MASQUE SOUND CELEBRATES A DECADE WITH THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
Custom Audio Equipment Package Provides Flexibility
For Acclaimed Houston Musical Theatre Company
HOUSTON, TX, JUNE 22, 2015 — Continuing a longstanding relationship of working in collaboration with veteran, Broadway-touring Audio Designer Christopher “Kit” Bond, Masque Sound, a leading theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design company, celebrates its 10th season of providing audio equipment services to Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), Houston’s acclaimed nonprofit musical theatre company.
Now in its 47th year, TUTS’ mission is to enhance life through the experience of quality musical theatre and to positively impact lives beyond the stage through innovative education and community engagement programs. Annually producing six shows on the main stages, TUTS performs in Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston, Texas.
“When we first asked Kit to support us on these productions 12 years ago, he recommended establishing a relationship with Masque Sound, and we have not looked back since,” says John C. Breckenridge, TUTS president and CEO. “Masque Sound provides us with excellent equipment and cost-effective solutions. The team is always professional and quick to respond in the rare circumstance in which an issue has arisen. We are very thankful for their continued support.”
Of TUTS’ six-show season, three productions are self-produced and three are national tours. After experiencing great success with the initial, full rental equipment package that Masque Sound provided for the self-produced shows, TUTS made the decision, six years ago, to purchase all of the speaker and amplifier equipment from Masque Sound. The equipment has been the backbone of the system ever since, and TUTS continues to rent a season’s worth of FOH equipment from Masque Sound with each passing year.
With more than 30 years’ experience designing Broadway touring productions and 40 national tours, Bond knows the importance of working with a knowledgeable rental house when putting together equipment packages. “In my 35 years of sound design, Masque Sound has become my shop of choice for the Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours I design, so it was only natural that I would want to bring that collaboration to my new venture as sound designer for TUTS,” says Bond. “The crew is always extremely competent, helpful and very supportive in the shop. They are excellent at putting together great sounding packages and providing suggestions and ideas designed to help a production succeed.”
TUTS’ 2015/2016 season is filled with productions of some of the newest shows on Broadway and hot-off-the-press Tony Award® winners, including The Little Mermaid, Matilda, A Christmas Story, TheBridges of Madison County, Mary Poppins, Oliver! and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.
“Masque Sound is incredibly grateful to support such a prestigious, well-run organization such as TUTS with our top-shelf equipment and world-class service,” says Scott Kalata, director of sales, Masque Sound. “We have enjoyed a long standing relationship with TUTS and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
With its inception in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the theatre opened. Founded by Frank M. Young and currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge and Artistic Director Bruce Lumpkin, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals, including many local, national and world productions. Through its membership in the Independent Presenters Network, TUTS regularly helps mount shows on Broadway, which eventually show locally to Houston audiences.
For more information about Theatre Under The Stars, visit www.tuts.com.
About Masque Sound
Founded in 1936 by a trio of Broadway stagehands, Masque Sound evolved into one of NYC’s most successful theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design companies specializing in theatrical, house of worship, sporting, corporate, TV broadcast and live concert events. Celebrating more than 75 years in the industry, the company is led by President Stephanie Hansen and the firm’s third generation owner, Geoff Shearing. The company also operates Florida-based Professional Wireless Systems, a leader in the development and implementation of wireless technology. Credits range from major Broadway shows and tours including “Phantom of the Opera,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Lion King,” “Jersey Boys,” “Memphis,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Newsies,” “Once” and “Kinky Boots” to yearly Super Bowl broadcasts and installations of varying sizes, including New York’s New Victory Theater and historic St. Bartholomew’s Church. Masque Sound’s 70,000 sq. ft. corporate headquarters and main assembly facility is located at 21 East Union Ave., East Rutherford, NJ, 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan. For more information, call (201) 939-8666 or visit www.MasqueSound.com.
