Vari-Lites shine on Marc Anthony dates
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Shirley developed his concept around six vertical lighting arrays that provide the tools necessary to create effective and functional stage focuses. “When the drawings of the show were completed, it was time to start discussing fixture choices. Good friend and production guru Roly Garbalosa mentioned to me that our preferred vendor ProColor was looking at purchasing the new VL10s and asked me to take a look at them. How does the saying go? It was love at first sight,” said Travis Shirley.
The tour, which kicked off at San Antonio’s 18,500-capacity AT&T Centre on 27 August, celebrates 2019 album Opus and Anthony’s three-decade career. It has sold out arenas across the US, with fans eager to see him play live for the first time since early-2020. The three-time Grammy Award and six-time Latin Grammy Award winner’s compositions vary from slow and heart wrenching to fast and flamboyant, moving fans to tears in one moment and lifting them to their feet the next. Therefore, the show design had to be both engaging and extremely dynamic.
“I wanted to create a production that could not only accommodate his talented band, but also offer the flares of Latin salsa,” says Shirley. “I knew that we needed some sort of modern, yet classic, approach to an orchestra set up, thus the multi-tiered stage design. From there I looked at unique and creative ways to not only light the talent, but also provide the audience with lighting design appropriate for the genre.”
He states that Vari-Lite has become a regular name on his specs. “Vari-Lite is one of the longest, most proven lighting brands in the entertainment lighting business, so naturally they make their way onto my spec list very often. The product range is so diverse. I find myself using newer lights like the VL10 for some shows, yet also specifying the classic VL5 for others. Vari-Lite is a staple and I love that there are no surprises with the products. I know what I’m getting every time.”
The award-winning LD, who is known for his innovative approach to lighting and show design, worked closely with Ian Berkman and the programming team at Visual Edge to realise the final design. The result is a captivating spectacle that has thrilled audiences across the US, promising to do the same in Canada and Mexico through December, before culminating at The Forum in Los Angeles a week before Christmas.
