History
Show Group Production Services (SGPS) is a culmination of founder
Eric Pearce's five decades
of experience in the entertainment industry.
Originally established in 1974 as Showlites, founder Eric Pearce immediately began revolutionizing theatre lighting. He is credited with creating many industry standard solutions such as the "Par-Bar" and the use of multi-core cables with Socapex connectors. As concert touring grew bigger and more complex, Showlites became the go-to company for dependable and rugged touring gear.
By the 1980s a new office in Los Angeles began providing staging (ShowStaging) and custom fabrication (ShowFabrications) to expand their presence in the field. Further innovations from Pearce included the use of modular aluminum truss and a focus on durable equipment packaging to better facilitate and endure the trials of touring.
In 2004 a Las Vegas branch (ShowRig) was opened to supply truss and motors to the growing convention and trade show markets.
The film industry also benefited from the Showlites and ShowRig custom products to improve efficiency and safety in film and television production. SGPS ShowRig was instrumental in the introduction and use of truss and hoists as rigging solutions for film and TV. Special F/TV products and systems were developed and refined while servicing many of Hollywood’s biggest productions in LA, NOLA and Atlanta.
Today SGPS ShowRig has 7 offices across the United States and continues to provide custom staging, automation, scenic fabrication and rigging to the entertainment industry.
Eric Pearce (right) in Torrance, CA
2025 SGPS ShowRig marks the 18 years of support to Trans-Siberian Orchestra supplying scenic, automation, staging and rigging services to the annual holiday spectacle
SGPS ShowRig Nashville office expands to 50,000 sq. ft. full service regional office
SGPS/ShowRig launched a new refreshed website
2024 SGPS ShowRig expands with first international office, with a European Office in Utrecht, Netherlands.
SGPS ShowRig Nashville office expands to 50,000 sq. ft. full service regional office
SSGPS ShowRig was proud to support the reunited blink-182 tour and the inaugural Missy Elliott world tour
SGPS/ShowRig adds Cybermotion hoists to the touring rental inventory, a computer-controlled hoist system designed to ensure safe & spectacular effects for live events
2023 SGPS concluded nearly 25 years of tour support for KISS with a massive a finale show at MSG in NYC
SGPS ShowRig supported scenic fabrication and stage lifts for the worldwide “Manana Sera Bonito” stadium tour for Karol G
SGPS/ShowRig announced the appointment of Ned Collett as President. Based in Las Vegas, Collett oversees and directs all activities for the company’s worldwide operations.
2022 SGPS Launches Luke Bryant Residency at the brand-new Resorts World International Las Vegas
SGPS Supported the Meranda Lambert Residency “Velvet Rodeo” opens at Panet Hollywood in Las Vegas
2020 SGPS designed and created the original proof of concept, “mini” sphere for MSG which was used to test concepts and projection techniques for the Las Vegas Sphere
SGPS/ShowRig launched a new (now the old) website
2019 Chicago regional office opens with a focus on rigging support and rentals for the film industry
SGPS ShowRig Supported the Shenia Twain Residency at Zappos Theater in Las Vegas
SGPS ShowRig launched the Christina Aguilera Residency at in Las Vegas
2018 SGPS Theatrical Sales division begins with the installation of a kinetic ceiling for KAOS nightclub in Las Vegas
2016 Boston regional office opens offering rigging services and equipment rental for live and film productions throughout New England
2014 Atlanta regional office opens to service the burgeoning studio and film/TV industries offering rigging support and equipment rentals
2011 New Orleans regional office opens with a focus on rigging support and rentals for the film industry
2008 Nashville office opens as a service location for country music & east coast tour support
2004 Corporate headquarters & ShowFab moved to Las Vegas NV and ShowRig begins operation from what will become a 160,000 sq. ft. compound in North Las Vegas
1997 KB Effects Truss was developed as a heavy duty tracking truss/rigging solution for the Disney film Armageddon; KB Truss has become an industry standard tracking product
1990 ShowGroup Offices opened in Orlando Florida to support the expansion of Universal and Disney Studios facilities in Orlando.
1982 Showlites Baltimore & Dallas were temporarily opened to service President Ronald Reagan Inauguration
1981 Expansion into Staging and Fabrication with ShowStaging and ShowFabrications added to the roster of “Show” companies
1979 Showlites moves to Los Angeles, CA and begins servicing the concert touring industry servicing such acts as Van Hallen, The Who and Supertramp
1974 Showlites established in London, UK as a theatre lighting company