High-demand laser shows bring Taylor, Gaga and Nirvana to Flandrau

By Andy Ober, University Communications
March 28, 2024
The shows, featuring artists including Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift and the Beastie Boys, often sell out months in advance.

The shows, featuring artists including Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift and the Beastie Boys, often sell out months in advance.

 

You lean back in your seat as the lights go out. Pulsating red lights surround you as Pink Floyd's "Speak to Me" plays over an 18,000-watt audio system. You feel the bass in your internal organs as the dome above you lights up in swirling laser displays and animations that bring new depth to a band's iconic rock anthems.

Those who buy tickets to the laser shows also have access to the science exhibits from 6-10 p.m., complete with special music and lighting effects.

Those who buy tickets to the laser shows also have access to the science exhibits from 6-10 p.m., complete with special music and lighting effects.

If you have managed to experience this on a recent Saturday night at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, consider yourself lucky. That's because every laser light show that Flandrau has put on over the last 18 months has sold out, often months in advance.

"It's always been a quintessential idea that planetariums have laser light shows," said Shiloe Fontes, planetarium and technology manager at Flandrau. "We've been doing those for many years now, and it's a fun way to engage with our community."

Shiloe Fontes, planetarium and technology manager, Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium

Shiloe Fontes, planetarium and technology manager, Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium

The experience varies depending on the show. For some shows, like "Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon," an entire album is played beginning to end. For others, like "Laser Taylor Swift," a curated selection of songs is played, each with their own animations, and audience members often find themselves singing along. 

In addition to the laser display on Flaundrau's dome, which reaches 60 feet in height and measures about 50 feet in diameter, the 55-minute shows often include additional elements such as fog machines and effects from lights installed throughout the theater.

The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, features science exhibits and an observatory in addition to the planetarium theater. When not showing laser light shows, the planetarium is home to astronomy-centered shows including "Touring the Solar System," "Black Holes" and "Tucson Sky and Beyond." The venue, located at the corner of Cherry Avenue and the Mall, bears the name of noted author and frequent Tucson visitor Grace H. Flandrau, whose estate included a bequest that gave the planetarium its start.

A stellar lineup

The sound and atmosphere created by Pink Floyd's music makes the band a natural selection for a laser light show. But with newer shows like "Laser Taylor Swift," "Laser Beastie Boys" and "Laser Gorillaz," Flandrau is looking to entertain audiences across the spectrum of both age and music.

"We listen to our audience and we're always putting feelers out to see what's new," Fontes said. "We take a look at what shows are available, we gauge our audience, and we do polls on social media to see what people are interested in. We also, of course, keep our eyes on modern culture."

The laser light shows have been a regular part of the planetarium's schedule since 2010. Recent popularity has led the venue to increase from two showings every other week to three. The theater seats about 110 people for the shows.

Flandrau's powerful audio system, which also includes two massive subwoofer speakers, creates a sound so strong that it was almost a problem for other units in the building.

"The bass can be very jarring if you're not paying attention," Fontes said. "In fact, when the Gem and Mineral Museum was here, we had to tell them to secure their pieces because we were afraid the music would rattle them off their platforms."

(The Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum has since moved to its permanent home at 115 N. Church Ave.)

Currently, two vendors – Audio Visual Imagineering and Laser Fantasy – provide Flandrau with the laser light shows.

"We also have new software that works with our laser system so we can create our own animations, designs and patterns," Fontes said. "We're hoping to get into creating some of our own shows."

Fontes hopes to have the first Flandrau-created laser show ready by the fall.

The full experience

Aside from bring in revenue, the wild popularity of the laser shows brings in people who may not have known much about Flandrau and exposes them to its full slate of exhibits, Fontes said. Flandrau welcomed 46,339 visitors in fiscal year 2023 – a significant increase from about 32,000 the previous year. The laser light shows were a significant contributor to the jump, Fontes said.

Those who buy tickets to Laser Light Nights also have access to the science exhibits from 6-10 p.m., complete with special music and lighting effects. Current exhibits include "Undersea Discovery," "Wild World of Bugs" and "Fossil Corner."

"It's a very different experience on Laser Light Nights than it is when you come to visit the exhibits during the day," Fontes said. "There is just a different ambience those nights."

Laser Light Night tickets are $18 per person ($15 for Flandrau members) with a $0.95 processiong fee per ticket for online sales.

Because of the high demand, Flandrau lists its laser shows weeks, and sometimes months, in advance. Upcoming shows include:

Resources for the Media