Local Staging Expert Prepares For Visit Of Pope Francis
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A pair of companies based in Delaware have the monumental task of providing the staging for Pope Francis' appearances in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. next month.
It is by far the biggest event Scott Humphrey has ever taken on.
"Between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia it's over two thousand staging panels," Humphrey says. "We're doing staging for press, we're doing all the seating around the staging area and then the stage itself."
The 52-year-old owner of Light Action Productions and Staging Dimensions in New Castle has been working upwards of 80 hours a week since he was awarded the contract in June. Humphrey says they'll need about two weeks to set everything up.
"Basically, anything that has to do with the structures that are going to be holding either lighting, audio or video up in the air along with all the staging for the event," he says, "and also the roofing system that goes over the stage where the pope will be."
He says the stage will have a unique design, with lots of curves, similar to the Hollywood Bowl.
Humphrey concedes it's a huge job, but says it's also an honor.