Nathan P. Hamilton (Class of 1995)

Nathan Hamilton (1995) has explored all over the entertainment map– performing, instructing, producing, directing, and designing. He’s worked globally with Disney, Universal, Princess Cruises, Knott’s Berry Farm, Hasbro, and Apple Computer among others, as well as various regional civic light operas, dinner theaters, and his own productions.

Nathan began performing regularly at the age of 8, training in dance and character acting at Dance Arts Studio in Whittier, Ca. Throughout his studies in tap, jazz, and ballet, he was also actively involved in whatever entertainment format he could get his hands on, whether it was appearing on the Mark Goodsen gameshow Child’s Play, helping his dad make props and scenery for the dance studio’s uncommonly elaborate productions, or creating his own treasure hunts for local neighborhood kids, complete with authentically styled maps, riddles, and props.

By his Sophomore year in theatre studies at the University of La Verne, Nathan was already working professionally in musical theater at the Candelight Pavilion and Riverside Civic Light Opera, playing lead and supporting roles in shows like A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, and The Music Man. Following graduation in 1995 he continued in the same mode, working regionally in dinner theater (including the Welk Resort (San Diego), CLO’s, and theme parks (Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm). He then traveled extensively, performing with the Walt Disney Company in the largest traveling shows ever produced up to that point...the Disney Fair (US) and DisneyFest (Asia). “We had a 2,000+ seat auditorium with a fully-loaded 50’ proscenium stage, huge dressing rooms and a mass of scenery, another area housing inflatable rides and attractions, the largest Disney Store ever assembled, a VIP lounge, and a concessions area with everything from breakfast to dinner... all portable!”

With Princess Cruises, he performed shipboard through Turkey, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Africa, Caribbean, South America, and the Western North American shoreline, including Alaska. When Nathan returned from abroad, he decided to do one more tour before taking a hiatus, originating the live version of the beloved character Buster from PBS’s Arthur. Arthur - A Live Adventure was an ambitious costume character show, highly dance-driven. “The Act I finale was 8 1/2 minutes of non-stop aerobics, portraying music and dance styles from the last 50 years! Anyone who’s ever done character work will understand how excruciating that can be.” After that Nathan took a break from performing to pursue tech & design, as well as his own productions.

In 2000 he programmed prototype toys for Tiger and Hasbro as a Digital Puppeteer. "I actually worked for Sid and Marty Krofft (you know...Sigmund & the Sea Monsters, HR PufNStuf, Land of the Lost, etc). In fact, my boss (and still good friend) actually WAS that lovable ol’ dragon HR PufNStuf!" The work involved puppeteering with computers; afterwards the microchips for the toys were burned with the computer data. The projects he helped bring to life included: Baby Furby, E.T., I-Cybie (cyber-dog intended to rival Sony's Aibo), and a little critter named Shelby (Furby's friend). “We were all really sad to see that project get discontinued.”

From 2000 to 2004 Nathan worked for Illusion Engineering, an optical effects company in Sylmar, as Senior Production Manager. His work involved fiber optics design and assembly, specialty lighting, and various other effects involving optics for theme parks, attractions, casinos and other clients. Projects included stunning fiber effects for an automated show at Casino Rama (Rama, Ontario), fiber optic design and installation for a casino welcome sign at Harrah's (Las Vegas), a fiber optic star-field in the E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios (sadly now The Mummy roller-coaster), and the set centerpiece for Mary J. Blige's 2002 World Concert Tour (an 18' diameter circular drop, with 14 fiber optic patterns (7500 points), and 100 LED stars. "We built it in nine days...the project was an industry first and was so well received, we did something similar (though not nearly as grand) for Usher’s tour that year. Incidentally, the Usher star curtain made the cover of Lighting Dimensions Magazine.”

Nathan’s most recent bout with fiber optics was rather large in scale... effects for a 6.5 million dollar water feature show as the centerpiece of the new Fallsview Resort in Niagara Falls. Known as the “Hydro-Teslatron,” this towering fountain was designed by Lester Creative, Inc. and features a prodigious amount of video LED panels, strobes, sound equipment, show control electronics, pump controls, and... yep... fiber optics. Nathan’s final design incorporated over 1 million linear feet of acrylic mono- filament, 700,000 points of light, and exponential patterns all pumped by argon laser to form ‘electrical arcs’ emanating from the Teslatron’s 3 wildly spinning faux turbines. During the project Nathan was injured, a freak accident shattering his left index finger under the massive weight of one of the fiberglass turbines. Luckily, he recovered after 3 arduous months of physical therapy (during which he finished the installation) and though he cannot bend his finger completely, it’s regained full functionality.

In the Autumn of 2003 he relocated from Los Angeles for 2 1/2 months to put on Turbidite Manor - Haunted Attraction in Prescott Valley, AZ. A production in development since 1987, Turbidite Manor became a sizable investment with 10,000 sq feet of portable maze. One won’t find gore or extreme themes...strictly high-end special effects laid out in a western Victorian haunted house setting. The attraction is suitable for all ages, and not unlike Disney’s Haunted Mansion...minus the cartoon humor. In 2005 and 2006 the Manor found its way to Northridge, Ca as part of Spooky House, playing to roughly 1,500 guests per evening at peak. “The show has been very well received, won the 2005 Best Scenic Design award from Haunted Media Magazine, was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and recently won 2nd Coolest Haunt Video on YouTube from Hauntworld Magazine.”

Another Halloween-time project Nathan contributed to for several years was the Hallowed Haunting Grounds. A wonderful "haunted cemetery" of notoriety in the Studio City area, it had its final manifestation in 2005. Gary Corb began working on this free front-yard display in 1973, and it is known throughout the haunt industry as the ‘grandaddy’ of Southern California yard haunts. Among the extensive and varied international press attention, the Odyssey Channel has done a documentary on the event, and the Haunting Grounds is featured in issue #1 of Haunted Media's CD ROM release. "Gary (the owner) gets most of the press, as it is his 'baby’, but there were five of us that were the core production team in its last 8 years.” Other Halloween work for Nathan has included being a lead prop builder for Knott’s Halloween Haunt and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Apple Computer, Inc. welcomed him in February of 2005 where he was a “Creative,” maintaining an expert level status pertaining to Apple’s consumer and designated professional applications, and disseminating this knowledge to customers in exciting and relevant ways. He was hired specifically with his professional entertainment background in mind, as most of his work entailed educating Mac users not only with technical know-how, but artistic flare. Though he has relocated away from the Pasadena Apple Store where he worked, he is now a private consultant, instructing people on getting the most from their Macs.

Nathan continues to move forward, tackling different design/directorial challenges and keeping his work fresh. Currently (2007), he is developing new installations for the Magic Castle in Hollywood and is in production with his wife Brinn, cinematographer and graduate of NYU & USC film schools. Together have just shot and released a music video for an up-and-coming comedic country band, and they are working on a spec TV show pilot. Nathan is now Creative Director for Fratelli Studios in Irvine, and Turbidite Manor will manifest once again in 2008, part of their new haunted theme park in Orange County.

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Regarding projects for Theatmosphere, his independent design trademark, "My big project for 2001 was doing the set for the Loving Lucy Convention at the Burbank Hilton." Pictures here.