The spectacular 1600-seat auditorium of the American Music Theatre is consistently touted by countless celebrities as one of the best in the country. The 55,000-square-foot facility rests on over seven acres of rolling Lancaster landscape. Past the pristine facade (and the traffic-satiating parking lots) lies a host of immaculate chambers crowned by a 56-foot stage. The American Music Theatre wields an award-winning suite of big-name productions; guests like the Beach Boys, Three Dog Night, and the Temptations demonstrate the quality and scale of the AMT.

The spectacular programs at the American Music Theatre are driven both by artistic excellence and by the facility's technical eminence. State-of-the-art sound and visual technologies are employed to deliver an immersive, exuberant experience. The critically acclaimed original productions, comfortable facilities, and unparalleled talent employed have earned it the title "Lancaster's Entertainment Showplace."

The AMT prides itself on indulging its audience. The Theatre uses 20% fewer seats than others of equivalent size, and deliberately uses the extra room to widen the aisles and increase personal space. The auditorium is only thirty rows deep and tiered seating on all levels, with handicapped-accessibility.  The end result is that every guest in the house can clearly see the entirety of the magnificent stage.

The American Music Theatre's proximity to the best restaurants and hotels and Lancaster makes it ideal for corporate events. Businesses are encouraged to book the entire facility for meetings, conferences, or parties. The grand lobby can be converted into a dining room, the public can be shut out, and either hors d'oeuvres or full catered meals can be comfortably served. Of course, despite the building's grace, the centerpiece of the evening is the stage. With all attention on the performance itself, it is essential that the quality of the production is as high as possible.

SAGE Delivers:

When the American Music Theatre realized the potential for flexible projection technology, they came to SAGE for guidance. Senior Technician Paul Gurkhoff worked closely with theatrical personnel to determine the needs of the facility. AMT Video Director James Hall, Lighting Designer Dan Evanisko, and Production Manager Andy Garman, all collaborated with SAGE to outline the requirements of their respective departments.

The American Music Theatre needed to make a brighter impact on its audience. They wanted a projector capable of producing high-definition stage graphics and colorful show backgrounds. It would need to be powerful: the advanced stage lighting already in place threatened to interfere. Moving lights, follow spots, and tinted washes would need to remain uninhibited to preserve the overall crisp experience. Beam-accentuating stage fog (used to enhance overhead lights) would also be difficult to effectively penetrate. The fog effect would not only deflect the projection; it could be potentially detrimental to the equipment itself, which relies on fresh, clean air for cooling. Finally, the new projector would need to be suspended in a specific location to utilize the local power, control, and video cabling.

Sanyo Professional PLC-XF46N/E Projector:

Stage Technology Solutions:

The new Sanyo PLC XF-46N provides the edge the AMT needs to project background art without muddling the theatrical effects. The new projector competes with the lighting in place with an incredible 12,000 lumens of brightness. It punches through the fog and stage illumination to deliver almost any color-loaded content.

What's more, the XF-46N can go totally dark. Typically, true blackout is impossible to achieve, since the projected "black" image is light-based. SAGE chose the MKII Flapper DMX-addressable douser/shutter, which is designed specifically for proper stage blackouts.

Equipment Highlights :

Sanyo PLC-XF46N Four high-output 300-watt HP bulbs for 12,000 lumens Wide-Angle and Standard Throw lenses for 14-40'-wide images MKII Flapper Shutter/Douser DMX control Automatic configurations, adjustable manual speed, and position points Projector Protector Edirol video processing Chief Ceiling Mount

Preparing for the Future:

The PLC-XF42N, powered on a single 20A/120V circuit, brings vivid clarity and color to the American Music Theatre. The entire assembly is suspended by a robust, capable Chief Ceiling Mount. SAGE's Paul Gurkoff installed a Projector Protector to both process the harsh environment, saving the hardware from the dazzling stage effects, and to extend the operational lamp life.