elektraLite Stingrays revive Palmetto Pointe Church

Formerly the Gatlin Brothers Theatre, before becoming the Crook and Chase Theatre, Palmetto Pointe Church in South Carolina has taken on a new lease of life with 30 elektraLite Stingray Profile Cast RGBW fixtures. Situated in Myrtle Beach, the sanctuary hosts Sunday services by Pastor Jamie Barfield and occasional concerts by artists in its 2,000-seat auditorium.

The luminaires were designed and installed by Paul D Sweetman of Sweetman Designs, alongside audio specialists MC Sound Consultants which provided a complete sonic renovation on the church last year. Sweetman explained that the sanctuary’s previous ellipsoidals, which were installed in the late 1990s, were worn out and in need of a refresh. Furthermore, as Palmetto Pointe is used as a broadcast location and for concerts, the church wanted to enhance its production values.

The Stingrays have been hung above the stage in the auditorium

Provided by Group One, 16 of the Stingray Profile Casts have been hung at a 19° angle from the main catwalk, with 14 more at a 10° angle from the second catwalk. “The 19° fixtures were only about a 9–10m throw, but the second catwalk was probably closer to an almost 18m throw and needed a lot more horsepower and a much tighter beam,” explained Sweetman. “The Stingray was the perfect choice for that.”

Sweetman cited the lights’ power efficiency as particularly important for cost-efficiency, stating: “We were able to exchange 1,000W ellipsoidals for the Stingrays 350W without losing any illumination and while saving lots of energy.” He also added that, as the church does television production, he and his team did colour matching for the sanctuary’s Blackmagic Designs studio cameras to see if the lights would suit. Furthermore, the team also wanted to be able to create even colour washes without any key lights. “The Stingray was the perfect fit for those considerations,” he said. “We had the flexibility to light everybody in white light or even a full stage wash of colour.”

Palmetto Pointe Church’s production director, Clint Redwine, commented: “We’re a church that likes to stay close to the leading edge of technology without being flashy and the Stingrays are that: state-of-the-art but part of the larger picture. What I tell people is that we have a Lamborghini that we drive in second gear most of the time, but it’s always good to know that fifth gear is there when we need it.”