CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - Wishing is said to be a close cousin of hope. And hope, as philosophers remind us, “springs eternal,” crucial to our identity as humans. Perhaps this is why the ancient Etruscan custom of breaking a wishbone for the chance of having a dream come true continues to resonate today!

This timeless energy runs through multi-platinum singer Conan Gary’s aptly named “The Wishbone Pajama Show Tour,” which kicked off September 11 outside Cleveland and concludes October 19 in Monterrey, Mexico. Fans who are packing large venues on the uplifting 19-city tour aren’t merely seeing Gray perform, they are joining him on an intimate personal journey (the kind often shared at a pajama party!), that winds its way through tales of love, discovery, identity, myriad other emotional states, and of course hope.

Gray begins this transcendent journey by entering the stage wearing a sailor’s outfit and riding a bicycle. Then, after kicking up his kickstand, he breaks into an inspired rendition of “My World.” Fans, many of whom come to the show attired in pajamas or equally relaxed attire, love it!  They remain emotionally connected to Gray as he moves through dramatic costume changes, including pajamas, which he dons when performing from a bed. 

All of this is set against a dreamy backdrop that sometimes evokes Wizard of Oz like imagery. A lush and inviting stage production, conceptualized by the singer himself in collaboration with creative director / set designer Benjamin Dupont from Moment Factory, creates a panoramic theatrical environment that allows the mood of the show to flourish.

Helping to bring this production design to life is an artfully developed lighting design by Mikki Kunttu that features CHAUVET Professional COLORado PXL Curve 12 battens and Color STRIKE M motorized strobe-washes supplied by 4Wall Entertainment.

“We wanted to present the show in an atmosphere that bows toward the tradition of theater rather than your average modern pop show,” Kunttu said, explaining the creative vision behind the production.  “The core idea of the visual comes from Conan and Ben. I believe a lot of this core idea was transmitted in the end with lighting. I really liked the idea of this show from the start, as it has a different depth than just delivering maximum impact type visuals song after song. This approach could work more with the dynamics of the stage -- and that is really theatrical. 

“The  ‘most traditional theatre looks’ were what we were after, and they are really, really good,” continued Kunttu. “There are no beams there is no texture in the air. It is more the simplicity and the dynamic of classical ballet, I would say. It's kind of like borrowing from Bournonville ballet visuals or something in that direction.”

Adding a distinctive visual element to the backdrop is its split LED screen. This allows the band to be elevated and become part of the imagery on the upper part of the screen. The design team uses this screen to create dramatically different backdrops. At some points the colors displayed on the two screens are sharply different (i.e. bold red and bold blue), resulting in vividly contrasting images. At others, the bottom screen displays evocative scenes, which the top screen matches perfectly, making it appear as if the backup musicians are in a setting other than the stage.

Amplifying the impact of the backdrop even further, Kunttu sometimes has the backup musicians in silhouettes. The band often becomes a part of the background image -- it is like a living painting,” he explained. “For me the silhouettes belong to beginnings and ends of the songs, transitions and so on. Oftentimes in this show, they also play a practical role, as I try my best to hide the misery of set changes, instrument changes and so on.”

Also working to create a deeply immersive backdrop are 20 CHAUVET Professional PXL Curve 12 battens. Arranged in a line across the stage deck and across the riser at the base of the upper video wall, the motorized RGBW linear fixtures create a two-layered backlight for Gray and the musicians. They are also used to create points of light to punctuate some darker scenes, such as when Gray is in a bed.

The 32 Color STRIKE M fixtures in the rig are flown in four rows over the stage. In addition to serving as blinders and strobes, the intensely bright fixtures are called upon to accent the stage in rich, evocative colors that add to the dreamy atmosphere, which one music critic described as being “as comfortable as a sleepover.”

"Reflecting the mood on stage, the vibe behind the scenes was uplifting and harmonious yet focused,” reported Kunttu. “This is a great team to work with. Besides Conan and the band, Benjamin, and Moment Factory,  there are Eddie Wintle from management; tour manager Austin Luna, production manager Larry Barcello, stage manager Carter Hayes; lighting programmer Alex Hautamäki; and Lighting / video operator Tiberius Benson, along with the Fairless Creative content team. And of course, not to forget the whole audio, screens and lighting crew, who are all taking good care of this baby."

Together, this team has executed many memorable moments on the tour, including one when Conan Gray invites a lucky fan to “break” a digital wishbone with him. The winner who draws the long bone gets to pick the next song in the set. It is quite an honor… and it ensures that in this beautiful pajama party world, wishes can indeed come true.

About CHAUVET Professional
CHAUVET Professional offers innovative professional lighting fixtures for the production and touring market as well as permanent installation in theaters, hospitality venues, cruise ships, clubs, television and architainment applications.