Prism: The Ultimate Laser Show presented by The Original Bomb Pop™ is running daily (excluding Tuesdays) now thru July 6. This air-conditioned spectacle of color bursts mixed with exciting music marks the return of summertime live entertainment to the Kings Dominion Theater, as part of A Golden Summerbration. We sat down with the programmer of the show, Marty Canavan from YLS Entertainment, and asked questions about the lives behind the lasers.

Who is YLS Entertainment?

YLS Entertainment was started in 1985 by Martin and Luann Canavan. It started as a full production company creating shows for amusement parks and casinos. In 1990, their son Marty Canavan (me) was working for a laser company that was doing tours with rock bands at the time. At this point, they decided to open a laser branch of YLS. We've been doing laser shows since then and never looked back. I've been doing laser effects since I was 17 years old. Got my start touring with such bands as Ronnie James Dio, Motley Crue, countless rap acts in the early 90's, and many more. But that touring life is a young man's game. I'm much happier doing the kind of shows we are involved with now.

What are some of YLS Entertainment's proudest achievements and works?

There are many shows that we are very proud to be involved in. When we first started, we did most of our work at amusement parks, doing shows at several Six Flags parks. Lately, our work has primarily been in television. We have been doing American Idol, America's Got Talent, The Voice, The Masked Singer, and several others for the past 10 years or so.  

How many lights and lasers does it take to run the show?

Prism uses eight 20-watt lasers, two for graphics, and six for atmospheric effects. Then, there are 11 Laser Bars that have six 3-watt lasers in each. So, technically, there are 74 white light lasers in the show.

How does one go about programming a laser show?

The script and music were all created by Luann Canavan. After she finished up that and had it approved, that is when I started programming the show. Usually, I start by doing all the atmospheric effects, then go back and add the graphics. In my shop, I set up smaller powered lasers and use them to program the show, then make changes once we are onsite if something doesn't look the way I thought it was going to look. This show took about 60 hours in all to program. I tend to make a lot of changes, and at times, I will completely start a song over if I'm not happy with what I did the first time.  

Where do you feel the show really shines in the set?

That's a hard one to say. The show itself moves pretty well, there are parts that I like what is done graphically, and there are parts where I think the atmospheric effects work better. I do like the first song, just to hear the audience's reaction to the first laser look. That's always a nice feeling.

How do lasers work?

Well, each laser is comprised of three lasers: red, blue, and green. Those three beams are combined into one beam, making a white light. To make colors, you blend the power of each laser to create the color you are looking for. For example, red and blue make magenta. That beam is sent to two mirrors, one moving on the x-axis and one on the y-axis. Everything done by the laser is that one beam moving very fast to create a solid image. Not unlike taking a flashlight and spinning it in a circle and you can almost make a solid image. The scanners used in the laser projectors will output at 24,000 points per second. Then, to make space between things, like if the image is a face, to keep the eyes separate from the nose, the laser turns on and off very fast while the beam is moving between positions.

Don't miss your chance to see this one-of-a-kind spectacle celebrating 50 years of family fun at Kings Dominion. Admission to the show is included free with your ticket or season pass to the park. Showtimes are at 3, 4, 6, 7, & 8 PM daily (excluding Tuesdays). Get unlimited visits, free parking, AND free drinks all summer when you purchase a Season Pass now thru July 10.