The Sphere continues to set the standard not just for Vegas, but for the world. After U2 inaugurated the unique space, Phish and Moment Factory took the canvas in a different direction with a four-show mini-series, each show different from the next both sonically and visually, that bring a Sphere twist to the band’s 40-year run of unique shows—never the same show twice.
“From the moment we first heard about Sphere and its potential, we’ve been dreaming up ways to bring our show to this breathtaking canvas,” said Trey Anastasio, Phish guitarist and vocalist. “We’re thrilled to present this completely unique experience to Phish fans.”
Sphere is powered by next-generation technologies, including a 160,000 sq. ft. LED display inside the main venue bowl that wraps up, over, and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. At 16K x 16K, it is the highest resolution LED screen on earth. The venue also features Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, the world’s most advanced concert grade audio system, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest.
Phish at Sphere in Las Vegas marks the latest collaboration between Moment Factory and the prolific rock band, continuing a long-term creative partnership.
In collaboration with Phish, Show Director Abigail Rosen Holmes and Lighting Designer Chris Kuroda, Moment Factory co-created the shows, contributing to stage design and content production with Atomic Design and Tait. Supporting the world’s largest screen, the team introduced a future-forward approach to real-time generative video content.
Each night, set apart by a curated setlist and impromptu jam sessions, explores a unique theme inspired by a state of matter: solids, liquids, gas, and plasma. These themes are expressed through a custom orchestration of music, visuals, and lighting.
The visuals merge scenographic elements, 360° live performance capture, and technologies including Unreal and Notch, as well as the use of pre-rendered imagery and AI-generated visuals.
Video Is being executed through Sockpuppet (which fully implements DMX & OSC controls into Disguise software on a grandMA3), with programming by Benjamin Roy, Earlybird, and additional programming by Andrew Giffin. Content includes pre-rendered pieces, as well as generative content created with Unreal and Notch. The primary disguise server system is in-house to MSG with additional equipment, programming, and processors — and technical support provided by Fuse.
Moment Factory also built a mini-dome for test viewings at its Montreal home base, allowing the show’s many artists to work in virtual reality to evaluate their visualizations and CG from every angle in a digital replica of the Sphere, minimizing the inevitable surprises on site and setting up a template that could be dialed up or down to suit the room and the evening. The collaboration took the Sphere to yet another level as a living breathing interactive space.
The Vegas Sphere isn’t the only Pro AV wonder in town. Voltaire at the Venetian is also a new kind of entertainment space, featuring architectural and theatrical lighting by design studio Lightswitch, with Elation luminaires playing an essential role in crafting its atmosphere.
“I think it’s interesting to compare and contrast those two modalities, two totally different experiences and two ways of thinking about entertainment,” Lightswitch principal John Featherstone said of Sphere and Voltaire. “Both venues offer experiences pushed to the extremes, one a massive edifice of technology that immerses you in a grand experience, and the other a beautiful, small, intimate space that offers a remarkably personal experience.” There is a need for both, he emphasizes, so that people can curate the kind of experience they want.
Lightswitch were brought to the project by environmental and scenic designer Derek McLane, a frequent Lightswitch collaborator. Lightswitch curated the aesthetic for Voltaire, drawing upon their expertise in architectural lighting design, theatrical system design, and entertainment creation. Norm Schwab, principal at Lightswitch’s San Francisco office, collaborated with Featherstone on the cross-disciplinary project.
Guests are enveloped in an opulent, art-deco0inspired ambiance, complete with plush furnishings and reflective surfaces, creating an irresistibly cozy environment. A runway with satellite stage and wrap-around audience add to the immersive design that, according to Featherstone, is about “being in something rather than watching something.”
Emphasizing flexibility and variety, entertainment impresario and Voltaire creator Michael Gruber envisioned a repertory-style venue accommodating diverse artists and performances. Conceived as an immersive environmental experience, Voltaire hosts a dynamic range of performances, offering a pre-party, show, and after-party all within the same space.
Video AV innovation is factoring in venues of all sizes. The Strat Theater inside Las Vegas’ iconic Strat Hotel recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation under the guidance of SPI Entertainment, the production team behind many of the city’s most buzzed-about immersive attractions including the Boyz II Men residency at The Mirage, Mike Tyson’s Undisputed Truth at the MGM Grand, which found its way to Broadway and HBO, and the Excalibur Hotel’s Thunder from Down Under, one of the longest running productions in Las Vegas history.
