The Venice Performing Arts Center (VPAC) in Venice, Florida, has recently undergone a significant lighting upgrade with the installation of Elation FUZE PAR Z175 luminaires, facilitated by production and integration company Thunder City Pro. The venue, which previously relied on conventional Lekos and Fresnels for stage lighting, now offers an enhanced visual experience using state-of-the-art LED wash luminaires with dynamic color mixing and motorized zoom. 

“The goal was to incorporate color mixing and moving lights to enhance the concert experience,” stated Justin Stancil, President of Thunder City, who notes that the upgrade also included FOCUS SPOT 5Z moving heads from Elation sister company ADJ. “The new lighting system really allows for far more dynamic and exciting scenes for all of the concerts and theatrical shows they present.”

VPAC

VPAC, managed by the Venice Institute for Performing Arts, is home to The Venice Symphony, The Venice Concert Band, and The Venice Chorale, and serves as Venice High School Performing Arts Department’s main performance space. The 1,090-seat, multi-use performance venue plays a pivotal role in the Venice community, accommodating over 120 events annually, including concerts, plays, musicals, and lectures.

FUZE PAR Z175

Lighting requirements included RGBW color mixing with motorized zoom, as well as moving head luminaires for effects and gobo projections. Justin again turned to Elation’s FUZE series after having a good experience using the FUZE SFX LED Spot FX luminaire for an arena lighting upgrade at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, earlier in the year. This time he selected Elation’s FUZE PAR Z175, a full-color LED PAR light with single-lens RGBW COB LEDs that projects a single homogenous beam of light with an evenly lit lens face that appears as one color instead of individual LED diodes. The uniform lens replicates the classic look of old-school PAR lights and moving wash fixtures that so many designers and artists prefer.

“The FUZE PAR Z175 was a great fit because of the consistent field that its COB LED engine delivers,” Justin says, “and because of the flexibility the servo zoom allows when lighting a theatrical show or running effects for concerts. The RGBW COB engine, which creates a very nice even field of light, was essential as well as the fact that the zoom can be controlled from the lighting console, allowing venue personnel to perform dynamic zoom wave offsets between fixtures during concerts.” The ADJ FOCUS SPOT 5Z fixtures were chosen for their ability to perform rotating gobos, prism, focus, and zoom, all while being cost-effective. “Being able to create contrast with the color of the FUZE and the gobos from the FOCUS SPOTS is great. The FUZE fixtures give far more vivid colors than traditional lights with gels do.”

The installation, completed in October 2023, included 16 FUZE PAR Z175 and 4 ADJ FOCUS SPOT 5Z moving head fixtures. Thunder City Pro provided the fixtures and guided the installation process, while the VPAC team executed the installation. All fixtures are mounted on a truss at center stage and integrated into a fly rail system. This setup allows the fixtures to be flown above the curtains during theatrical shows and lowered to be exposed to the audience during concerts.

Thunder City Pro, based in nearby St Petersburg, Florida, provides its clients with tailored options, including complete design services, using the latest in state-of-the-art equipment. The Venice Performing Arts Center is now better equipped to elevate the quality of performances and events, reinforcing its importance as a cornerstone of the Venice community’s cultural scene.