Thousands of hockey fans gather at a new location every year to celebrate the National Hockey League’s annual event commemorating the achievements of players from the past season. This year, the 61st NHL All-Star Weekend took place in Nashville.
Filled to capacity, Bridgestone hosted 17,000 fans of all ages in a two-day event consisting of a Super Skills competition day and an all-star game tournament. The players chosen to participate in the weekend’s activities were voted in by fans and selected by the league based on performance throughout the 2015-2016 season.
On Jan. 30, the first day of the weekend’s events, blue and gold lights illuminated the Bridgestone arena while fog filled the gaps on the Zamboni ice. Anticipation from the 17,000 fans was noticeable from the loud cheers as the 46 hockey players skated through a 70-foot replica of two crossed hockey sticks.
Behind the fog, loudspeaker and player portal entrance was a production team of over one hundred members. Consisting of scenic designers, stage managers, producers and more, the NHL All-Star production crew was ready to put on the show that had been planned for months. Among those helping to put on the event were Belmont University students and graduates.
IMG Productions, a New York-based production company brought the NHL’s vision for the 2016 all-star game to life by assembling an 18-person production team. Consisting of renowned crewmembers, Belmont alumnae and Canada natives, IMG created a team that was capable of creating the ultimate fan experience.
The set, designed by Atomic Design, was created in pieces so the team of laborers could assemble and disassemble the stage quickly and efficiently. In a show like NHL All-Star, designing a stage that is both functional and appealing to the eye is imperative, said Andi Blady, a designer at Atomic Design. After developing and building scenic pieces for the player portal entrance, LED scenic background, and stages for artistic performances Blady stressed the collective effort a project of this magnitude takes.
Tom McPhilips, the founder of Atomic Design, created the original design platform for the event. Charlie Cook and Blady then rendered the project, acting as art directors and on-site Atomic designers. After two months of working on their piece for the hockey event, the Atomic team faced certain challenges.
“We work in arenas all the time, but in this case the ice was the obvious difference. And of course, the sight lines being 360 degrees created a challenge,” said Blady.
At the end of the opening ceremonies a team ran onto the ice to disassemble the star-shaped stage created by Atomic. Breaking down the stage quickly, the team rolled the stage off the ice and the skills competition began. Despite trials, Atomic Design did its part in bringing to life a vision for all fans and designed a set with structural efficiency. Working alongside the Atomic Design team, a lively and enthusiastic group of women managed the movement of the hockey events, securing the illusion of a seemingly effortless produced event. Jenn Stein, Judie Kavanaugh and Taylor Dean are all returning stage managers to the NHL All-Star weekend.
“We love working together and have complete trust in each other’s’ ability to do our jobs well,” said Stein. “I am also very mindful of the fact that we are granted privileged access to a world-class event and really enjoy the scale and complexity of the show.”
Responsible for all non-hockey operations and live entertainment elements in the Super Skills competition, the trio worked as a team to complete their obligations. The swift transitions and timeliness of the structured event was not possible without the direction of Kavanaugh and Dean. The two stage supervisors facilitated the skills competition and game rehearsals prior to the live productions throughout the weekend.
The trio was busy “making sure everything that needs to be rehearsed and happen, happens on time and executes the way we want it to,” said Kavanaugh. “From people entering at the right time, to looking in the right direction with the right microphone in their hand.”
The role of these three managers directly affects the game, but not in the way most people see it. When the production transitions are on time, the illusion of an effortlessly created event is portrayed to the audience, creating a positive face experience.
“It takes one hair on your arm to stand up and basically, you’ve succeeded in what you were trying to do,” said Dean. “We’re not saving lives, but it can be a stressful job. So when you evoke that kind of emotion in people it’s worth it.
Every production team needs someone to complete the tasks that often go unrecognized, which is where the production assistants play their part.
Josh Castle, a Belmont alumni and musician, joined the IMG Production team as a production assistant in the all-star event. After his 2012 graduation, Castle has worked to improve his resume while working on shows like the Grammys and CMA Music Fest.
With a few years of experience in the music industry, Castle has learned not every task is glamorous, but “completing the simplest task with enthusiasm and a smile can go a long way,” said Castle.
Production assistants like Castle primarily work as the odds-and-ends workers. Helping wherever there is a need, running crew members to the airport and making sure all scripts are updated and distributed are small parts of a major jigsaw puzzle that help bring the event together.
Belmont student Ally Lewber experienced her first live event as a part of the production team in the hockey events.
“The experience was eye opening because I have never witnessed that side of a production. It was a lot more fun than I expected it to be and enjoyed working with the array of people,” said Lewber.
Behind the zamboni doors and rink entrance, the NHL All-Star production team, glanced onto the ice with wide smiles on their faces. The crowd was on its feet cheering, and so was the production team.