Since 2000, Wheeler Productions' 'Magic On Ice' Ice Skating Illusion Spectacular has combined the graceful athletics of world class figure skating, the mystical world of grand illusion and the artistic innovations of the performing arts, resulting in stunning performances unrivaled in originality and theatrics. Created by illusionist Steve Wheeler, this jaw-dropping show utilizes the talents of some of the most creative designers and engineers in today’s entertainment world. Fabulous costumes, scenery, heart-pounding music and gorgeous lighting complete the experience.
Lighting designer Emiliano Morgia is one of these creative designers, bringing several decades of experience in the industry creating truly unique stage lighting looks. Entrusted by Wheeler Productions to create the lighting for the group's recent residency at the Samsung Blue Square Theater in Seoul, South Korea, Morgia used High End Systems' Hog 4 control technology to streamline programming and operation of his lighting rig. "It's such a magical show to be a part of," says Emiliano, "with over 21,500 spectators in ten show days. I was able to completely pre-program the show in my Lighting Solutions design studio in Italy using WYSIWYG and the Hog 4 PC, while the show director was in Mexico. Thanks to a VPN connection, we were able to share the screen and music, and we also used a VOIP connection to communicate."
Once Morgia received a blueprint of the Blue Square Theatre, Nick Calthrop of Calthrop Design created a virtual 3D model of the theatre, allowing the LD to go to work on his design for the show, which included a variety of MAC and Clay Paky automated lights, 30 Lumi 300s and a dozen Atomic strobes. "Once we arrived the venue," Emiliano explains, "the Hog 4 PC system made it so easy to tweak the dimmer levels to create the perfect look on the stage. One huge advantage was that the show was programmed using the MIDI input of the HOG4; we first created marks on the Digital Performer timeline and then created a cue for each of the marks - for a total of 400 cues per hour in a single Cue List! The cues were frame accurate, and it was a joy to see how accurate the programming can be thanks to the fast processor of the HOG 4. The response during the performance was just stunning."
A veteran Hog 3 programmer, Morgia found it effortless to navigate the new control platform. "Jumping from Hog 3 to Hog 4 was a seamless process," he says, "as you just turn on the desk and start programming in a second. Taking advantage of the new features of the Hog 4 came quite naturally. Thanks to the MIDI macros in the Hog 4, we have been able to start and stop Digital Performer where required, making the HOG 4 the centerpiece of the show control system."
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