How video is changing Broadway with the help of PRG

Rob Harris has been with PRG for over 10 years and in his current role serves as director of video projects based out of Secaucus in New Jersey. Working over half his life in various forms of production, Harris has had a hand in corporate shows, immersive touring exhibitions, Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals and everything in between.

Here he answers our questions about the use of video technology on Broadway.

Why has there been a surge in demand for advanced video production on Broadway?
Advancement in LED and projection technology is the leading cause of the increased popularity of video on Broadway.  Lamp-source projectors, which were big and required loud fans for cooling, have been replaced with laser sources which are brighter, smaller and quieter. This makes positioning them in the theatre less challenging.

High-resolution LED, which was out of reach for most theatrical budgets, is now commonly available and more affordable. Add to that the ever-evolving nature of computing power and media servers, design teams can more easily create complex, multi-synced output shows. Video can be manipulated to rapidly change scenes in a way that traditional set designs can’t. Before these advancements, video was used more as an effect in the theatre, and now it can be much more.

‘The David Byrne musical Here Lies Love is truly cutting edge due to the video system’s vastness and complexity’

Which productions are leading the way in this area?
The David Byrne musical Here Lies Love, which just opened on Broadway (projection design by Peter Nigrini) is truly cutting edge due to the video system’s vastness and complexity. Back To The Future The Musical is also using a lot of incredible LED and projection.  

But the thing that’s most interesting is the sheer number of Broadway shows that incorporated video in this past season — almost half of all the new shows produced, which is remarkable. And that it’s being used in plays, not just musicals which have bigger budgets. 

What role does the LED wall play in Back to the Future and what are its specs?
Video plays an important role in the show, not just LED. There are three 31K projectors as well. But the big LED wall acts as not just a backdrop for the action onstage but the visuals (projection design by Finn Ross) also facilitate the story-telling around time travel.

The LED wall is 39.37’ wide x 19.69’ tall made up of the new stunning ROE Graphite 3.9 tiles running on Brompton processing.  Brompton processing speaks for itself as the LED processing industry leader, and clear top dog. The Graphite stands out as a great-looking lightweight tile with a robust and easy-to-install locking system.

Back To The Future The Musical is remarkable for its use of LED and projection

What kind of 360 video experience can we look forward to in Here Lies Love?
Here Lies Love in person is a remarkable experience.  The entire theatre is encapsulated in visuals. It draws you in, but doesn’t distract from the performers. And you’ll have a different experience, depending on where you sit. The orchestra seats have been removed and that entire area is a performance space where actors and audience members mingle but there’s traditional seating in the balcony and mezzanine.

We built a giant monitor wall (52 monitors) at one end of the room that can be seen by everyone. And there are screens incorporated around the audience, a total of 29 projectors. Archival footage from news outlets is interwoven with live feeds of the performers. Not only does it engage the audience but it assists the narrative since not all audience members will be familiar with the Marcos/Aquino history.

What is PRG’s role in these productions and how has it changed over time?
For a long time in the theatre, video was expensive and technically difficult. Few producers wanted to incorporate it into shows and there weren’t a lot of designers who specialised in projection for theatre.

In this model, less was required of us (PRG). But with the explosion in video technology, we’ve really had to ramp up. We had to expand our expertise, we now have people who are experts in LED, projectors, media servers, networking, and more. We’re constantly evaluating equipment and technologies, so that we can bring that expertise to the table as we partner with designers, producers, general managers, video engineers to provide solutions that will serve the show but also fit the budget.

PRG works in multiple markets (TV/Film, corporate events, music) so sometimes we can offer a solution that we deployed in another market. And, last but not least, we’ve had to significantly increase our investment in new gear to support multiple shows simultaneously.

Is there anything else we should know?
For over 30 years, PRG has been a leading provider of services for major live entertainment productions, spanning concerts, corporate events, theatre, and more. The integration of video projection and cutting-edge technology has revolutionised our approach in enhancing a diverse array of projects across all sectors. We’re excited to continue to collaborate with our partners, leveraging the most advanced and exceptional innovations.

Rob Harris is director of video projects at PRG.