Backstage

Into Egypt

Published in November 2006
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Jacksonville, Fla.-based PRI Productions dazzled attendees of Event Solutions’ Fabulous Showcase Event, which was held at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver on the third night of The Idea Factory 2006. Employing all the natural facets of the amphitheater, which is carved out of multitextured stone, PRI created an environment reflecting all things Egyptian.

The company filled the entire 60-foot by 70-foot stage with innovatively designed décor rich in Egyptian ambiance, and even the numerous bars and lounges captured the feeling. Egyptian statues, pyramids and pillars were arranged throughout the space so that the theme enchanted from every angle. Even the music bore out the theme — the DJ was costumed as the Egyptian sun god Ra, and he certainly put his superpowers to work transforming the entire space into a dance floor. PRI truly awed the many event professionals attending Event Solutions’ signature event.

  1. Suspended from trussing, 40-foot-long panels of white sheers moved in the wind, imbuing the event with a mystical feel. A custom 40-foot-tall by 70-foot-wide sheer copper lava drape purchased from Dazian Fabrics was created to impede the wind and confine the space for effect.

  2. A large central chandelier, measuring 15 square feet with a 15-foot drop, and four additional chandeliers each measuring 8 square feet with 8-foot drops, were designed and fabricated by PRI. Jewel-toned fabrics were procured from Pago Fabrics, and shimmering strands of beads came from Wild Things.

  3. The space required 500 feet of truss, in addition to 48 feet of curved truss, to create the effect. The perimeter truss was constructed of two 70-foot legs, one upstage and one down, and two 60-foot legs, one at stage left and one at stage right. The inner truss was constructed of four 12-foot curved truss sections at the corners connected with 20 feet of strait truss between each curved piece, creating a 26-foot by 26-foot square truss with round corners. The center chandelier was suspended from the inner truss by 500-pound test aircraft cable. Hanging it from four individual points allowed it to sway with the wind instead of spinning or swinging uncontrollably.

  4. PRI provided lounge furniture, lighting the lounge and bar areas with both intelligent and conventional lighting fixtures. Seating areas were lit with a combination of Source Four ellipsoidal lights and gelled with specific colors. Additional Source Four Jr. ellipsoidal lights with rotating dichroic cut glass gobos painted moving colors over the seating areas.

  5. A Ra statue, designed and fabricated by PRI, was elevated onto a 7-foot-tall scaffold. Steps leading up to the god himself were lit with circular medallions of light. DJ Pharoah Phil (provided by East Coast Entertainment) mixed music throughout the night on an altar-like table that was staged in front of the statue.

  6. Projections played across the copper lava backdrop of the amphitheater thanks to high-output video projection and custom themed video produced in-house by PRI. Floating images were also projected onto the rock with Source Four ellipsoidal lights with gobo inserts and Martin Mac 500 moving lights changing pattern and color.

Backstage submissions must include a print-quality digital photo (6 inches by 8 inches at 300 dpi) or high-quality print, a 100-word description of the event, plus highlighted vendor information (company name, city and state). E-mail submissions to pat@event-solutions.com.