St. John Vianney High School Theatre
Pierson partnered with St. John Vianney High School to transform its theatre into a modern, functional, and visually engaging performance and learning environment. Serving as theatre consultants, Pierson guided the school through Phase 1 of a comprehensive renovation focused on aesthetics, theatrical lighting, house lighting, controls, and stage infrastructure.
A key objective of the project was to improve the theatre experience while creating a system that could also serve as an educational tool for students. The upgraded house lighting system utilizes ETC GDS Pro One-Cell fixtures, increasing illumination from approximately 10 to 30 foot-candles while achieving an efficient 0.4 watts per square foot. Vacancy sensors automatically power down the system after periods of inactivity while a dedicated Show Mode prevents interruptions during performances.
The stage lighting system was enhanced with ETC ColorSource Spot and PAR fixtures, providing precise color control and smooth dimming for theatrical productions. Elation SixBar fixtures with RGBAW+UV color mixing were incorporated for cyc lighting, giving students and production teams greater creative flexibility when designing immersive stage environments.
An ETC Paradigm control platform integrated with Crestron provides intuitive operation throughout the theatre. Paradigm Inspire button stations and custom-designed touchscreens give users different levels of system access based on their needs. Students can work with predefined presets, teachers have access to scene controls and color selection, and administrators maintain full system access, including recording capabilities and system lockouts.
The custom user interface was also designed with future expansion in mind, allowing additional audiovisual systems to be incorporated as the theatre continues to evolve.
By combining professional theatrical technology with thoughtful, education-focused system design, Pierson created an environment that not only enhances performances but also gives students hands-on experience with the lighting, controls, and production technologies used in modern live entertainment.
PROJECT TYPE
INDUSTRY
K-12 Education
INDUSTRY
Key Project Highlights:
Expanded Concert-Grade Audio System: Pierson upgraded the venue’s existing QSC line array system from three to six cabinets per side, delivering more even, full-range coverage throughout the venue for live bands, DJs, and entertainment events. The system expansion was paired with new Q-SYS processing and QSC CX-Q network amplifiers for enhanced performance, flexibility, and control.
Enhanced Low-Frequency Performance: Two (2) Danley TH118 tapped horn subwoofers were added to strengthen low-end impact and musical clarity across the venue. Integrated alongside the existing subwoofer system and fully processed through the Q-SYS platform, the upgrade provides deeper bass response and greater headroom for high-energy performances and events.
Dynamic Dance Floor & Event Lighting: Pierson installed a new overhead lighting grid featuring Chauvet Rogue R2X wash fixtures to enhance the venue atmosphere for concerts, DJs, wrestling events, and live entertainment productions. The system provides flexible lighting positions, dynamic effects capability, and expanded event production functionality.
Simplified Venue Lighting Control: To improve day-to-day operation, Pierson upgraded the house lighting controls with a Lightronics 5-scene wall controller, allowing venue staff to easily recall customized lighting scenes for different event types without operating the main theatrical lighting console.