High End Systems SolaFrame 750s Meet the Match in Houston A recent installation of High End Systems SolaFrame 750 LED luminaires is helping a Houston theater meet its mantra of flexibility. The Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston, or MATCH, opened in late 2015 as a home for Houston's small and mid-sized arts organizations. The venue features four flexible performance spaces able to house a variety of events. Director of production Brian Walker says the purchase and installation of 17 SolaFrame 750 fixtures happened in January 2018, soon after seeing them at LDI. The goal was to find a small, compact, relatively quiet fixture. Features were important, but it also had to meet their price point. The SolaFrame 750 -- the smallest fixture in the Sola Series with a big array of features -- ticked all the boxes, with the animation wheel and the framing shutters nailing the decision. "The framing shutters was one of the other key features we were looking for, but had not actually thought we would be able to get in a smaller fixture," Walker notes. "We needed it to do the 'razzle dazzle' moving light thing and then also be functional for theatrical applications, so that was a big bonus." While Walker also likes the LED power savings the fixtures bring, his worries about lamp life are relieved. "MATCH doesn't have a full-time house crew, and we often have technicians working in the building who are relatively unsupervised. An LED fixture is easier for people to use and I don't have to worry about them lamping on and off and saving lamps." The 17 units are rigged in three of the four event spaces -- called MATCH Boxes. Many nights there are multiple events happening in each of the Match Boxes. Each of the spaces uses the SolaFrame 750s differently and they work well for each space in their own way, the production director explains. Matchbox 2 is primarily for small local dance companies. Five SolaFrame 750s were installed in this space, which offers fixed seating risers for 159, a wide stage and a permanent sprung dance floor. "The lighting designers love using the gobos as specials on stage or on the cyc. The 750s get a lot of design use here," he notes. Matchbox 3 has four SolaFrame 750s to enliven its environment, used primarily by Catastrophic Theater and Dirt Dogs Theater. "The 750s are used for effects and unique specials for their theatrical productions. They have really expanded the design capabilities of the lighting designers working with those groups." Box 4 is home to eight SolaFrame 750s. It is the largest and most traditional space, featuring a proscenium arch, wide stage and permanent seating for 329. The Main Street Theatre takes charge of the mornings with their theatre for youth programs, and in the evening the space may be used for a chamber orchestra, lecture, or film. Recent events have included performances with songwriters Jimmy Webb, Roger McGuinn, the Subdudes, the Celtic Tenors, and more. "Because of Matchbox 4 being in constant rep with the theater for our performances in the morning, and then other events at night, we decided to look at the most common lighting 'looks' that we were using. We programmed a number of presets using the movers that address those most common looks; a pool of light at the podium for a lecture, a wash at center for a panel discussion, and so on. These presets simplify the set up time needed for the one-off events. The movers have also allowed Main Street Theater to add movement and 'fun' to their lighting designs, which are a huge hit with the kids." All the spaces are controlled with an ETC Ion, which Walker says makes people happy as they are familiar with the console and are easy to program. As are his 750s. "Everyone has been very happy with them," he notes. 
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