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Toronto Metropolitan University lights up learning with BlackTrax
At the heart of Toronto Metropolitan University stands Chrysalis. This theatre is now reimagining live entertainment through emerging technologies
Chrysalis is a landmark 1200-seat proscenium theatre housed in the historic Ryerson Theatre in downtown Toronto. Scott Martin, the technical lead, Owais Lightwala, the director, and Jasmine Au, the creative producer, are now using Cast’s BlackTrax technology to equip students with industry-defining methodologies and skills.
A recent project, MONEY, highlighted Chrysalis’s approach. The team collaborated with Canadian playwright and performer Rick Miller to workshop his new production. Although the script was mostly complete, Miller used the session to experiment with lighting, video and audio technologies.
One of the primary tools used in this workshop was BlackTrax. This real-time tracking system provided both the technical precision and creative flexibility to test onstage configurations.
As a network-based platform, BlackTrax offered a range of creative and technological applications for users with a foundation in networking and computing. Plus, Cast was available to lend support to the Chrysalis team in the initial setup of the system.
BlackTrax is powerful teaching tool for both creative and technical areas. Image: Michael Cooper
Aidan Ware, the lighting designer and technical director, led the integration for MONEY. He helped implement a system where eight actors were fitted with trackers. This supported real-time lighting adjustments based on movement, helping to reduce washout and maintain sharp visuals.
BlackTrax also fed live positional data into the video system. Automation reduced the need for manual camera work and allowed the team to adapt quickly as the workshop evolved.
This partnership exemplifies how industry and academia can come together to shape the future of performance.
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