Daktronics Video Displays Add Color to Blue Man Group
Oct 14, 2005 3:19 PM
Daktronics, major supplier of large screen video displays and control systems, provided ProStar video displays and ribbon boards for the stage and lobby of the new theater designed specfically for Blue Man Group at The Venetian Las Vegas. The setup debuted on Oct. 10, displaying to the audience a unique, multi-sensory grand opening performance in a venue expressly created for Blue Man Group.
“This was such a custom display that we wanted a company that was committed to seeing the project through from design to implementation,” says Paul Ackerman, Blue Man Group’s production manager. “Daktronics’ willingness to make that commitment and ability to control their manufacturing and supply chain to fulfill that commitment was key to our choice. In addition, Daktronics’ strong sales and tech support presence in Las Vegas made the fit even more attractive.”
The onstage displays feature 4.4 trillion color capability. The ProStar video display has an impressive viewing area of 8ft. high by 15ft. wide with a 10mm. center-to-center pixel spacing. The rectangular video display is hung in the center of the stage and may be flown up or down from out of sight to stage level.
The full-color ribbon boards contain 277ft. of length, custom built into five different tracer pipe shapes resembling printed circuit boards. The five displays are referred to collectively as the “Matrix.” Mounted on five staggered stage levels, these circuit board displays flank the large video display, three on one side and two on the other. The performers access the levels by running up the spiral staircase behind each platform. The ribbon boards feature 6mm. pixel spacing.
“The onstage displays are used as an integral part of the overall production design, conceived by our founders, Chris Wink, Matt Goldman, and Phil Stanton, and executed by our production design team including Production and Lighting Design by Marc Brickman and Video Design by Carly Glaab. Their physical shape is part of the set,” explains Ackerman. “When lit, they are used not only to convey video content of text and images, but also used as a light source to backlight the performers with different colors. They act as a palette to change the color and look of the set.”
The approximately 4ft. by 28ft., 6mm. video display in the lobby runs video clips of the performances and other Blue Man Group footage to attract people and inform patrons about the show and the group.
ProStar technology, which is HD-ready, uses the latest in RGB light emitting diode LED technology to present live and recorded video images, colorful animation, and vivid graphics with incredible brightness and wide angle visibility. Daktronics’ Venus 7000 controller and V-Link video processor operate the new video display.
