Epson brings flexible laser projection to Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

A wide range of laser projectors, with interchangeable lenses, of Epson equip the six performance halls of this modern American cultural facility for its numerous and varied stage productions.

He Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center of the University of Maryland, It is a state-of-the-art facility that has six performance rooms, in which more than 1.200 events per year.

With the commitment to foster creativity, education and performance, This center houses a music school and a theater school, dance and performance studies, in addition to an artistic platform called Clarice Presents, and the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library.

As a center of artistic innovation, projection plays a fundamental role in lighting events, productions, educational courses and common spaces of this facility.

Each show and event is very different and requires various projection solutions, plus unique installation challenges and requirements. The wide range of interchangeable lens laser equipment from the manufacturer Epson has been key to responding to these needs in six rooms.

“Our team manages all technology internally, and I am a big fan of Epson's versatile range and wide range of lenses - he says Zach Rupp, screening coordinator at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Each project has a unique scope of work, and be able to use the same projectors, with interchangeable lenses between models, in the crucial.

The flexibility of Epson projectors “and their ability to completely vary production with a simple change of lenses It has been invaluable, since we manage a wide variety of spaces and events”, subraya Rupp.

Clarice has used Epson projectors in a variety of ways for her productions.. From nine teams to illuminate the stage of an opera with projected subtitles, even for the learning of students who work with them the immersive media design program, or the installation of sixteen pieces of equipment to transform a lobby into your event NextNOW Fest 2024.

In this sense, This annual festival offers artistic experiences to value “the imagination, creativity and community. In its eleventh edition, which took place in September of last year, for the main event, called Arts for everyone, were used fourteen Epson laser projectors to cover about 180 m2 of the large pavilion, central axis of its six performance halls.

Illuminating virtually every surface of the multi-level lobby, abstract scenes of freely flowing colors and shapes, along with marketing content and a live camera, the show combined curved surface mapping tools integrated into projectors, along with merging and stacking techniques, and multi-screen software Watchout 6 of Dataton.

Epson projectors became networked, allowing remote access and a convenient out-of-the-box setup solution. Some equipment was stacked to increase brightness and provide redundancy.

Interchangeable lenses

Another notable element in the use of Epson projection technology is that it works with companies from equipment rental and assembly, like in this case 4Wall, to offer end users greater flexibility, whether they need temporary equipment or a lens change, according to specific projector requirements.

“4Wall has been a fantastic partner for Epson rentals.”, allowing us to have what we need and complement our collection with the rental model -explains Jeff Reckeweg, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center technology store manager-. Buying and renting within its ecosystem of projectors and interchangeable lenses has been practical and profitable”.

With a complete range of lenses, compatible with a wide variety of projectors 6.000 a 20.000 lumens, for both ultra-short distance and long range, Epson projection technology thus offers greater installation flexibility for each project.

This is what he points out Ramzi Shakra, Epson America Senior Product Manager: “We prioritize an exceptional image quality and reliability, at the same time we offer tools that facilitate the installation of the projectors. The feedback we receive from end users is extremely important to us, as they play a crucial role in the development and improvements of our products. “It is fantastic to see Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center making the most of both our flexible range of equipment and versatile lens options.”.