Elation Lighting & Video Enhances “The Thorn”
Popular touring Passion Play made even more inspirational using state-of-the-art entertainment technology
Passion Plays, traditional theatrical depictions of the life and death of Jesus, have been an Easter season staple for centuries and the modern-day touring production “The Thorn,” with a full Elation lighting and LED video package, is arguably one of the best.
“The Thorn,” which has been staged yearly since 1998, breaks from ritual and adopts a more dramatic form, fusing Cirque du Soleil-type aerials, martial arts and state-of-the-art entertainment technology with emotionally powerful performances. This year, the play raised the visual drama even further through use of a dynamic package of Elation Platinum Series and LED-based moving heads, LED Par and effect lights, and LED video displays with haze and special fog effects from Antari.
Illuminate Production Services (www.lightingips.com) of Sacramento provided nearly all of the lighting equipment, labor and production management for the five-week, five-state tour, which was out throughout March and was seen by nearly 75,000 people. Each year more than 60 professional and volunteer cast and crew join “The Thorn” to take the show on the road. In each city, the touring cast and crew is joined by hundreds of local actors and artists to bring the story to life.
