"A CBU Christmas" 2025 Holiday Concert

Every year, California Baptist University produces a series of holiday concerts called A CBU Christmas. Just as in the past, PCE got a chance to produce the 2025 iteration, providing lighting, staging, rigging, video, and other production. The event takes place in the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center on CBU campus, a building mostly used as an NCAA basketball arena.

A CBU Christmas is a massive event, featuring a full orchestra, choir, rock instrumentation, dancers, actors, and other performers. At times, the show featured well over 200 people on stage simultaneously. It took four semi-trucks full of gear and over 30 technicians to put the event together.

Because the event takes place in a basketball arena, the PCE team had to complete the setup of all production gear without the use of heavy equipment (since forklifts and other similar machinery would damage the arena hardwood). That meant that the PCE team had to handload and set up all equipment, including Steeldeck staging at heights of 24", 60", and 96".

PCE Lighting Designer Ed Motts worked with CBU to develop an all-new show, choosing Elation Proteus Maximus, Elation Proteus Lucius, and Martin MAC Aura PXL fixtures to set the right mood. These lights created high quality textures, layers, and colors to help bring all the individual songs to life. Robe iForte Followspot lights on the RoboSpot platform provided remote control for scenes that required specific character lighting.

The PCE team relishes the chance to work on holiday events like this one. Nothing makes us happier than getting a chance to spread some holiday cheer among an audience of thousands.