Imagine – Lady Gaga throwing herself off the top of the NRG stadium in a dazzling outfit with 300 aerial drones lighting up the sky above her. This attention-grabbing technology, though extremely fascinating to most people, is actually controversial. Not everyone believes it enhances a show. However, these tactics popularly used in performances today can actually improve the quality of a show if used correctly and not excessively.
Technology has evolved an insane amount since it first started being used in performance. According to Robert Lee, a high school theatre teacher with a master's degree from the University of Alabama, theatrical technology started with simple fire-lit lamps as the lighting for a show. Now, the world of show business
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With technology, this becomes much easier. In Lady Gaga's Grammy tribute to David Bowie, a lot of innovative technology was introduced that enabled her to give an unforgettable performance. In partnership with Intel, Gaga's face was made into "Digital Skin" by having advanced holographic projections flawlessly positioned on her throughout the whole performance. With robotic instruments and a ring that allowed her to control how the audience saw her on a huge LED screen, this technology enhanced the way the audience viewed the performance (Intel). So, by using the innovative technology previously described, the quality of the performance is automatically increased because it is literally shining a new light on the performer, allowing people like Gaga to showcase the creativity of David Bowie and bring her talent to life because it makes the connection between her and the stage more interactive. Samantha Leslie, a former technical staff member from Cirque du Soleil, stated that "technical theatre either enhances the existing talent or it becomes so vital that the preexisting talent requires the technology to be showcased properly." By this, Leslie means that if it is used properly, technology improves a show and that a lot of performances are not even possible without it. A popular claim is that flashing light shows, smoke, and other forms of technology distract from the true talent of a performer. While there can be some validity in this, every aspect of a show (even technology, no matter how excessive it can appear) is used to entertain the audience, and very rarely is technology used for the soul purpose to distract from the true talent, or lack of, of an