The Broadway Sound Master Classes have, as always, been a blast. Got here Thursday night to see Spring Awakening, and then saw The Pirate Queen the next night. Couldn’t have seen two more different shows, and having Brian Ronan and Jonathan Deans talk to us at the BSMC in the last couple of days about the designs really drove home the significance of the differences in the aesthetic required by each of the sound designs. Jonathan Deans put it best in his program notes for The Pirate Queen when he talked about the great lengths he went to in each show to find the unique qualities that each show demanded in his sound design. In person at the BSMC, one could easily see how his animated style of public speaking and sheer joy for his work translates directly to his art. Nevin Steinberg and Tom Clark presented a completely different aesthetic when they described Acme Sound Partners “transparent” approach to their designs, and I remember how thrilling and appropriate that was in last year’s BSMC visit to Drowsy Chaperone. Brian Ronan, who has three of his shows nominated for best musical (sorry, still no Tony’s for sound design, so this is as close to an award as we’ll get for the moment) brought yet another aesthetic to the table–and, that sound “aesthetic” certainly seems to be driving the buzz for Spring Awakening and its 11 Tony Award nominations. I could’t help but think back to Abe Jacob’s Hair, and how that musical transformed Broadway many years ago. After hearing these sound designers talk about their art, it’s so hard to understand why the rest of the industry doesn’t get it–”it” being the difference between sound as an art form, and the technology and engineering required to pull it off.
Rick Thomas, lost in his blogging.
Speaking of the engineering and technology, Todd Meijer illuminated MAPP online for us all, and then Meyer Sound illuminated us all at their cocktail reception for the BSMC. How cool is it that they continue to be such strong supporters of theatre sound for so many years! The manufacturer’s showcases have been great, and I got Jim Piftizinger to show me around the new Midas digital console. Lots of interesting innovation in that one. Gotta run now, though. John Taylor from d&b Audioteknik is getting ready to do his sound system design presentation, and even though I’ve seen it before, it’s one I enjoy seeing again and again–besides being very clear and easy to understand, John’s one of the most entertaining presenters in the business. Gotta go….the show’s about to start!
~Rick Thomas
