Circles of Light

Circles of Light
Type	Stage
Distributor	CEC
Number of locations	88
Released	May 23, 2012
Released	United States, Central America, South America, Middle East

The Circles of Light stage is a single-animatronic stage used at Chuck E. Cheese's. It is currently only offered for franchises. This was the last stage to be created before the Rockstar era.

The Stage

In early 2012, Weigl became a Vendor Partner with CEC Entertainment Inc., to help with the new stage design.

Circles of Light was introduced to Chuck E. Cheese locations in the Spring of 2012. CEC was planning for the fifth iteration of the main stage attraction when Weigl was asked to engage in the conversation. A major priority was to evolve the technology to allow for more advanced programming and control.

Dubbed Circles of Light, the new stage show includes many new elements designed to further engage the guests and highlight the Chuck character. Features include; a large HD screen on the wall, enhanced theater-quality lighting, and touch-sensitive LED-backlit wall panels.  The new stage is fabricated by Corman and Associates, and continues to use the famous Chuck character produced by the California-based animatronic’s studio, Garner Holt Productions.

Garner Holt Productions has built the animatronics since 1998 when the Studio C stage was introduced.

In September 2012, the test stage in Dallas Montfort removed their animatronic. This would not affect Circles of Light installations afterwards until December 2013 when the second animatronic-less store opened their doors in Long Beach, CA (Now closed). From there on every Circles of Light stage would be installed with no animatronic with the exception of franchises like Tucson, AZ, Chandler, AZ and Kapolei, HI.

There is a technical easter egg hidden in the Circles of Light stage. During any video segment other than the Chuck E. Live segments or the musical acts, there are three circles that are always changing color while the others remain a single color. Pressing the color changing circle in the center under the screen will cause the stage to flash and shimmer.

Special Circles of Light Stages

• The COL in Dallas (Montfort) was the first COL ever installed and the first 32 movement COL. It had a 32 movement Chuck E which was removed the day after the stage was installed in 2012 making this the first COL without an animatronic.
• The COL in Chandelier, Arizona has the Chuck E. from Phoenix (Warner), Arizona which closed in 2014.
• The COL in Port Orange, Florida has the Chuck E. from Meriden, Connecticut which closed on May 19 2013.
• The COL in Naples, Florida has the Chuck E. from South Portland, Maine which closed on December 16 2012.
• The COL in West Palm Beach has the Chuck E. from the Montfort Alpha, Beta, Star Stage and COL.
• The COL in Melrose Park, Illinois was the second COL ever installed and the first 16 movement COL.
• Before its closure in 2020, the COL in Wilmington, Delaware had the COL from San Antonio (Ingram), Texas.
• The COL in Matteson, Illinois was the first COL location to close. They closed in 2020.
• The COL in San Antonio (Ingram) Texas replaced a 3 stage. This COL was removed for 2.0 in 2017 and was sent to Wilmington Delaware.
• The COL in Bronx (Exterior) New York was removed and replaced by a Chuck E. Live Stage.
• Before its closure in 2021 the COL in San Jose California (Fontaine) replaced and Alpha and part of a 2.0 remodel.

Gallery

16 Movement Circles Of Light Stage (Tacoma Park, MD)

32 Movement Circles Of Light Stage (Chandler, AZ)

Early Circles Of Light Stage (Dallas, TX)

Later Circles of Light stage without large circle and platform (Naperville, IL)

2-Story Circles Of Light Stage (Dubai, UAE)

Diagram of stage layout

Circles of Light Stage With an Animatronic

Circles of Light without an animatronic. Live - Thats What Makes You Beautiful