Big musical numbers, whimsical props, flashy dance sequences — all are key parts of any Broadway musical, and the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of On The Twentieth Century delivers all of the above. From the moment the immaculately detailed show curtain goes up, RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless DMX and Dimming takes center stage, supporting a Tony award winning show that was also nominated for 4 Drama Desk Awards, 9 Outer Critics Circle Awards and 3 Drama League Awards.
“Almost every piece of scenery in this show uses wireless dimming, along with several props, most of which have multiple fixtures requiring wireless dimming. And the show’s main scenic element is a life-sized train automated on a free spinning turtle. This turtle transports the train up and downstage as well as left to right. The train contains over fifty individual lighting fixtures and we certainly cannot have cables following it,” explains Brian Maiuri, the I.A.T.S.E. Local One House Head and Production Electrician at the American Airlines Theatre.
Maiuri continues, “There are a number of reasons I opted to use the RC4Magic Series 3 devices, first of which is the dependability of the product. I have been using RC4 products for over ten years with consistent results, and their customer service is unparalleled.”
Small size is something RC4Wireless has been skillfully addressing for more than 20 years. Tiny dimmers aid prop people and electricians alike, as Maiuri explains. “There have been so many times that I’ve been handed a show prop that needs to light up, but there is virtually no space to hide the gear necessary to make that happen. Add the fact that the power requirement for 12V lamps sometimes exceeds 10 amps. On the Twentieth Century is one of those situations where two of the show’s props can only be accommodated with an RC4Magic Series 3 DMX4dim-500 high power dimmer pack because they are small enough to fit. We also have hundreds of LED pieces in the show and I favor the options that RC4Magic Series 3 provides for perfectly smooth dimming.”
In one of the dance numbers, hidden crosses are illuminated with LED tape, each controlled by an RC4Magic DMX4dim. On the stage deck, the large candelabra has been dimmed to push audience focus to the crosses. Each candelabra contains an RC4Magic DMX4dim-500.
RC4Wireless is proud to help Donald Holder, Lighting Designer, and David Rockwell, Set Designer, to Live Life Untethered, realizing their breath-taking vision for the show.
Since its debut last October, the RC4Magic Series 3 system has taken the world by storm, appearing in four new Broadway productions as well as garnering the PLASA Award For Innovation and an Honorable Mention at the LDI new product awards.
About RC4 Wireless
Winner of the 2014 PLASA Award for Innovation, RC4 Wireless has specialized in low-voltage dimming for arts and entertainment since 1991. RC4 products are used in top venues around the world, including New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and London’s National Theatre, and supporting touring artists including Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. RC4 products are recognized for their reliability and their compact size, making them ideal for easy integration into props, costumes, and set pieces.
About the Roundabout Theatre
Roundabout Theatre Company is a not-for-profit theatre dedicated to providing a nurturing artistic home for theatre artists at all stages of their careers, where the widest possible audience can experience their work at affordable prices. Roundabout fulfills its mission each season through the revival of classic plays and musicals; development and production of new works by established playwrights and emerging writers; educational initiatives that enrich the lives of children and adults; and a subscription model and audience outreach programs that cultivate loyal audiences.
