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CSD Group and Elation light Peru Amateur Circus for a new era

Held each July in Peru, Indiana, the Peru Amateur Circus is one of the few remaining amateur circuses in the United States. Committed to preserving this community tradition, the Circus Arena at Circus City Festival, Inc. (CCFI) decided it was time to move beyond its decades-old incandescent lighting system and turned to CSD Group, a national AVLA systems integration company based in nearby Fort Wayne, for an upgrade featuring Elation LED lighting and an Obsidian control system.

The project was made possible through the generosity of donator Robert Cultice, the leadership of CCFI Board Member Bob Sucharski, the engineering expertise of CSD Group, and the dedication of a team of volunteers who donated weeks of their time to complete the installation. CSD Group had completed an audio upgrade for the venue in 2025 and was entrusted to design, install, commission, and train volunteers on a completely new theatrical lighting system. Project Manager at CSD was Jim Gall.

According to Dave Singer, Client Relationship Manager at CSD Group, the relationship with Peru Circus made the lighting upgrade a natural next step: “We earned the client’s trust after completing their audio upgrade, so when they were ready to modernize their lighting, we recommended an all-Elation solution”, he says. 

“Their old system consisted of decades-old incandescent white light fixtures with gel frames, so there were limited options for color changing”, Singer continues. “The lighting was quite stagnant as gels weren’t changed often. The new design gives them complete color flexibility, moving light capability, and the ability to highlight performers and accent their costumes across all three rings while creating a much more immersive experience.”

Logan Decker, Lighting Designer at CSD Group, developed the new system design. The design process began in Capture previsualization software, which Decker used to model the show in 3D. Trussing surrounds the entire outer perimeter of the performance area, forming a large rectangular lighting grid approximately 120 feet long by forty feet wide that spans the arena inside the bleachers. This configuration gives them the flexibility to position fixtures wherever needed and add more in the future if desired.

Alongside the ringmaster, a cast of performers and full live orchestra, the main floor is divided into three separate rings. A key requirement was to spotlight the action in one ring while keeping the other two softly lit as they reset and prepare for the next act. Because activity can move rapidly between the three rings, flexibility was critical.

Singer notes that designing for a circus environment required close collaboration with the client. “This isn’t a standard performing arts space”, he says. “We worked closely with the circus to determine fixture locations that delivered the best lighting while avoiding interference with performers. For example, we had to change some fixture locations because of the trapeze artists, who fly in and out with safety cables.”

The new system features sixteen Elation Fuze SFX moving heads, eight Fuze Wash 500 Fresnel fixtures, twelve Paladin Brick LED battens fitted with 60-degree lenses, two Magma Prime hazers, an Obsidian NX1-16 lighting console running Onyx, and a Netron EN12i for DMX distribution. CSD worked with Elation’s manufacturer’s rep firm, Five Lakes Marketing, and representative Ed Cheeseman.

“The Fuze 500’s main priority is to provide a general wash in spotting performers, ringmasters, or equipment anywhere in the arena at any time”, Decker explains. The Paladin Bricks, RGBW floodlights with IP65 protection, provide vibrant color onto the arena floor and into the audience seating areas.

For dynamic looks, CSD specified Fuze SFX fixtures, LED spot and effects moving heads capable of projecting tight beams to wide washes. “There are certain performers they want to highlight during their acts - from tightrope walkers and unicyclists to fire performers and trapeze artists - and the Fuze SFX is perfect for that”, Singer notes. To fully reveal the beam and gobo effects, the design incorporates two Magma Prime hazers, producing a thick, even atmosphere.

As for the NX1-16, Decker says that the console is “ideal for the limited control space we had available. It’s also powerful with plenty of universes for expansion. Over my eight years of using the Onyx platform, I have learned that it can be as simple or as advanced as you need it to be, depending on how you set up your views and faders.”

Using Onyx, Decker created a programming environment tailored specifically for the circus. “I implemented a 2D layout of the arena right into their fixture layout, giving them an exact idea of which lights are where”, he details. “The ability to change fader behavior allowed me to create simple on-and-off cue lists they could use during showtime. The motorized faders are always a huge plus as they can change banks during the show as needed and not lose control of anything active.” A touch screen was also added to give them a visual overview.

CSD also integrated a Netron EN12i to manage DMX distribution throughout the venue. “The integration with Onyx allowed me to configure routing right from the console, which is very important in this install as the EN12i is situated on the mezzanine opposite the control booth”, says Decker.

The lighting upgrade was as much a volunteer success story as it was a technology project. Sucharski spearheaded the project, coordinating the purchase of the new lighting system from CSD Group while working alongside a dedicated volunteer team that included Tim Bessignano, Joe Greene, Sam Myers, Bill Slonaker, and Jim Bradley.

Together, the volunteers donated five weeks of their time and expertise to complete the extensive installation. The project involved removing the arena’s existing lighting and wiring, installing more than 4,000 feet of new wiring, adding a new 200-amp three-phase electrical panel, and installing the new Elation lighting system.

The installation was completed in March 2026, prior to the start of practices, and made its performance debut during the Peru Amateur Circus’ annual summer festival July 10-18. The finished system gives them the flexibility they want, not only for the circus but also for other clients that use the space, like churches and special events, so the rig will get year-round use.

(Photos: Rebecca Danielle Portraits)

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