Gateway Studios & Production Services Delivers Unparalleled Production For Will Ferrell's Ultimate Dj House Party

ST.LOUIS, January 6, 2024 – Gateway Studios & Production Services (GSPS), a leader in full-service production solutions, delivered a show-stopping experience for Will Ferrell's Ultimate DJ House Party at Chicago's Wintrust Arena. Tasked with creating an immersive nightclub atmosphere in a 10,000-seat arena, Gateway’s team provided comprehensive lighting, audio, and video services that elevated the event to a new level of technical and creative excellence.

The event was organized to benefit Cancer For College, a charity offering scholarships and support to cancer survivors and showcased Ferrell's passion for making a positive impact, blending humor, music, and philanthropy. It’s one of many initiatives highlighting his dedication to giving back and creating meaningful change in the lives of others.

Transforming an Arena into a Club Experience

The event presented a unique challenge: to make a large-scale arena feel intimate while maintaining the high-energy visual and auditory impact of a top-tier DJ performance. Gateway partnered with G4D Productions and Lighting Designer, Chris Ragan to conceptualize and implement the technical solutions that would meet these ambitious goals.

“From the outset, the goal was to make this feel like a club experience in a massive arena,” said Jon Dindas, Production Director for the event. “Gateway’s team, led by David Haskell and Andy Gerber, was instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Their adaptability and technical expertise allowed us to navigate last-minute changes, spatial constraints, and a demanding production schedule.”

The Gear That Made It Happen

Gateway’s extensive inventory of state-of-the-art equipment gave Ragan the tools to execute his vision without compromise.

• Robe Forte and Robe Spider fixtures dominated the rig, chosen for their power, versatility, and ability to adapt to the arena’s unique layout.
• Robe BMFL FollowSpots, controlled via RoboSpot systems, solved one of the arena’s biggest challenges—lighting the performers evenly in a center-stage configuration despite limited spotlight positions.
• A d&b audiotechnik line array system with flown subs delivered the club-level bass that the production required. “Getting the low end to hit the upper sections while keeping it clean on the floor was critical,” said Dindas. “The d&b system handled it beautifully.”

Gateway’s video team rounded out the experience with massive ROE CB5 LED walls, which displayed vibrant visuals throughout the lineup. Danny Clark, Art Director for the show and Creative Director at Gateway, worked closely with Ragan and the production team to ensure the content elevated the energy in the room. “Danny was the bridge between the creative vision and the technical execution,” Ragan shared. 

Overcoming Challenges in Real-Tim

While the design was ambitious, the execution was not without its challenges. The Wintrust Arena, while billed as an arena, felt closer to a college venue in size and rigging capacity. “We realized pretty quickly that rigging this show was going to be tough,” Ragan admitted. “The trusses had to pass through the scoreboard structure, with only inches to spare. It took an incredible amount of coordination to get it just right.”

As the show date approached, creative changes required the team to adapt on the fly. A thrust stage with LED panels was cut just days before load-in, and lighting positions were adjusted to make room for pyro and lasers. “That’s live production,” Ragan said. “Things change, and you roll with it. Gateway’s team handled it like pros.”