ABOUT

Lightwire Theater is a unique entertainment experience that utilizes light, technology, and music to tell captivating stories. Our shows are designed to bring audiences of all ages into a fantastical world of imagination.

Lightwire Theater has been featured as a semi-finalist on NBC's America’s Got Talent and winner of Tru TV's Fake Off. The group combines theater and technology to bring stories to life in complete darkness and is internationally recognized for its signature brand of electroluminescent artistry.  

Lightwire co-creators Ian Carney and Corbin Popp met in New York City while dancing in Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out on Broadway. An immediate connection was made between the kindred spirits as they discovered their mutual love of art, theater, and technology. After coming across a product called, “el wire,” the lights turned on and the possibilities seemed endless. Together, with their wives Eleanor and Whitney, they began to experiment with shapes and designs to develop puppetry-based neon creatures that quickly came to life.

Based in New Orleans, Lightwire Theater continues to create and deliver innovative theatrical experiences to audiences worldwide including: Hong Kong, Estonia, Canada, Belarus, China, Abu Dhabi, and as finalists on My TF1’s, The Best Le Meilleur Artiste in Paris.

The process of building Lightwire Theater’s electroluminescent characters starts with the creators and the cast. They build everything from the ground up, utilizing recyclable materials including aluminum rods, election signs, skate board wheels, dryer ducting, plumbing supplies, PVC pipes, fishing poles, duct tape, zip ties and back packs to help define peaks and angles.

These common household items help create durable and pliable sculptures that can withstand the movement of the dancers for multiple performances. Black fabric is added to the sculpture for dimension and then lined with electroluminescent wire known as “el wire”. Unlike blacklights, “el wire” can be powered by batteries, requires no theatrical lighting and gives a 360-degree of glowing light. The result…anything your inner-child can dream of including 16-ft. tall birds, dinosaurs, ducks, soldiers, swords and more!