Setting the stage with spandex

The Essence Music Festival brings together African American artists, activists and achievers for the largest concert, education and empowerment event in the nation. Setting the stage at the 2010 event for luminaries such as Bill Cosby, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys wasn’t easy, but RE:BE Design of New Orleans, La., rose to the challenge.

The main stage in the Louisiana Superdome featured a sculpted stage developed with 35,000 square yards of white and silver spandex over a truss substructure. Custom videos and magnified live images projected above, behind and on two curved walls that framed the performers. All surfaces were striped with Barco LED MiStrips to mix light and visual content. The intent of Stefan Beese, the stage designer, was to merge the traditionally separate scene and screen elements and allow for infinite variability in appearance. Certain surfaces tilted toward the audience, allowing people in the upper levels of the Superdome a good view of the show.