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FEATURE
PROJECTION LIGHTS & STAGING NEWS
“You know this is the longest
I’ve ever been on stage without
cutting the head off of something,
so I better go.” —Alice Cooper,
Master of Ceremonies
Mark Haney received the 2008 Parnelli Award for Video Director
of the Year for his work on Eric Clapton’s tour.
Elizabeth O’Keefe and Seth Jackson accepted the Parnelli
Award for Set/Scenic Designer of the Year.
continued from page 37
Sheehan, who received the Parnelli Lifetime
Achievement Award. Stansfield began
by saying it was wonderful to be in a
room full of friends and admirers of Sheehan’s,
then introduced two very special,
very funny videos that were made exclusively
for the Parnellis. There was one
from U2, for whom Sheehan has worked
for 25 years, and one from Robert Plant of
Led Zeppelin. Plant joked about Sheehan
having to wake him up at 4 p.m. and then
expressed his gratitude for all he did with
the band in the 1970s. He then congratulated
Sheehan on his Parnelli award.
The U2 video had the band play “Stairway
to Heaven,” with Bono singing; “There’s
a tour manager who’s sure …,” alluding to
the many stories Sheehan had shared from
his days with Led Zeppelin. At the end of
the video, each band member held up a
sign with one word on it, making the sentence:
“Dennis Sheehan — Man Legend.”
A Surprise Guest
Stansfield then brought out a surprise
guest: U2 guitar tech Dallas Shoo,
who flew in to honor Sheehan, saying a
few words about how much he’s done for
the band. A video of Sheehan’s career,
also created especially for the awards,
followed. It recapped his career, including
his stint as a professional musician
before going behind the scenes to be a
tour manager.
The noticeably moved Sheehan took
the podium and spoke about his career
and his special relationship with the current
U2 family.
A Night to Remember
“This was by far the most enjoyable, entertaining,
and memorable Parnellis ever,”
Lowe said afterwards. “Everyone stayed until
the very end and it was just a great time.” He
added that the show could not have been
possible without the many sponsors. The
Gold Sponsors were: All Access Staging and
Production, Bandit Lites, Brown United, Dedicated
Staging, Harmon Professional Group,
Lab.gruppen, Nocturne, Precise Corporate
Staging, Pyrotek Special Effects, Rent What?,
Rock-It Cargo, Show Distribution, Sound Image,
Strictly FX and Syncrolite.
Silver sponsors included: Apollo Design,
ASI, Littlite, Martin Professional,
Stage Rigging and Techni-Lux. The Production
sponsors included ASI, Mendenhall
Productions, On Stage Audio, PRG, PSAV,
Stage Crew and Techni-Lux.
The crew from Bandit Lites, accepting the award for Lighting Company of the Year, included, from left, Peter Heffernan, Dizzy
Gosnell, Richard Willis and Michael Golden.
Kevin Graham, with Diamond Coach, accepting the Parnelli
for Coach Company of the Year.
Steve Maples of Rock-It Cargo, winner of the Parnelli award for
Freight Fowarding Company of the Year.
James J. “Winky” Fairorth accepts the Parnelli Award for Set
Construction Company of the Year on behalf of Tait Towers.
Clive Forrester and Eric Eastland of All Access Staging &
Productions accept the 2008 Parnelli Award for Staging
Company of the Year.
Doug Adams, from Pyrotek Special Effects, receiving the
Parnelli Award for Pyro Company of the Year.
David Middleton, with Atlanta Rigging, the 2008 Parnelli
Award-winning Rigging Company of the Year.
38 PLSN NOVEMBER 2008