Orlando Science Center is rocking and rolling with fresh laser-light presentations now that the $7 million top-to-bottom renovation of its Dome is complete.
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The laser shows, a staple bit of entertainment for multiple generations of Orlandoans, lean into nostalgia but also current technologies that make for crisper images and hair-raising audio.
The Loch Haven Park museum previewed part of its expanded lineup – a couple of Taylor Swift hits and the full Queen show – for members of the media this week. Those two acts are on deck for the first public showings, part of the science center’s Stellar Nights event, on Friday and Saturday.
What is seen at new laser-light shows?
The refurbished nine-story dome features a new screen and 315 seats, which are aimed individually at the curved canvas for prime viewing.
Once the show starts, things are quite dark, like staring into a black hole. When the laser-projected graphics kick in, it’s like Spirograph Gone Wild. Stars, circles, spires move up, down and across the vision field, sometimes in a crazed kaleidoscope style. The movement accents the music, getting frantic with guitar licks and jarring with drum beats.
The presentations also can be more spot-on. There are laser-generated bicycles featured in Queen’s “Bicycle Race” and old-school radios in “Radio Gaga.”
There’s a big brain during “Under Pressure,” which turns into a storytelling exercise with images representing societal issues, including guns and hunger. During “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a large, menacing head of Beelzebub appears.
The presentations for Swift songs were softer, sometimes doodle-like, with canoodling couples, butterflies, broken hearts and nice dresses.
When are the laser-light shows presented?
The laser-show revival starts with the museum’s Stellar Nights promotion, which is an extension of its regular operating hours on Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 1. It’s one showing per night and serves as the finale. Closing time on those dates is 10 p.m.
“There’s a very robust schedule during Stellar Nights to take advantage of the full potential of the dome,” said Jeff Stanford, vice president for marketing.
“You’ll also get a planetarium show, a movie, what we call full-dome presentation,” he said. “It’s kind of like a virtual tour of a moon base and tours of other planets.”
What shows and acts are scheduled?
The laser shows begin with Swift on Friday, followed by Queen on Saturday. The upcoming schedule includes Laser Beatles on July 17), Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (July 18), Laser Country (July 24), Grateful Dead (July 25), Laser Tribute (July 31) and Rocket Man (Aug. 1).
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“Nostalgia is a huge factor and a big draw … but also what we wanted to do was to appeal to a very wide audience,” Stanford said.
What’s improved with the dome renovation?
Among the new attributes of the Dome are wider seats and curved, seamless NanoSeam screen. There are eight 8K projectors presenting the show.
“The images are much crisper. It is a much fuller experience in terms of the visuals are everywhere,” said Stanford, who also noted the speed of the movement is greater.
Then, there’s the sound.
“Images are awesome, and it takes you back, but people are really here for the music. It’s 30,000 watts of sound, and so it’s really for the music fan to absorb and experience that music in a real immersive setting,” he said.
“If you’re gonna have this kind of experience, you kind of want it to blow your hair back.”
What’s next on the laser front?
The laser shows will be a regular offering at Orlando Science Center, although not an everyday one.
“We want to make them still feel special,” Stanford said. For example, they may be incorporated into events such as Science Night Live, Spark STEM Fest or during the holiday season, he said.
The productions are leased from a company that creates laser-light shows, and that gives the science center multiple options going forward, increasing the repeat-visitor rate.
“We do have the capability to, at one point, design our own laser shows, but we’re still just kind of getting our arms around the equipment and try to work it,” Stanford said.
“The other thing that’s exciting down the line: original music, bring in maybe a local band and do a laser-light show composed of their music,” he said.
The laser shows are included with regular admission to Orlando Science Center. The museum’s Stellar Nights promotion is a five-hour extension of regular operating hours on Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 1.
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For tickets or more information, go to OSC.org.