After assuming management of the Strat Theater in late 2021, SPI Entertainment set out to preserve and update the venue’s old-school Vegas charm–complete with booth seating and an intimate “loungy” vibe–and combine it with video, lighting, and audio technologies, including a unique new controller for LED walls.
The crown jewel of the new Strat Theater is a fully immersive 11-screen video system from the team at ATS-Pro. The main video wall spans the entire width and height of the stage, with two flanking displays completing the forward view. Eight additional displays are positioned down the sides of the venue, allowing the SPI production team and visiting artist to envelop the audience with their most imaginative ideas in stunning 4K detail. The immersive experience is further enhanced thanks to a Martin Audio WPC Series Line Array system and Martin Audio SX218 subs. An Avid S6L production console handles the mix, while a state-of-the-art lighting and fog systems round out the experience.
“Updating an existing venue with the newest production tech can sometimes present installation challenges, especially with a video system at this scale,” explained Eric D’Richards, General Manager at the Strat Theater. “We did a lot of research into available technologies and expertise, but Chris and the team at ATS had so much knowledge, and such a clear vision for the space. They suggested the Taylorleds WS series for their visual performance and versatile installation options.”
ATS-Pro explored stacking vs. hanging the large main display but ultimately chose to floor-stack the panels as a way to minimize the stage-to screen distance, while maximizing the overall visual space. The simplicity of Taylorleds’ combined data and power connections dramatically streamlined the installation process, eliminating much of the clutter and complexity associated with more conventional LED displays.
“We love the single connector for power and data,” explained Technical Manager Jeremy Frayne. “There’s a simple input and output connector on each module that aligns perfectly with the next module in the chain. It’s essentially a cable-less system that eliminates the time and mess of running separate power and data wires for each module. I felt like I was building Legos with my son. I couldn’t believe how fast and easy it was.”
Existing architectural columns along the side walls inspired the ATS-Pro team to incorporate 8 additional Taylorleds screens – one for each of the four columns on the left and right. “I think of these screens as the perfect windows to the world,” expressed ATS-Pro’s CEO Chris Pelzar. “We can pick any landscape, from anywhere, and fully wrap the audience in that environment. Or we can take the audience down The Strip, with cars whizzing by and The Strat Hotel in the distance. The creative possibilities are endless.”
To integrate all 11 screens, ATS-Pro opted for Novastar’s flagship H Series video splicing processor. The industry’s first all-in-one splicing and control solution, the H Series greatly simplifies installation complexity by eliminating the need for a separate controller at each screen. In addition, a modular design allows venues to easily scale up by simply adding or upgrading cards as more screens are added. The entire video system is easily accessed through a browser-based user interface that delivers system-wide control without the limitations and frustrations of OS-level compatibility.
“We’re honored to have taken part in the H Series launch, having immediately recognized its potential as an absolute game changer,” explained Pelzar. “ATS-Pro is unique in that we approach video displays as fully integrated systems, with processing equally as important as the LED panels. Taylorleds shares our perspective, and they optimized their displays to leverage the H Series’ capabilities fully.”
The Strat Theater has already benefitted from ATS-Pro’s foresight, with the eight side-mounted LED displays coming online some 11 months after the forward three displays. Novastar’s modular design made expanding system control as simple as upsizing the H Series cards.
“The incredible staff at SPI Entertainment have fully embraced the power of the Taylorleds and Novastar H Series combination to realize an incredible creative vision–one that keeps evolving and expanding in the most amazing ways,” concluded Pelzar.
“I love watching artists react when they first enter the room,” explained SPI Entertainment’s CEO and Founder Adam Stack The video is so impactful and unexpected. It’s one of our strongest selling points.”
In 2023, The Strat hosted over 1000 shows, including 16 sold-out shows with Sammy Hagar, The Circle, as well as Cheap Trick, Rick Springfield, Morris Day & The Time, Night Ranger with Stephen Pearcy, and The Wallflowers.
This month, ventriloquist and comedian Terry Fator begins a totally original production that takes full advantage of The Strat Theater’s audio and video capabilities and eleven screens.
