AT&T DOLPHIN TALES

Spectacular audiovisual, live performance and talented dolphins bring imagination to life at the world’s biggest aquarium.

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INTRODUCTION

AT&T Dolphin Tales represented the biggest expansion to date for the world’s largest aquarium and demonstrated its commitment to educating the public about marine mammals.

The immersive, multisensory theatrical performance brings together the talents of dolphins, live actors, dramatic costuming and amazing audiovisual effects. The aim — to create a unique memorable experience that would set new standards for live theatrical entertainment.

Electrosonic created a spectacular live theatrical show with dolphin behaviors that taps into the gamut of theatrical technology available, especially digitally-projected sets and backdrops and a high-quality theatrical multi-channel audio system. Electrosonic designed, supplied and installed all the audio and video systems as well as the production’s complex show control systems design.

OVERVIEW

The spectacular indoor show is staged in a new multifunction 1800-seat auditorium. Five tall organic shapes evocative of upright dolphin tails are designed to serve as complex, curved aluminium projection surfaces above the performance pool.

Electrosonic designed a projection system consisting of seven projectors edge-blended in two stacks of three, plus one on center. The center projector forms a flat image on a screen that drops down over the pool in front of the main set. The other screens are the complex curved aluminium structures shaped like dolphin tails.

A 7.1 surround sound system and mixing console designed by Electrosonic feature onboard snapshot automation that stores audio information on the different actors who rotate into the show. During the show, handheld wireless and wired microphones are mixed live with pre-recorded music tracks.

Electrosonic decided to locate as much audiovisual equipment as possible in the control room, which almost spans the width of the theatre, to protect it from the saline atmosphere of the dolphins’ salt-water pool.

Electrosonic also designed the audiovisual systems for the dolphin gallery lobby. They include a background music system, a nine-screen LCD video wall and circular rear projection screens featuring educational content.

CHALLENGE

The ambitious performance required complex show-controlled equipment and events, pre-recorded multi-track audio and video playback integrated with live performance against a backdrop of digitally-projected sets and a high-quality multichannel audio system.

Video, graphics and special lighting effects had to be projected onto tall complex curved screens shaped like dolphin tales. The audio control console had to manage a 7.1 surround-sound system with onboard snapshot automation for actors’ audio information.

SOLUTION

Partnering with WOW!Works, Electrosonic designed, engineered, installed and integrated all audiovisual and control systems. The large complex control room incorporates and protects all control, audio, projection and show management systems.

Seven edge-blended projectors handle content for the complex arrangement of screens which are specially-coated to ensure image quality. Media servers handle playback and content masking. Electrosonic also installed a video wall and audio system for the dolphin gallery.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The spectacular show provides visitors with an immersive multisensory experience that brings together aspects of live theatrical performance and innovative audiovisual. As well as entertaining visitors, Dolphin Tales also plays a major educational role.

The venue has become one of Atlanta’s major tourist destinations, attracting over a million visitors and receiving Best Entertainment/Arts AV Installation in the Pro AV Spotlight Awards.

Project Details

Client

Georgia Aquarium / WOW!Works

Location

Atlanta, Georgia

Size

23,000 sq.ft

Services

Audiovisual Design

Engineering Design

Specialty Projection

Immersive Technologies

Surround Sound

Facility Integration

Fabrication & Installation

Testing & Programming

The new gallery and show is an important addition and expansion of Georgia Aquarium’s focus on the care of marine mammals. AT&T Dolphin Tales represents nothing less than the next level of engaging the public to care about these animals.

David Kimmel

President & Chief Operating Officer, Georgia Aquarium