Daily Nebraskan
Tuesday, November 16, 1982
Page 2
Planning creative laser show takes inspiration
By Peggy Polacek
Strains of Journey, Rolling Stones, the Who and Pink
Floyd escape from the echoing halls of UNL's Morrill
Hall. The mastodons haven't turned to rock V roll,
but Mueller Planetarium has, to produce crowd-drawing
laser light shows.
. The planetarium finished a series of laser shows last
weekend and hopes to present more, Jack Dunn, coordi
nator of the planeterium, said.
"The programs show people another facet of our
facility," Dunn said; "and they draw another part of the
community audience."
Hundreds of people were turned away from the five
Pink Floyd laser shows on Halloween because there was
not enough room in the planetarium, he said. About
600 people viewed the show that night in the planetarium
that seats about 100.
The dome provides the best surface for the popular
laser shows, Dunn said. Laser shows help attendance
at regular shows, he said, because people come to the
planetarium to see what is offered.
With the help of assistants Lisa Hooker and Greg
Phillips, Dunn developed original laser shows and helped
other companies present shows on the UNL campus.
Variety offered
Last week's shows were presented by Colorado Laser
Systems in order to offer a variety of shows that Dunn
said they couldn't produce themselves because of time
limitations.
It takes about two weeks to select the music for the
shows, he said, and it takes one to two months to choreo
graph at 45-minute show.
The choice of laser show music is based on rock music,
Dunn explained, because laser lights historically have
been aimed at rock audiences. Country rock, classical
and jazz music audiences aren't as receptive to the light
shows, he said.
Rock music laser shows are easier to design because
the music has a steady, strong beat, he said, as compared
with jazz music that involves free-flowing improvisation.
It's easiest to draw a rock audience because they're used
to the lights at concerts,- Dunn said.
He said a Christmas laser show of classical music, in
cluding Tchaikovsky, is planned and that next semester
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a history of rock V roll will be designed. He said this
type of show will ensure a large audience because of
the variety of music.
Audience is first-concern
"Our first concern is the audience," Dunn said, "and
we need feedback to know what the people want to see."
Local radio stations gathered opinions on the shows
from their listeners, he said, and reported them to the
planetarium for further show references.
"We learned that a lot of Lincoln people like Pink
Floyd," he said.
Dunn said he enjoys presenting shows, although it's
a lot of work.
Presenting a laser show compares to playing a musical
instrument, Dunn said. The laser show requires inspira
tion, he said, like music does.
Recently, the laser was transported to Chadron State
College for a country-rock laser show, he said. He said
it was good to make contacts in the state by doing some
thing on other campuses, but it was very difficult to
physically move the laser and present the show.
The light shows, which began about two years ago,
provide only part of the planetarium's programs. They
draw more people to provide greater income, he said,
thus allowing the planetarium to become more self
dependent. Regular star programs, such as the current moon
show, will continue at the planetarium, Dunn said.
Next month, the planetarium will present the traditional
Star of Bethlehem Christmas show.
Police Report
The following calls and complaints were received
by UNL police from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday.
10:58 a.m. - Citation issued for fireworks violation
at Abel Hall.
2:10 p.m. - Windshield reported shattered in the
Nebraska Union metered parking lot.
8:15 p.m. - Hit-and-run accident reported in the
Nebraska Union metered lot.
9:45 p.m. - Drunken person taken to the detoxi
fication ward.
4:25 a.m. - Fire alarm at Manter Hall set off by
malfunction.
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