Christina Aguilera Stripped

Pop sensation and Grammy award winner Christina Aguilera has always attracted large crowds. Her unique vocal style, seductive looks and show stopping talent make sure of that. And now, with a CD and tour entitled Stripped, it’s no surprise she’s selling out everywhere she goes. Like fellow former Mickey Mouse clubber Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera has shed her teen pop image in favor of a more mature, provocative style.

After touring the U.S. in a double headline show with Justin Timberlake, she is now out on her own and proving her stuff in Europe.

LD Barry Halpin
The European tour kicked off in September in Hamburg before playing Denmark’s Forum in Copenhagen (pictures) and other European cities. Lighting director for the tour is Barry Halpin.

Barry created a stunning lighting design that includes inherited elements from Peter Morse’s design from the US tour. According to Barry, the show is essentially the same as the US show and the format is identical, but Barry has created his own looks and the fixture count has been curbed slightly.

Barry uses 90 MAC 600 wash lights, 40 MAC 2000 Profile, 30 MAC 500 profile spots, 20 MAC 300 wash lights, a single MAC 2000 Wash and a handful of other automated fixtures. Lighting supplier for the tour is Bandit Lites, including the European leg, after LSD/Fourth Phase supplied the Martin lighting for the US shows.

Workhorse MACs
Barry uses the 90 MAC 600s as basic fill across the entire stage, lining them on the main front trusses and on a runway on the floor. According to Barry they are the real workhorses of the show. “The 600s really bring the set out and are very good at creating depth. They can also create nice narrow beams.”

The MAC 2000 Profiles are flown on horizontal, flying arch trusses, as well as vertical truss elements on either side of the stage, but Barry generally uses them as color projectors. He admits that he doesn’t incorporate many gobo looks from the 2000 Profiles, using clean, open color and white projection onto the floor instead. A single MAC 2000 Wash with PC lens is used to backlight the metal jungle gym set piece. “It’s big enough to punch through but narrow enough to light just the box,” Barry states. He also uses MAC 500s to face the audience and to provide additional illumination, along with MAC 300s, onto the floor and set.

Christina Aquilera’s "Stripped Tour 2003" is currently touring Europe with Australia, Japan and other countries also on the schedule. The tour comprises a broad mix of songs, from earlier hits like Genie in a Bottle right up to her latest releases and even includes a classic Ella James number.

Crew:
Production Manager: Rob Kern
Lighting Director: Barry Halpin
Lighting Crew Chief: Roger Grybowicz
Lighting Technician: Jim Allison
Lighting Technician: Andy Cooper
Lighting Technician: Jason Hyne
Lighting Technician: Rob Starksfield