One of the big winners at this year's Tony Awards was "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," the rock musical that picked up trophies for "Best Revival of a Musical" and "Best Actor in a Musical," along with two other wins. The show's lighting designer, Kevin Adams, also took home an award for "Best Lighting Design in a Musical" for his work on the show. This was his fourth Tony Award and tenth nomination.
While some Broadway shows may call for subtle lighting and understated visual effects, "Hedwig" is not one of them. With intense rock-and-roll musical numbers and flamboyant costumes, the show called for an equally dynamic lighting setup that would get the audience even more excited and invested in the actor's performances.
Adams spoke to Stage Directions, an online news site for the stage design industry, about his work on "Hedwig" and how collaboration with others was key to making the show work.
"I am so fortunate to work with such an amazing group of people on Hedwig," he told the source. "I always hoped the show would go to Broadway—it's really remarkable to realize the ideas we've always had on such a large show."
Adams' light system involved dozens of different par cans, washes and other equipment, all of which was networked and synced by expert concert programmer Benny Kirkham, who has worked with Aerosmith and the Blue Man Group. In addition, Adams had to collaborate with the show's costume designer Arianne Phillips, set designer Julian Crouch, and sound designer Tim O'Heir to ensure that his lighting wasn't drawing away from or working against their creations.
Adams' success with "Hedwig" serves as an important reminder for lighting designers that collaboration with others is key to making a show work. When purchasing gobo lighting effects and gear, you'll want to make sure that your purchases are in line with what the show's director and other crew have planned. This will make working on your event a more enjoyable and productive experience.
