Live Theater Goes 3D in North Hollywood

N. Hollywood - 3D has changed the way we watch movies and it's starting to make its mark on television... so why not bring 3D technology to theater? That's what a theater company in North Hollywood is trying out.

Hal Eisner's checks it out in the video report.

Story Script:

The show was the brainchild of choreographer Eddie Garcia, who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Paula Abdul and Michael Jackson in the past.

Eddie Garcia, Choreographer
We've been working on this night and day around the clock to get this together but it's a combination of live theater, dance, music.

Jim Toten, Engineer
It's amazing because we're doing rapid set changes that would normally take months of preparation and dollars to paint the sets and get everything ready and we can change it at a moment's notice.

Choreographer Dee Casparay didn't think there were enough live opportunities for dancers in Los Angeles to show their stuff, so he created the 18-day festival now underway at the El Portal, opening up the door to experimenting with 3D.

Dee Casparay, Choreographer
I think 3D gives you full dimension behind you that's real and allows the dancers to just dance.

But... is it tough working and dancing in a 3D environment?

Yusuf Nesir, Dancer
A little bit. Since the screen is behind us, we don't face the back of the stage too long but since there are times when i'm spotting it, I have to face the wall. It's like "whoa!"

Eddie Garcia, Choreographer
This was a one night show, but there will be many others between now and August 14th with some 50 choreographers and over 200 dancers at the El Portal Theater.

More information:

El Portal Theatre
www.elportaltheatre.com