this, Deiling needed a good, clean haze as a canvas on which to highlight this motif. The fine white particles of MDG Atmosphere haze proved exactly what was needed, delivering a beautiful base layer of haze that defined the beams clearly without any adverse effects on the dynamic performances of the singers.
“We began by using generic water-based hazers to save money (all our original, humble, “fringe” budget could supply),” says Deiling, “but as the show developed it became clear that the haze in many ways was the scenic design. For the lighting to provide lots of different ‘architecture’ throughout the night, the haze at to be perfect, fine, and constant. MDG was the only way to go.”
Associate lighting designer, Tim Reed comments: “The show runs for 90 minutes, and while we sometimes run generators on a cycle according to the quantity of haze required, for this show we simply turned the Atmospheres on at the start and off at the end, leaving them to produce a fine haze throughout. They really are the most reliable of machines, requiring little maintenance and with an economical use of fluid. The resident technicians are very happy with them.”
Six transferred from its inaugural run in London’s West End (delayed initially by COVID-19) to open on Broadway on 3 October, where its run is open-ended. It is also due to tour the US in 2022.
The MDG Atmosphere generators were supplied for the Broadway run by PRG USA.

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