Lighting Up Love: zactrack with Pretty Woman in Belgium

35 years after the premiere of the iconic film, the entertainment production company Deep Bridge brought Pretty Woman – The Musical to the stages of Antwerp, Ghent, and Hasselt. To support this production, the TCF lighting team used the zactrack SMART system.

The romantic comedy follows the unlikely love story between charming Hollywood escort Vivian and wealthy businessman Edward, as they help each other grow and change during a transformative week together. Photo © Steven Hendrickx

Bringing the beloved story of Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis to Europe, Pretty Woman – The Musical toured Belgium from March 21 to May 4, 2025, with performances in Antwerp, Ghent, and Hasselt. The technical design and production were led by David Smeets from the TCF team, while Kevin Timmermans (TCF) took on the roles of lighting and zactrack operator.

The interplay of design, motion, and lighting

From Hollywood Boulevard and Rodeo Drive to Edward Lewis' Penthouse, Pretty Woman – The Musical presented a dynamic range of scene transitions, each representing a different iconic location. The set design by Jason Taylor ensured a seamless flow between these diverse environments, maintaining quick transitions and a visually cohesive design that connects each location effortlessly.

“One of the biggest challenges was the complex Layher scaffolding and the numerous moving elements on stage, which made anchor placement a unique task. However, with innovative solutions, we were able to ensure stable and reliable tracking throughout the production,” said Deep Bridge. Part of the solution was the zactrack SMART system, which provided precise, real-time tracking of performers and moving elements on stage, enabling dynamic lighting effects and seamless integration with stage technology. Installed and programmed by the TCF experts, it tracked the cast with exceptional precision throughout the whole performance.

The classic lighting control was handled by the GrandMA3 console, while for the front line, TCF experts used the Robe TX1 as the Follow Spot fixture, ensuring the stage remained perfectly illuminated at all times.

"Big mistake. Big. Huge.": On Rodeo Drive, Vivian returns in style to reclaim her confidence after being rejected by snooty shop assistants. Photo © Steven Hendrickx

Smart Solutions for Seamless Tracking

The complex interplay of stage elements required a strategic placement of the zactrack anchors (receivers). To cover the 24x18m big stage, eight anchors were installed — two positioned at the front edge of the stage, just in front of the proscenium, and the remaining six mounted on the fly bars above the stage.

The 26 active trackers ensured the cast was always perfectly lit, even as they moved across the stage and between sets. Frequent costume and wig changes required creative tracker placement — often on the upper arms using custom elastic bands or medical tape, and sometimes hidden in wigs or hats.

A big thank you to TCF!

Source: https://deepbridge.be/shows/pretty-woman/

Photos: Steven Hendrickx