Das Festhaus

[CastleOSullivan]

Zach's picture looks really orange, I was there yesterday and just to be clear, the original floor was PINK and now they have added red stripes in the walking areas. It will not represent the Germany flag unless they paint some black and Yellow in there....it's a floor, it's not bad, just different

Now, that I can live with. Just for the record, at Busch Gardens Tampa, in the Desert Grill, you can still see the outline of the old stage from when it was called the Festhaus. Can anyone explain to me how that is any better than this? All I want to know is why did they repaint this when there are so many other thing that need work?

 

[Party Rocker]

All I want to know is why did they repaint this when there are so many other thing that need work?

Yes there are other areas that do need attention; however, this was probably much cheaper or at least something that seemed more attractive to them. I am sure that they were focusing on replacing or repainting the heavy traffic areas that suffered the most wear and tear. While it may not be an ideal change, you have to admit the Festhaus floor will need to be replaced/repainted sometime. At least they are starting to work on it instead of waiting until the floor looks just dreadful from wear and tear.

 

[Preston]

I see the park has added a Phone Charging station in Das Festhaus...

 

[Party Rocker]

There is also one by the Griffon exit. It's not just a phone charging station, but lockers that charge your phone.

 

[Nicole]

Do you need a cord, or do the stations have adapters included?

 

[Zimmy]

MOD COMMENT: This rant refers to the Entwined set.

Must... Not... Get... Spun... Up...

First off let me say I have never liked Festhaus, because I do not like audience participation and eating with strangers.  I have, however, always had an appreciation for the space, design, and execution.

Now my bona fides:
I was trained in the Conservatory at Shenandoah University as a lighting, sound and set designer; as such I have much to say on this topic.  At the moment however I am on the tax payer's nickel and do not have much time so I will be brief.  (If anyone really wants my 2 cents worth, I will write something longer later.)

What I am about to say has nothing to do with the show: I have never seen it, and so I am not qualified to discuss it.  I have, however, spent some time looking over the current space, stage, rigging, and so forth.
The current set design within the space is amateur at best, and nonsensical to the point of the absurdity (and not in the Waiting for Godot way) at worst.  I have no words to express how disgusted I am by the execution of the design.  I count no less than 3 different sets all being smashed together in a seemingly haphazard way; to my eye the "gestalt" of the room just does not work.  (and yes, I know that is because the space evolved)  I am sure someone is saying, "but Zimmy they have limited budgets..."  Horse pucky. Scott wastes money like an American sailor in England during WWII.

I fail to understand what they are trying to do, and that is a sure-fire sign that the whole thing is half baked.  (LR anyone?)

Ok, I really need to get back to spending your tax dollars now.

Zimmy

 

[Party Rocker]

Do you need a cord, or do the stations have adapters included?

The lockers can only be paid for with a credit card. You insert your card and it allows you to open any available locker. You plug your phone with any of the cords already available. Then you close the locker and it locks. At Water Country USA, your credit card is your key. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA you create your own PIN to reopen the locker.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Theexpozay, are you talking about Entwined's set or the old rising stage?

 

[Nicole]

He is venting about the new Entwined set. We took him to see it, and he had a fit.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

I understand, because I was about to explain how old the rising stage was before it got removed, unless he was talking about the 2011 version where Scott "overhauled" it.

 

[Zimmy]

I am disgusted by the current disaster. The old set was quite effective, and as a tech, I love stages that move. Further, in that kind of space you NEED a turntable of somekind, as it is theater in the round.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Trust me, you're not the only one who misses the uniqueness of the rising stage.

 

[Zimmy]

He is venting about the new Entwined set.  We took him to see it, and he had a fit.

I think "fit" is unfair. First of all you all knew what you were doing when you dragged me in there. Second of all I stayed rather calm.

 

[Mushroom]

Don't worry, Zimmy, you're not that only one who has that kind of reaction to Entwined's set.

 

[BGW Family]

Having stage lights shine directly into the audience and blinding them is a brilliant design. It gives me a momentary glimmer of hope not seeing that show during that lovely bright flash.

On the other side, it IRKS me to no end when trying to watch Night Beats.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

One of my biggest problems with Night Beats is being blinded by the spotlight. I can only imagine how the performers feel.

 

[Zimmy]

Stage lights are part of the gig when you are a performer. Sometimes in a thrust, 3/4 round, or fully round stage it is enevitable that lights will shine in on audiance members. (light angle is a big deal when designing). That being said, it is also considered a HUGE no-no.

 

[Nicole]

Lights never bothered me on stage.

 

[Party Rocker]

Performers should inevitably be used to the bright lights. Being on stage with bright lights never directly affected me only when I looked up toward the lights. The lights did help to make viewing the audience almost impossible.

As an audience member, lighting hurts the audiences eyes because they are constantly looking up towards the stage. When I design my lighting plans, I make sure no lights ever face the audience for that reason. It's harder with a stage like the one at Das Festhaus since you have the audience all around the stage almost.

The best lighting they could do to avoid that I would think is lighting from the sides where there is no audience viewing or straight up or down lighting that is closer to the stage and isn't angled so it can easily be in the way of the audience.

 

[CastleOSullivan]

Perhaps they could use the system similar to what they use during Christmas Town. At that time, they have a camera above the stage, and the monitor for someone to control the fireplace rotation. Perhaps they could use articulated or manipulated Gobos. For those that don't know what that is, it is like a spotlight, and it is controlled by some form of a remote control. It can be used in real time, or it can be pre-programmed to go along with the choreography. That's what they use to get the precise light movement in the last number in Celtic Fyre. All they need to do, is get one that is easily manipulated. They should contract it out to Technifex Inc. They designed many of the show control systems in the park.