Production Design Associates lit up the Piccolo Spoleto
Festival’s kick-off event in Charleston, South Carolina, with Robe’s ROBIN 300
LEDWash fixtures.
The Sunset Serenade, held annually on the steps of the United
States Custom House, is a free outdoor concert featuring the Charleston
Symphony Orchestra with more than 5,000 attending, marking the start of the
Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
The festival, sponsored locally in conjunction with Spoleto
Festival USA, featured about 700 performing, literary and visual arts events
over the course of 17 days. Often
referred to as America’s premier performing arts festival, Piccolo Spoleto was
founded in 1979 by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs. Their
goal is to provide a rich dynamic cultural experience to all, as well as give
local and regional artists the opportunity to showcase their talents.
When PDA was once again hired to light the symphony, they
decided it was the perfect time to try their new ROBIN 300 LEDWash fixtures.
“I decided to throw in some of our new lights – the Robe
ROBIN 300’s,” explained Jeff Nickles, President of PDA. “I hadn’t worked them
that much and had never used them outdoors.
I only had four units available and decided to see if they would throw
some color on the building façade.”
Nickles was impressed by the results. “Four units positioned about 80 feet away
bathed the whole building in vibrant, rich colors. I had no idea they could be
so punchy and with the zoom, I was able to adjust the spill off of the
audience.”
The entire building was immersed by colored light which was
accented by the music throughout the evening.
“This gives new meaning to getting the most ‘bang for the
buck’,” enthused Nickles. “Four units plus one circuit, no wires and one
beautiful historic building … equals 5,000 happy people. I love this light.”
“Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect complement to the
international scope of Spoleto Festival USA, its parent festival which
transforms Charleston into an exhilarating celebration of performing, literary
and visual arts,” concluded Nickles.
