The Great Qin

Programming 500+ fixtures across a non-traditional venue required rethinking conventional theater programming workflows. The performance space was not a single proscenium stage but a series of interconnected areas where action moved fluidly, requiring lighting that could follow the narrative across vast distances.

Communication added another layer of complexity. Working internationally in China meant navigating language barriers, different electrical standards, and coordinating with local crews who were experienced with spectacle shows but less familiar with Broadway-style programming workflows. Every instruction and programming decision needed to be clearly documented and transferable.

The console setup used an ETC Eos Apex as the primary desk with a backup processor for redundancy — essential for a show that runs nightly with no understudies for the technical system. The network was a hybrid sACN and Art-Net infrastructure to accommodate both ETC and third-party fixtures.

The production opened successfully and continues to run as a permanent installation in Xi'an, serving as both a cultural attraction and a testament to what's possible when Broadway-caliber design meets large-scale immersive spectacle. The show file and programming documentation I created enable local operators to maintain and run the show independently.