01.07.2025 | STRAY Production Services Turns To All-purpose PARAGON for WJTL Fest

Christian radio station WJTL returned to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 17 for WJTL Fest-a day filled with inspiring music, fun activities, and uplifting moments. STRAY Production Services brought its new PARAGON LED profile luminaires for the event, and STRAY's Jon Boyer handled the lighting design.

"Because the event is outside on a mobile stage, during the day, and without haze, I needed a fixture punchy enough to make an impact but also diverse enough that I could create an artistic show," Boyer stated. "It proved an ideal event for our new PARAGON fixtures."

As STRAY's outdoor event roster continues to grow, the company invested in the multi-award-winning PARAGON M earlier this spring, choosing it as the new workhorse fixture for indoor and outdoor productions.

"Something we ran into a lot the past couple of years is trying to fit all the lights designers want on a mobile stage," commented Mark Bartlett, VP of Events at STRAY. "Our PARAGONs are brighter, lighter and more compact than our 1000W discharge fixtures and that weight savings is critical when working with the truss limitations of portable stages."

The PARAGON's IP54 weatherproof rating not only offers protection against water and dust ingress, but it also allows for a more compact, lightweight design with superior output. On WJTL Fest, six PARAGON M fixtures were used as the main profile fixture on two separate upstage trusses. "Being able to use a variety of colors, gobos, and effects helped create a 'large' show from just a handful of fixtures," LD Boyer stated.

The PARAGON M emits over 37,000 lumens, which proved essential on the event since most of the performances took place during daylight hours. That level of brightness ensured the lighting remained impactful even under the sun.

"The intensity of the beam was impressive, along with the precise color adjustment and the wide variety of gobos available," said Boyer, who went on to share a visually impactful moment from the show.

"One of my favorite looks was having the fixtures sweep from the stage up over the audience, then on the hit, all the lights strobed, quickly dropped back to the deck, changed color, and went into a pointed intensity chase. It was a great effect, and I look forward to using them in the future to create even bigger and better shows."

STRAY is one of a growing number of rental companies that have invested in the PARAGON lighting series since its debut at LDI in December. The company has already used its PARAGONs on several projects, with more scheduled for the summer.