The Townsend Center for the Performing Arts proudly presents Lightwire Theater in their award-winning production Dino-Light on Thursday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. With dazzling visuals, an engaging musical score, and super high-tech theatrics, Dino-Light is an eye-popping display of storytelling unlike anything you have experienced before. Performances by Lightwire Theater include both classic tales and original shows. Dino-Light roars onto stage with dinosaurs, light sabers, a creative scientist, and plenty of fast-paced action.
Lightwire Theater is a unique group of individuals who are committed to bringing startling and engaging imagery to the stage. Created, choreographed, and directed by artistic directors Ian Carney and Corbin Popp, the production is rich in the technologically stunning visuals that today’s kids relish. By utilizing illuminated wiring, puppetry, and a troupe well versed in dance and movement, Lightwire Theater is able to bring simple, but elegant sketches to life. They also promote appreciation for puppetry and movement. It is a wonderful hour of fantasy that combines ancient, wordless storytelling with modern technology and music.
The performers carry off this action with tremendous skill and grace, easily captivating the audience and allowing them to become fully invested in the journey. Each member is required to suit up in black before being covered in whatever wiring is needed to conjure up the creatures appearing on stage at the time, so their anonymity is assured. Watching Lightwire is an exhilarating experience, and a literal feast for the eyes and ears, with atmospheric sound cues and music neatly syncing up to the movements to produce a complete picture.
Ian and Corbin, the show’s creators, met while dancing in Twyla Tharp's Broadway show Movin' Out. Becoming fast friends through their mutual love of art, theater, and technology, Corbin showed Ian a product called EL wire and their creative partnership took off. EL wire is electroluminescent wire powered by batteries and is used mostly to illuminate walkways, signs, and instrument panels on cars.
But how does the wire work? It all starts out with a basic copper wire that conducts electricity. When turned on, the electricity runs through these wires and makes the phosphor surrounding the copper wires glow. Lightwire Theater puts neon colored plastic tubing around the wires to create the dazzling colors you see on stage.
Dino-Light brings to life the thrilling story of a scientist who creates his very own dinosaur. As the dinosaur wanders out on a journey, he finds a world of creatures who light up the darkness, along with a light saber fight. The tale is told entirely through the movements, dance, and facial expressions of the puppets, with no dialogue involved. Music fitting the mood of each scene accompanies the performance. The performers wearing the costumes are invisible, and so the brightly lined characters really come to life.
Ian and Corbin quickly built rudimentary versions of the two main characters, Professor Henslow and the Dinosaur. Then, with the help of their wives, Eleanor Carney and Whitney Popp, they began to build the rest of their puppetry-based creatures and flesh out the original story. Relocating from New York City to New Orleans, they continued the creative process. It was here, in the Katrina ravaged city, that the show began to take shape. The
result, after years of engineering and development is Dino-Light. Truly unique and visually dazzling, Dino-Light, recipient of the prestigious Jim Henson Foundation Grant, is an innovative theatrical experience lauded by audiences and critics all over the Americas and Europe.
Dino-Light begins the 26th season of performances at the University of West Georgia’s Townsend Center. This season includes seven shows ranging from glowing dinosaurs to A Celtic Christmas this fall to the Manhattan Transfer and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers later in the season. Each show is reserved seating with reserved and premium seating sections and discounting for demographics such as seniors and children. Patrons can purchase a single show or as many shows as they like.
Lightwire Theater will perform at 7:30 p.m. on October 30 in the Townsend Center main stage. Tickets start at $12 and $15 for adults, with discounts available for seniors, military, children, and groups. Tickets may be purchased Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in person at the Townsend Center or by calling 678-839-4722. Tickets can also be purchased online anytime at www.townsendcenter.org.
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