"The Phantom of the Opera" is a beloved Broadway show, but a new producer and national tour is changing things up for the classic performance. According to the Kenosha News, producer Cameron Mackintosh took a new approach to the show, including making changes to its special effects, stage and lighting designs and choreography.
"This version of 'Phantom' tells the story in a new way, using new stage technology that wasn't available 30 years ago," actor Brad Oscar told the news source in a phone interview . "It's still 'Phantom' — with the same score and the same plot — but the look is different. The sets now have a more literal design, with the actors really inhabiting the spaces of the Paris Opera House. In the original production, the set was achieved mostly through lighting."
Oscar also noted that the infamous chandelier in the show has been updated, given a 21st century twist that is sure to shock audiences.
Lighting in a theater performance can play a crucial role in setting the theme, mood and environment. Entire shows have been based around lighting to indicate setting cues and changes, rather than using actual sets and backdrops. Dynamic lighting can make, or break, a performance, and getting the designs right will ensure a memorable show for the audience.
Of course, in order to maximize lighting today, designers have many more options available than they did 30 years ago when "Phantom" was first envisioned. Gobo lights can add new dynamics to any performance and create unique patterns and color blends to affect the mood and signal key elements of a show. Employing a mix of par cans, spot lights and custom gobos from Gobosource.com can help take any production to the next level and provide more versatility in how the actors and staging is presented.
