Laser Taylor Swift

Ingram Planetarium offers music and laser light shows for Swifties and other music lovers all summer long.

Can’t make it to Seattle, Denver, Mexico City or any other location of a Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert? Try the next best experience by hearing her in the 55-minute Laser Taylor Swift show at Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach.

The laser show involves projecting laser beams that create designs, graphics and other images on the planetarium’s 40-foot dome. These animations are set to 15 of Swift’s popular songs, all of which focus on her common themes of love, breakup and friendship.

It’s not necessary to be a Swiftie to appreciate the creation of this musical entertainment. The show starts with various red circles interconnecting, separating, disappearing and emerging again as Swift sings the lyrics to “You Need to Calm Down” from her Lover album.

The smooth transition to “22” from the Red album then “Anti-Hero” from Midnights transforms viewers as they are mesmerized by the flashing beams, graphics and figures. Hearts breaking up, outlines of devil heads and myriad designs synchronize with the songs.

Planetarium Manager Callie Boyle says Laser Taylor Swift is shown at 6 pm every Thursday until Labor Day. She adds that many songs feature special effects from the planetarium’s new Digistar 7 system layered behind the lasers that take the show to a new level of immersion.

“The crowd response has been wonderful,” she says. “People dance in their seats and sing along with their favorite songs throughout the show.”

Boyle recommends people call the day of the show to reserve seats.

“They are going quickly,” she says. “If a show sells out, we will post it on our Facebook page.”

Other laser shows at the planetarium include Pink Floyd’s classic 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon. Among the nearly dozen songs with the themes of greed, conflict and death are “Speak to Me,” “On the Run” and “Great Gig in the Sky.” Another Pink Floyd classic is The Wall with “Goodbye Blue Sky,” “Young Lust” and “Hey You.”

Laser shows include the Beatles, some of the greatest singers and musicians of all time. Viewers will recognize and sing or hum along with their composition of “Come Together,” “Octopus’s Garden” and “Here Comes the Sun.”

The multi-talented singer-musician-dancer-songwriter Michael Jackson is featured in the laser show that beams “Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and “Bad.”

Laser Stranger Things includes classic hits from the eighties. Among the songs are “Every Breath you Take” by The Police, “Runaway” by Bon Jovi and “Running up That Hill” by Kate Bush. Laser shows continue through the summer until Labor Day.

The planetarium offers other shows among which are The Sky Tonight, Wayfinders and Magic Globe. Check the schedule at museumplanetarium.org for their descriptions and days and times of showings.

The interactive Paul Dennis Science Hall at the planetarium is open throughout the day and has a variety of exhibits. “Viewspace” highlights astronomy and is linked to NASA so visitors have an opportunity to see mission updates. A mural depicts North Carolina’s contributions to flight from Kitty Hawk to training of astronauts at Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill. “Illumination: Cosmic Science Comes to Light” explains properties of light and how telescopes work. Photos from the James Webb Space Telescope are also displayed.

To cement memories of the planetarium, visitors can browse its gift shop, which offers items that are reminiscent of the attractions.

Want to go?
Laser Taylor Swift
6 pm on Thursdays until Labor Day

Ingram Planetarium
7625 High Market Street, Sunset Beach
(910) 575-0033
museumplanetarium.org
facebook.com/IngramPlanetarium

Doors to the planetarium open at 10:30 am Monday through Saturday. Shows begin at 11 am.

Cost is $8 for children ages 3 to 12; $9 for seniors 62+; $10 for adults; free for 2 and younger. A combination ticket to visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach for one planetarium show and all-day at the museum is adults, $15; seniors, $14; children, $13.