Gateway Studios & Production Services Supports Will Ferrell’s Ultimate DJ House Party

By: FOH Staff
Featured, News
January 9, 2025

Photo by Hailey Gawedzinski

CHIGAGO – Gateway Studios & Production Services (GSPS) provided audio, lighting and video systems for Will Ferrell’s Ultimate DJ House Party at Chicago’s 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena. The event, which took place Oct. 26, 2024, raised funds for Cancer For College, a charity offering scholarships and support to cancer survivors.

More details from GSPS (www.gsps.com):

GSPS FOH tech Shane Thomas at one of the the two Avid S6L-24D consoles used for the event

The event presented a unique challenge: to make a large-scale arena feel intimate while maintaining the high-energy visual and auditory impact of a top-tier DJ performance. “From the outset, the goal was to make this feel like a club experience in a massive arena,” said Jon Dindas, Production Director for the event. “Gateway’s team, led by David Haskell and Andy Gerber, was instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Their adaptability and technical expertise allowed us to navigate last-minute changes, spatial constraints, and a demanding production schedule.”

Along with lighting and video gear, Gateway provided a d&b audiotechnik line array system with flown subs to deliver the club-level bass that the production required. “Getting the low end to hit the upper sections while keeping it clean on the floor was critical,” said Dindas. “The d&b system handled it beautifully.”

Photo by Hailey Gawedzinski

While the design was ambitious, the execution was not without its challenges. The Wintrust Arena, while billed as an arena, felt closer to a college venue in size and rigging capacity. “We realized pretty quickly that rigging this show was going to be tough,” Ragan admitted. “The trusses had to pass through the scoreboard structure, with only inches to spare. It took an incredible amount of coordination to get it just right.”

As the show date approached, creative changes required the team to adapt on the fly. A thrust stage with LED panels was cut just days before load-in, and lighting positions were adjusted to make room for pyro and lasers. “That’s live production,” Ragan said. “Things change, and you roll with it. Gateway’s team handled it like pros.”

When the lights dimmed and the first beats hit, the transformation was clear. The lighting, visuals, and audio came together seamlessly, turning the arena into a high-energy club. Every detail—from the deep bass to the vibrant visuals—kept the audience engaged and the energy high.

“For me, it’s always about the audience,” Dindas reflected. “If the people in the crowd are smiling, dancing, and having the time of their lives, we’ve done our job. Gateway helped us deliver that—and then some.”

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