WFX Awards » Solomon Awards » Best Innovative Production

Nominee: Gateway Church

URL: www.gatewaypeople.com

Size: 2001+ seats

Description:

In 2010 Gateway Church presented a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Christmas Carol. This fun-filled and inspiring production added a riveting and innovative dimension to this classic Christmas tale. This production contained music by a full orchestra, thirteen on microphone actors, surround sound effects, cast containing 100 people including 40 techs. This production also featured aerial specialists ZFX Flying Effects, with Stage Technologies Las Vegas also playing a key role. ZFX Provided the flying Angel and Scrooge effects and Stage Technologies supplied 12 BT Lite packaged hoists and an Illusionist console, which controlled the over-stage battens along with the projectors and projection screens provided by ProSound. The installation also included motorized tracks for the house curtain and theatrical soft goods. The combination of these two companies and effects allowed for a full fly rig as well as very effective aerial effects that drew the audience into the production. Gateway Church’s “A Christmas Carol” was attended by over 20,000 people across three campuses using the technology of Riedel Mediornet. This fiber transmission allowed Gateway Church to provide a very interactive environment.

In 2009 this production featured the orchestra playing from a satellite campus over ten miles away from the main campus, while the acting came from the main campus. All aspects were synchronized together for a final product that translated like a Broadway show featuring a live orchestra in the building. All of the coordinated technical elements helped to achieve our main goal:  leading the congregation to a closer relationship with Christ and winning souls for the Lord.
*(Includes Article excerpts from PLSN Magazine)