Illumination creatives steeped in tradition

By Warren Black

Every night at the State Fair of Texas (Fair) Mattress Firm’s Illumination Sensation presents a 15-minute live music, dance and laser light spectacular on a stage built in the very center of the Esplanade. The Original Esplanade is the 100-yard fountain in between the Centennial and Automotive Buildings in front of the Hall of State. A Monolith and two 15-foot art deco statues (Tenor and Contralto) from 1936 serve as a wonderful backdrop for the musical extravaganza. Planning for the production begins in early spring every year. 

It takes a team of highly skilled professionals to put on the show. Scott Britt, producer/director and manager of Interlaced Productions out of Atlanta, Georgia, has been the spearhead of the show since 1989 when he was an engineering/industrial management student at Georgia Tech. Off season, the Florida native works in video and entertainment IT consulting around the country. Starting in the Cotton Bowl with just laser lights and music, his broad-based knowledge of IT has served the Fair for years. The show moved to its current location in 2006. Before they had live dancers, the production consisted of music and laser lights with several props including an inflatable ball screen, a pyramid screen and an octagon screen before they had a stage and live dancers.

Michael Connery, the fountain programmer, has been in the fountain choreography business for more than 40 years, even working with Liberace back in the day (who, at the time, was the highest paid entertainer in the world). The fountains are the only permanent part of the show. All the other elements are developed each year. During the day, the fountains dance to various musical numbers choreographed by Connery. 

Moments after the Fair’s Starlight Parade ends each night in front of the Hall of State, The Illumination Sensation explodes with the dancing fountains, music, smoke, laser lights, pyrotechnics and a stage full of professional dancers. 

The dancers (pictured) are under the leadership of choreographer Meredith Marks. This is her 10th year as head choreographer. All of the dancers are local professionals. Dance teachers, Pilates instructors and many other various professionals get together under Marks’ tutelage. The average performer has been part of the show for more than five years with 80 percent of them returning year after year. “They must be doing something right,” Britt said. He added, “The dancers are the heart of the show.” Marks, a graduate of SMU, works to design and choreograph the professional entertainers for weeks before the opening day of the Fair.

David Groves is the licensed pyrotechnic choreographer with Interlace. With Chris Lusko, lead pyrotechnician, the show comes together with music and sound. 

This year’s show is laced with jazz, pop, lyrical, contemporary, modern dance, ballet and a healthy dose of country music all choreographed to music. The 2026 show has a special emphasis on the 250th celebration of America with music emphasizing the Fair’s theme: Stars, Stripes and Howdies. 

Greg Hofmann is in charge of lighting design and production. By using local equipment from Miller Audio, weatherproof lighting, laser lights and projection graphics reflecting on smoke screens and buildings, visitors are entertained from all sides of the Esplanade.

For those sensitive to pyrotechnics, the areas closer to the front gate feature the soothing, dancing fountains while the fountain area closer to the Hall of State feature the brighter pyrotechnics. Different seating provides a different experience. 

Britt said he and his fellow creatives are steeped in tradition. There motto is, “Always looking back while moving forward.”

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