February 23, 2024

Beginning Friday, March 1, the Delta College Planetarium in Bay City will offer two music shows to celebrate the most popular classic rock bands ever to play in planetariums – Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The performances are choreographed with immersive effects animation in the planetarium’s Dome360 Theater.

Running on Friday and Saturday nights, Led Zeppelin plays at 6pm with Pink Floyd: The Wall at 7:30pm. This limited engagement plays through April 27.

Specially re-mastered for the dome theater, the music of Led Zeppelin is piped through the planetarium's 13,000-watt state-of-the-art sound system and then visually interpreted using high-resolution full-dome scenery. These dynamic visuals transport audiences with the feeling of motion and transcendence.  Surreal original environments match uniquely with the big hit classics from Zeppelin like “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “Immigrant Song” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

The second performance each night features Pink Floyd’s famous album “The Wall,” now re-visualized and updated. A key to The Wall’s popularity in planetarium light shows lies in the visual suggestions of the story based on the 1982 movie “Pink Floyd: The Wall.” The film depicted the mental construction and eventual demolition of a metaphorical wall, created in the mind of a rock star named “Pink.” The bizarre and sometimes dark psychological impressions allow for plenty of opportunity for abstract and representative imagery on the dome. “It’s like a mental struggle for sanity as told in the music and artistic graphics,” says Mike Murray, Planetarium Manager.  

“The Wall” includes the album’s most popular hits including “Is There Anybody Out There,” “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Comfortably Numb,” “Goodbye Blue Sky,” “Hey You,” and “Run Like Hell.”

Due to the mature subject matter and intense nature of the shows, both Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd: The Wall are not recommended for children under 12. Children 7 and under are not admitted. Tickets are $10 per person. Advance purchase online is highly recommended at delta.edu/planetarium. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes before the show starts.  Late admission is not allowed due to unique theater conditions.

The Delta College Planetarium is located in downtown Bay City at 100 Center Avenue. For more information go to delta.edu/planetarium or call 989-667-2260.