ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Project: Essence Music Festival 2011

Location: Mercedes Benz Superdome. New Orleans. UA

Clients: Essence Communications Inc. & Rehage Entertainment

EXECUTION:  The narrative for the Production Design was founded in Austrian-Hungarian architect Adolf Loose's 1928 design for Josephine Baker’s Paris residence. The Baker House, with its black & white striped marble facade, was never built but lent inspiration finding its way into Beese’s Production Design for the Essence Music Festival. Differing from last year’s design, this year’s production and stage design needed not only to work with but also to adapt itself within the brand new parameters of the recently renovated Louisiana Superdome. Being the first production on new territory, the team had the challenge of finding new rigging points in the ceiling while adjusting the sidelines from previous years. A newly configured lighting rig with brand new fixtures was installed, as an adaptation of the 20th chandeliers in big ballrooms. This rig fulfilled the center stage upper cavity with lights during the evening performances. Managing Execution of design execution, onsite creative direction during event production.

RETROSPECTIVE: Live Design Magazine and Lighting & Sound America