Highlighting Six Performances Spaces at UMD with Projection Technology

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is a top-tier, technologically advanced facility, boasting six performance venues and hosting over 1,200 events annually. This creative hub is home to the School of Music, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, the Clarice's own artistic platform for visiting artists, Clarice Presents, the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, and more. As a beacon of artistic innovation, projection plays a vital role in highlighting center events, productions, educational courses, and shared spaces. With every show and event presenting its own unique challenges and requirements, Epson's extensive lineup of interchangeable lens laser projectors has proven indispensable in meeting the diverse projection needs across various venues.

Zach Rupp, projections coordinator at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, is a fan of Epson's versatile projector selection and vast range of lens options. "Every project has its own unique scope of work, and being able to use the same projectors, with lenses that can be swapped between models, has been essential," Rupp said. "The projectors' adaptability and the ability to completely change production with a simple lens swap has been invaluable as we manage a variety of venues and events."

The Clarice has utilized Epson projectors in a multitude of ways for various productions, including using nine projectors to light up the stage for an opera performance with displayed subtitles, students working with the projectors in the immersive media design education program, and deploying sixteen projectors to overhaul an entire lobby during the recent NextNOW Fest 2024. Epson's versatile lineup allows the center to cater to everyone's diverse display needs.

NextNOW Fest Projection

In its eleventh year, the annual NextNOW Fest 2024 - a remarkable arts experience celebrating imagination, creativity, and community - took place in early September at The Clarice. A notable event within the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, Rupp and his team utilized fourteen Epson large venue laser projectors to illuminate nearly 2,000 square feet of space in the center's Grand Pavilion, a central hub for its six performance venues. Nearly every surface in the multi-level lobby was bathed in light, showcasing abstract free-flowing color and form, marketing content, and a live camera feed that captured the attention of guests upon arrival.

Rupp and his team developed and delivered the content using the projectors' built-in curved surface mapping tools, along with blending and stacking techniques, and third-party management software like WATCHOUT 6 multi-display software. The projectors were networked together, allowing for remote access and an effortless set-and-forget solution. Some of the projectors were stacked upon one another using Epson's projector stacking frame, increasing brightness and providing redundancy. This also offered flexible stacking and peace of mind during installation and handling.

"The entryway left attendees awestruck from the get-go," Rupp remarked. "It truly set the stage for what to expect for the rest of the festival."

Interchangeable Lenses for Diverse Applications

In addition to Epson's collaboration with equipment rental and staging companies like 4Wall, users are provided with increased flexibility, whether they need a temporary rental or a lens swap based on specific projector requirements.

Superior Tech for Superior Art

Epson projectors offer unparalleled creative possibilities and audience experiences with state-of-the-art technology, delivering exceptional color output and durability. Featuring a single lens family that supports a wide range of projectors from 6,000 to 20,000 lumens, from ultra-short-throw to long-throw, advanced projection technology combined with motorized lenses enables a wide range of lens shift capabilities for added installation flexibility.

"At Epson, we prioritize outstanding image quality and reliability while providing tools to make projector installations easier," said Ramzi Shakra, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. "The feedback we receive from end-users is essential to us, as it plays a crucial role in shaping our product development and improvements. It's fantastic to see The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center maximizing the potential of Epson's flexible lineup and versatile lens options."

*[Dive into the mesmerizing world of illuminated performance with Epson]*

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center utilizes Epson projectors for various productions, ranging from opera performances with displayed subtitles to immersive media design education programs.
For the NextNOW Fest 2024, Zach Rupp and his team used fourteen Epson large venue laser projectors to illuminate the center's Grand Pavilion, featuring abstract art, marketing content, and live camera feeds.
The versatile lineup of Epson projectors allows the center to cater to diverse display needs in fashion-and-beauty events, home-and-garden shows, food-and-drink tastings, lifestyle expos, technology conferences, book launches, educational courses, personal growth workshops, and entertainment events.
Epson projectors offer superior tech for superior art, delivering exceptional color output and durability, with a single lens family supporting a wide range of projectors for diverse applications.
The diverse range of interchangeable lenses for Epson projectors enables users to swap lenses based on specific projector requirements, providing increased flexibility and catering to the unique scope of work for each project.
With the ability to completely change production with a simple lens swap and networked projectors for effortless set-up and remote access, Epson projectors enable users to meet the diverse projection needs across various venues and events.
In the world of data-and-cloud-computing, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth discussions, Epson projectors contribute to enriching learning experiences by projecting informative content, visualizing complex data structures, and enhancing virtual or hybrid learning environments.