In Memoriam: MI Industry Icon, Juan ‘JC’ Faxas, Passes at 59

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It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the industry mourns the loss of Juan ‘JC’ Faxas. A former employee of the ADJ Group of Companies and a beloved friend and colleague to many, JC sadly passed away unexpectedly on February 12, 2022. He leaves behind a devoted wife, two loving daughters, and many friends who were drawn to his outgoing personality, keen sense of humor, but most of all his big heart.

Juan Faxas, known to his many friends and colleagues as JC, was born on February 21st, 1962. At the age of six his family fled communist Cuba to build better lives for themselves in the United States. Settling in California, JC attended South California Military Academy, Long Beach, as well as Warren High School, and graduated in 1980. Music was a passion from an early age; JC enjoyed singing and playing guitar as well as playing other artistes’ music as a DJ. In 1977, while still at High School, he founded Discomania and performed at weddings and parties throughout Los Angeles. He quickly expanded his business to larger venues and clubs through the late ‘80s, and continued to create music and produced his own dance records while also opening for some of the top dance acts of the day.

THE ‘ADJ REUNITED THRU LIGHT’ TOUR IS COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!

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The past 18 months have been challenging for everyone, especially those working in the entertainment industry. With live events taking place again, there is a huge appetite for re-connecting face-to-face with industry friends and colleagues. Having spent the pandemic staying connected and providing support to customers via email and phone calls, the members of the ADJ team are looking forward to hitting the road to reconnect in person with customers old and new.

Everyone involved with lighting, video or audio production at rental houses, integrators, theatres, houses of worship, mobile entertainers, schools and event companies are invited to attend one of these free events. Each tour stop will feature product demonstrations, hands-on product training with the new LINK controller, offer the opportunity to see new unreleased products, provide plenty of chances for informal networking, and a free product prize drawing for everyone who registers in advance and then attends in person.

Cumberland Theatre Chooses ADJ’s Focus Spot 5Z

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Established in 1988, the Cumberland is western Maryland’s only professional theatre, which produces an annual season of eight in-house productions. The theatre moved to its current location, a 200-seat converted church building, in 1991 and has become a staple of the local arts scene. Led by co-Creative Directors Kimberli Rowley and Rhett Wolford since 2016, the theatre produces a wide variety of shows, including both musicals and straight plays. Every production is developed in-house, with Rhett taking the lead on scenic design as well as technical aspects such as lighting.

When he took on the role of co-Creative Director, Rhett found himself working in a theatre that had an antiquated lighting setup that had not been upgraded since the building opened in the early ‘90s. Over the past five years he has led a program of technical renovations, as budgets have allowed, to introduce DMX control and LED light sources throughout the theatre. The latest phase of this upgrade process was to add in moving head luminaires that would provide added flexibility and creative potential, both for the productions – such as Ring of Fire – when Rhett serves as Lighting Designer himself and for those when outside LDs are brought in to add their creative flair to a show.