Strobe lights in American Idiot
Strobe lights in American Idiot
#1Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 9:15am
Hi there,
My family's coming to New York next month and American Idiot is one show we're interested in seeing. However, having seen them perform at the Tony Awards, I'm a little concerned about the strobe lights as my mother is prone to headaches when it comes to flashing lights. How frequent is the use of strobe lights in the show? Is the amount they use in the opening number exceptional or is the norm in several numbers?
I'm new here so I hope this subject hasn't already been brought up somewhere. Thanks in advance.
#2Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 9:32amI can't remember about actually strobe lights but if she gets headaches due to flashing lights it's not the show for her. It's all bright lights and incredibly loud music that had my ears ringing for a while.
silversurfer2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/07
#2Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 9:34amWell, they were worse during previews, they seem to have toned them down a bit. But the strobes are frequently used throughtout the show...the opening is the exception I believe. I had no problem with the lighting, but I am not prone to headaches. Perhaps seating in the Mezz might help, I believe they are more intense when sitting in the Orch. If this really bothers your Mom, perhaps this is not the show for her. Good Luck
#3Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 10:33amIf she's prone to headaches, don't take her to American Idiot.
#4Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 11:03amIt's excessive and the visual effects are nearly constant. If your mother is prone to problems from things like that, don't take her. I don't get headaches or anything from strobe lights, but I have trouble with prolonged intense visual effects like the show uses, and I would not sit through it again.
#5Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 11:08amThe flashing lights are pretty intense. I am not prone to head aches but managed to get a raging one during A.I.!
#6Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:15pmIf she likes musical theatre, don't take her to American Idiot.
#7Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:28pmThe onstage speakers are strobe lights and they use them often! Do not take her to this. It would give her a killer headache!
silversurfer2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/07
#8Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:31pmWhether you like it or not, AMERICAN IDIOT IS Musical theater...it's a FORM of musical theater.It may not be SOUTH PACIFIC and it wasn't intended to be, but it's here. What the poster should decide is if this is the TYPE of musical theater his Mother would enjoy, and if the Lighting design of the show would be too much for her.
#9Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:54pm
I would avoid AI as well. My mother is also prone to migranes and I would never consider taking her to see the show. Not that she would want to anyway.
Maybe we can suggest another alternative. I took my mom to see Everyday Rapture for mother's day and she liked it a lot.
DvnMichael
Swing Joined: 5/8/10
#10Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 4:35pm
I would say definitely avoid the show. The visual effects that could cause headaches are not limited to strobes...but the projections used could definitely cause problems as well.
I'm a big fan of rock musicals and loved the lighting but the show was not my favorite...if you haven't seen Next To Normal go see it instead...same lighting designer but much less use of strobes...haha.
#11Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 6:30pm
Thank you all for your advice. While my family does know what kind of theater American Idiot is and would have liked to experience it, it doesn't sound like it's an option for this trip.
We have seen and very much enjoyed Next to Normal. Any other Broadway or Off-Broadway recommendations are more than welcome.
#12Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 6:33pmI'd recommend La Cage Aux Folles if you haven't seen that...I loved it.
AudreyTwoTwo
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/06
#13Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 7:53pm
La Cage is awesome, or even Rock of Ages! I haven't seen it, but my mom saw it and loved it. I'm hopefully going tomorrow.
#14Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:17pmI recall in an interview, the lighting designer joking being responsible for "the annoying strobe lights every 45 seconds". It's pretty frequent.
BlackCabbiTabbi
Stand-by Joined: 5/9/09
#15Strobe lights in American Idiot
Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:47pmI want to see AI too and I don't mind the strobe lights usually but how excessive are they? IE: That one scene from Gypsy 08 with the strobe lights was making me a little uneasy after a while... is it like that? Worse? Then again I was front row, so maybe a bit back would of been better.
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