The distinctive ADJ Vintage X scenic lighting fixture has been chosen to feature prominently in the lighting design of a new stage production by French singer Willy Mansion. Set to debut in Paris later this month before touring across France into 2026, the show – titled My Way – is a celebration of the music of Frank Sinatra with a very unique twist. Vintage X fixtures feature prominently in the stage design, providing Lighting Designer Boris Jacob a versatile canvas that fits perfectly with the production’s retro aesthetic.
A well-established performer of Rat-Pack-era swing classics, Willy Mansion has performed across France and in America. His new production has the intriguing subtitle, “What if I was Sinatra’s grandson?”, which hints at the unique love story the show tells – interspersed with Sinatra classics – in this original production written by the singer. Indeed, eighty years ago in Foggia, Italy, Willy’s grandmother met Frank Sinatra at a performance for American soldiers. She was invited onto the stage where he serenaded her with ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ and they went on to spend the evening together. They never saw each other again, but nine months later Mansion’s mother was born…
Experienced French lighting designer Boris Jacob was responsible for helping to bring Willy’s vision to reality when it comes to the illumination of this unusual story-led concert production. ADJ’s new Vintage X luminaires are at the heart of the show’s stage design, providing both the nostalgic aesthetic and modern versatility required for the production.
“I discovered the ADJ Vintage X last year at LDI in Las Vegas and was eagerly waiting for it to arrive in France,” states Boris. “As soon as the first units landed, I contacted Jérôme Baudouin at ADJ France, who quickly helped me get ten units for this new production.”
Featuring a distinctive octagonal housing, the Vintage X combines four immensely bright 60W amber (2000K) LED strips with RGB color-mixing background glow LEDs to deliver huge creative potential. The unit’s retro-style textured background reflector accentuates the output from both LED types, generating eye-catching scenic visual effects, while its heavy-duty bracket and flexible design mean that it can be easily integrated into stage or venue lighting designs in a variety of different ways.
Its robust metal construction makes the Vintage X ready for a life on the road and its relatively low weight of 18 lbs. (8.2 kgs.) makes it easy to carry and rig. It features a sturdy hanging bracket that can be used to prop the fixture up on the floor or to rig it – either standing upright on a tripod or vertical pipe, or hanging down from a truss or lighting bar. The rear of the fixture is fitted with Omega clamp receivers (clamp sold separately) and the unit also features a coffin-locking system built into the side edges of its casing. These can be used to securely link together up to eight Vintage X units to create impressive fixture arrays.
“I needed a fixture that could combine three things: a retro vintage look fitting the artist’s atmosphere, a blinder function, and a decorative light source,” explains Boris. “The Vintage X perfectly combines all of this – with its stylish retro housing, four independently controllable warm white LEDs with an excellent dimming curve, and an RGB backlight for creative decorative effects. Congratulations to ADJ for such a great fixture, and many thanks to Jérôme Baudouin for his support and professionalism.”
Featuring a full band of musicians and backing singers, a selection of swing favorites from Frank Sinatra’s extensive catalog, Willy Mansion’s unique original story, and Boris Jacob’s impressive lighting design utilizing the Vintage X, My Way is set to debut on November 26 and then tour across France throughout rest of 2025 into 2026. All the photographs presented here were taken by Maxime Maison during the creation of the show.
Show
My Way by Willy Mansion
@willymansion
Production
Stradius Prod
www.stradiusprod.com
@stradius.prod
Lighting Designer
Boris Jacob
@borisjacoblighting
Photography
Maxime Maison
@max_elkastudio
ADJ Fixtures
10 x Vintage X
