grandMA Treats Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour To A Tasty Triumph

BY: David Steinberg

November 12th, 2008

A maverick meld of old and new - Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour, rolling across Europe and the Americas fall and winter 2008, depends upon MA Lighting’s grandMA lighting consoles to fill the dish for a dazzling display. A.C.T Lighting is the exclusive distributor of the grandMA in North America.

Also used on Madonna’s last tour, grandMA is our board of choice,” reflects lighting programmer Troy Eckerman. This year’s tour integrates some new technology into the mix, including Martin’s Stagebar 54 LED luminaires. Eckerman attests that for this type of show, “90 percent is all about key lighting for her. We’re presenting a very big picture - very high trim and a very white stage.” The out-in-front B stage, used a lot to bring Madonna closer to her audience, has four small lifts that come off of it to front of house. Video screens and archive tape serve to supplement the look.

The prestigious Sticky & Sweet Tour lighting fleet, headed by designer Roy Bennett, also includes director Mac Mossier and programmer Cory FitzGerald. “We’re using two consoles on line,” says Eckerman, “used in the multiuser to program. And Syncrolite large format lighting systems are playing a key role in this year’s tour.” All equipment was supplied by PRG.

Well-suited to such applications as concert touring, musical events, theatres, clubs, television, amusement parks or cruise ships, the grandMA can control moving lights, conventional lights, and effects, as well as LEDs and video - even when working in real time with maximum channel count. grandMA provides a flexible and ergonomically pleasing programming and operating environment and is capable of controlling huge numbers of devices seamlessly.

“Madonna’s lit so properly on every performance for this tour,” states Eckerman, “that they can take any of our shows and turn it into a DVD or TV show.” He points to what he likes best about grandMA: “It’s always stable. grandMA,” he concludes, “is absolutely great!”

“We are honored to work with Roy Bennett on another production. He really pushes the limits of control. Troy, Corey and Mac are all very talented. When you add up the credits of this team, you have a “who’s who” of concert lighting. The grandMA is ideally suited to provide the level of show control that they demand,” notes A.C.T Lighting CEO and President Bob Gordon.