PRG’s growth as a company has paralleled the development of modern technology in the live entertainment industry. Founded in 1982 by Jere Harris as Jeremiah J. Harris Associates, and later renamed Harris Production Services, the company was joined two years later by Scenic Technologies, founded to develop new scenic fabrication and automation techniques for the live entertainment market. Landmarks of those early years include the long-running musical production The Phantom of the Opera (1988), which featured the debut of the patented Stage Command® motion control system, and EFX (1995) at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, which was produced by Harris, and with a budget of $45 million, remains one of the largest theatrical shows ever.
Responding to growing customer requests for a one-stop production solution, Production Resource Group, L.L.C., (PRG) was established in 1995. PRG increased its capabilities over the next several years through a number of strategic acquisitions, including lighting and audio companies such as Vanco and Cinema Services (1996); Bash (1997); and Promix (1998). The acquisitions of Light & Sound Design (1998) and VLPS® Lighting Services (2004) brought the teams responsible for many of the pioneering innovations in our industry, setting the stage for a series of industry-leading proprietary products that continue to set PRG apart today.
With the acquisition of the Chicago based company High Performance Images (HPI) in 2007 as well as the Hi-Tech Rentals and Essential Lighting Great Britain (both 2008) it was possible for PRG to increase its share in the corporate event industry considerably.
In 2009, PRG took a giant step forward into the global marketplace with the acquisition of PROCON MultiMedia AG. This move has solidified PRG’s position as the premier resource in the entertainment and event technology industry, with a unique global brand and a strong presence and customer base in major markets and geographic locations worldwide. With the integration of Showtec in 2010 this position in central Europe was increased even further.
The 2011 acquisition of First Events BVBA, expanded PRG’s European presence into new territories, including the Netherlands and Spain, as well as significantly reinforced their existing activities in Belgium. A major Europe-based entertainment technology company, First Event’s holdings included EML Productions NV in Belgium, EML Productions Holland BV in The Netherlands, and Sound and Light Productions S.L. in Spain.
In 2014, PRG expanded into the Middle East when it acquired Dubai based Gearhouse, L.L.C., the largest provider of turnkey event production services across the Gulf Region with an unmatched history and an undisputed reputation for flawless technical delivery and customer service. PRG Gearhouse was born.
2015 kicked off with the acquisition of Chaos Visual Productions, which expanded the reach of PRG Nocturne and their expertise with live video production into more markets.
Today, PRG continues to lead the industry with the comprehensive integration of entertainment technology as represented by our work on productions such as Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (2011). For this groundbreaking production, PRG provided the lighting, audio, video, and automation systems, as well as the construction of the massive scenery. Spider-Man set a new standard for the total integration of production technology, which we continue to apply to every project. In 2013, PRG brought their technical expertise, especially in the area of scenic automation when we collaborated closely with Global Creatures to bring King Kong to the stage in Australia. PRG, in 2014, partnered with Hero Ventures, when we brought our technical expertise to bear on The Marvel Experience, an unprecedented audience engagement that is a fully immersive experience that brings guests into Marvel's world of superheroes and villains. PRG has a legacy and a future of bringing the impossible to reality.
Jeremiah “Jere” Harris
Executive Chairman, Chief Creative Officer & Founder
Jere is widely recognized as a transformative figure in entertainment and event production, having led PRG to become a global company serving the theatre, film, television, broadcast, concert touring, events and staging and hotels markets. Today PRG has 72 locations spanning five continents and holds over 350 patents and trademarks for its proprietary technology. Jere founded Production Resource Group, L.L.C., in 1995, and guided its growth through strategic acquisitions in lighting, audio, video, automation, scenic and labor solutions.
He is part of the fourth generation of a family of theatre pioneers and took his first job in a scenic shop at age 16. Among his many professional accomplishments, he presented EFX, an entertainment landmark which opened at the MGM Las Vegas and ran for nearly eight years. He also produced Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, the most technically complex production ever mounted on a Broadway stage. Jere has earned top honors across market segments, including four Tony Awards, multiple Drama Desk Awards, and an Engineering Emmy Award for PRG’s GroundControl Followspot system. He is also the recipient of the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest recognition in the live event industry.
Stephan Paridaen
Chief Executive Officer
Stephan Paridaen is a Belgian born entrepreneur who has been involved in the entertainment technology industry for over 25 years. He studied economics at the University of Antwerp and received an MBA at the Vrije University of Brussels, all while founding a software company for the construction industry. He then continued his education and earned a degree from Harvard University.
In 1993, Stephan was hired as laureate of the Prince Albert Fund by Barco, an industry leader in digital projection and imaging technology. He was sent to Prague to develop the emerging Eastern European markets and shortly after transferred to Singapore as the company’s Asia sales and marketing lead.
Upon returning to Belgium, Stephan founded Barco’s LED display division which led to the development of projection systems that transformed digital cinema globally and formed the basis for Barco’s Media & Entertainment division, which he led from 2001 to 2009.
In 2010, Stephan joined PRG out of Belgium, where he’s played a key role overseeing the acquisitions, development and continual growth of the EMEA and APAC markets, improving operational results and expanding offerings as President and COO of the company.
Now in 2022, Stephan begins his next chapter at PRG as CEO based out of New York City.
