THE CREATIVE PROCESS : A LABOR OF LOVE

At the heart of Harary ’ s show is an intense creative process that starts and stops with him . “ I ’ m a control freak ,” he admits with a laugh . “ Everything on that stage is something that Franz thinks is cool .”

Harary ’ s meticulous attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the production . From the lighting , designed by Fuji San — a brilliant lighting designer he ’ s worked with on numerous pop concerts in Japan — to the LED video graphics created by Glen Grillo , a collaborator since 1999 , every element is carefully crafted . While Harary is the face of the show , he ’ s quick to credit his team for their invaluable contributions . From his stage manager , Vegas headliner Joaquin Ayala , to costume designer Sonny Ware , each team member plays a crucial role in bringing the show to life . “ I can only delegate because I ’ ve surrounded myself with

people who ’ ve been with me for so long , they know how I think ,” Harary explains . “ That ’ s the only way to put together something of this size .”

At the forefront is Fuji San , Harary ’ s lighting designer , with whom he has worked extensively on pop concerts in Japan . Fuji ’ s brilliance lies not just in his technical prowess but in his deep understanding of Harary ’ s aesthetic sensibilities . “ He knows how I think . He knows my design language ,” Harary shares . Fuji ’ s ability to light illusions transforms them into dazzling spectacles of eye candy . However , Harary emphasizes the importance of contrast : “ In order to make things look beautiful , you need to pepper it with ugly and even disgusting . Because if you don ’ t have salt , then sugar doesn ’ t work .” Fuji ’ s grasp of these nuanced formulas allows Harary to entrust him with projects , confident in the knowledge that the results will align with his artistic vision .

Phillip Kaiser taking a bow .

Another cornerstone of Harary ’ s team is Glen Grillo , his LED video graphics designer . Their partnership dates to 1999 , and Glen ’ s rockstar persona reflects in his psychedelic , boundarypushing graphics . Harary fondly recalls Glen ’ s Venice Beach days , clad in leather pants and rock n ’ roll boots , embodying the very spirit of his designs . Despite relocating to places like Bali and the rainforests of Maui , Glen ’ s dedication to their collaborative work remains unwavering . “ Glen is a unicorn . What he does , I could never afford . But we ’ ve been together for so long that he stays with us because he loves being a part of this ,” Harary remarks .