ZFX

Wrapping up the summer was so much fun, but now I will begin talking about things happening currently!

This week I went on a field trip with the ONU Theatre Department to ZFX Flight Effects in Louisville, Kentucky! In their last production, Angels in America the department used flight equipment from ZFX. To save some money on the cost of shipping, ONU took a couple of vans and took it back themselves!

Although we spent more time traveling than actually at the flight center, the trip was well worth it.

ZFX is a flying effects company that manufactures, tests and ships out flight equipment for anything from theatrical shows to church events to concert tours. ZFX is known as the safest and most reliable company to fly from in the arts business. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, the founder “merged science and art” to create a company that fulfill a need.

I am a part of the Theatre Department because I am an arts administration minor, but with my involvement with children’s theatre I have grown a curiosity for the ZFX company. In 2015, Fendig Summer Theatre hired ZFX to do our flights in our production of Mary Poppins. For a small group in an old theatre, it was structurally challenging as well as a new experience for them. We were nothing but happy to work with them and learn along the way. They got to learn how to apply flying with children manually and practice using counterweights with child actors and we got trained to fly the children and provide them an amazing experience!

Two years ago ONU hosted a flight workshop where actors and technicians got to be trained in how to fly and operate the equipment. We worked on basic moves in all of their harnesses as well as some in flight combat acting. ZFX is all about matching art to science and working together. Watch me fly!

They run out of one warehouse in Louisville where they manufacture all the parts, test harnesses and layouts, meet with clients to test different layouts and structurally check all the equipment all before they send their flight directors out to help set up and train the actors and technicians. They are on the road pretty much all year round, literally flying around.

Being able to see the equipment and people behind the magic was so rewarding. We are lucky to have such amazing professors who can figure out how to take us all down there or bring the magic to our school.