VIDEO: “Luminiscence” Brings Immersive Experience to St. Patrick’s Cathedral
MIDTOWN — Visitors to St. Patrick’s Cathedral will soon have a new way to experience the iconic New York City landmark.
“Luminiscence,” an immersive show combining projections, light, animation, music, and sound, will debut at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Oct. 2.
The experience transforms the cathedral into a 360-degree setting featuring live music performed by an orchestra and choir, along with the cathedral’s organ.
“It’s a celebration of the building, so the building is the star,” said Clayton Ferguson, the executive producer and general manager of Luminiscence North America. “We take projections and light and animations, and it’s a 360-degree immersion of light and sound and live music with the orchestra and choir. And the organ — just phenomenal to us.”
The show originated in France three years ago as a way to showcase cathedrals and their architecture. It has since been presented in locations around the world before coming to New York City.
“This is a huge live experience that we have embraced,” organizers said. “It was created in France by a company called Lotchi. And so we brought it to the U.S. And so St. Patrick’s is our newest launch, which we’re very excited about,” said Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas.
The St. Patrick’s Cathedral production takes visitors through the history of the landmark, including its founding and milestones that have shaped its legacy.
While “Luminiscence” is not specifically designed as a Christian show, organizers said the experience aligns with the cathedral’s mission of welcoming people through its doors.
“While this is not expressly designed as a Christian show, it aligns so beautifully with our Catholic friends because it is absolutely 100% aligned with the goals,” organizers said. “But it gets so many new people back into the building, welcoming them back home. And seeing this literally in a different light.”
The production offers visitors a different way to experience one of New York’s most recognizable Catholic landmarks.
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“This is just a different way to approach the audience, but it’s still just trying to captivate people and present something to them that feels like it delivers,” organizers said.
Tickets for “Luminiscence” at St. Patrick’s Cathedral are on sale for performances through mid-November.