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Susan Rose reflects spirit of Melissa Etheridge’s “Rise” with Chauvet

Heartfelt emotions course through Melissa Etheridge’s latest album “Rise”, a work drawing on the artist’s personal experience dealing with love, loss, and hope. Lighting designer Susan Rose reached deep into her own creative well to reflect these feelings on the singer’s 27-city tour in support of the album.

“My signature look for Melissa has always been animation on an upstage black curtain using lighting from multiple angles to build depth and layered texture”, says Rose. “When I was asked to design a backdrop for the ‘Rise’ tour, I kept that approach at the core. I still light the drop the same way I would a black curtain, but now I have integrated graphics that gives me a subtle visual foundation.”

“By doing this we create an entirely new look that represents the ‘Rise’ tour, while still allowing me to enhance it with layered color, gobos, and floor lighting for up light”, she continues.  “When we’re working with an LED wall, I treat it the same way. I continue using lighting as if it were a black curtain, but the added content gives the show a more powerful and dynamic visual impact.”

This was very evident April 18, 2026, when Etheridge appeared at the Parx Casino’s XCite Center in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Helping Rose bring the backdrop to life were the twenty-six Chauvet Professional Maverick MK2 Spots in the casino’s house rig. “They were my primary tools for animation, gobo, and prism projection on the upstage surface”, she explains. “They also are invaluable in helping me extend those textures onto the stage and ceiling, so I can create a cohesive visual environment.”

Rose’s stage lighting incorporated a wide range of looks, including soft washes, beam effects, and dynamic eye candy. Contributing to this panorama were forty Maverick MK2 Washes and ten Maverick MK 1 Hybrids. “The MK2 Washes provided a strong, vibrant wash for both stage coverage and front light on the band”, she says. “I also used them to establish base color tones on the LED wall to tie everything together.”

“I draw heavily from my television experience when lighting Melissa”, she adds. “I use CTO in the follow spots to maintain proper color balance for cameras. At the end of the day, we’re lighting for cameras and phones constantly, so I’m careful not to distract from Melissa with color or gobos. She is the one fans come to see.”

(Photos: Chauvet Professional)

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