MACs Keep Branson Shining Bright

Branson, Missouri, touted as the “live music capital of the world” after a tremendous boom in the ‘80s and ‘90s, was once a sleepy town nestled in the Ozark Mountains. That was then.

Today, this “country-style Vegas” boasts over 40 live theatres, as well as amusement parks, museums and a whole lot more. Starlite Entertainment, a leading provider of quality entertainment and theatre management in Branson, operates several of those venues including Country Tonite Theatre, Kirby VanBurch Theatre, Starlite Theatre and Americana Theatre. Martin Professional lighting, supplied by Starlite, has been a staple in these venues for years. And now, with the installation of some of Martin’s newer fixtures like the MAC 550 and MAC 250 Krypton, Starlite is keeping Branson’s theatre community equipped with the latest in entertainment technology for years to come.

The Country Tonite Theatre features the “Country Tonite” show, a 10-year Branson favorite of singing, dancing and classic country music. Lighting designer Tiffany Westmoreland creates looks using Martin’s new fully loaded MAC 550 profile spots, along with MAC 250 Kryptons and MAC 300 wash lights to deal with the venue’s low trim height. “The 550s - the animation wheel and zoom, it’s just done right,” reports Starlite Entertainment.

At the Kirby VanBurch Theatre, ‘International Magician of the Year’ Kirby VanBurch performs beneath a new MAC 250 Krypton rig while at the Starlite Theatre it’s the traditional MACs that keep the show awash in color. The Starlite features “Lost in the 50s,” a trip down memory lane with classics from the ‘50s. Lighting designer Amy Andersen has 24 MAC 600 wash lights, 10 MAC 500 profile spots, 10 RoboScan 918 scanners and 6 MAC 300s at her disposal, all of which have been operating for the past six years off a Case Pro I console. It was reportedly the first moving head rig in Branson and has required very minimal maintenance over the years. Also, the Starlite Theatre’s giant glass atrium may soon be decorated with MAC 2000 Wash, ‘to get some glow out of the building.’

Finally, at the Americana Theatre lighting designer Brian McCloud uses 18 MAC 600s, 10 MAC 500s, 4 MAC 250+ profile spots and 2 MAC 2000 Profile, all run off of a Case Pro I+ console, for “Stuck in the 70’s”, a carefree journey through love songs and high-energy dance numbers from the late ´60s to the early ´80s.