Custom Audio Equipment Package Heats Up the Stage with Passionate Adaptation of Hugely Popular Novel
NEW YORK, MARCH 6, 2014 – Masque Sound, a leading theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design company, provided a custom audio equipment package for the new romantic musical, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The show officially opened on Thursday, February 20.
Based on James Waller’s best-selling novel, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY tells the story of photographer Robert Kincaid and his life-changing, four-day love affair with Iowa farm wife Francesca Johnson. Developed by a Pulitzer®- and Tony® Award-winning creative team, this new musical captures the lyrical expanse of America’s heartland along with the eternal question, “What if…?” Directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher and book by Marsha Norman, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY features a score by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and stars four-time Tony Award-nominee Kelli O’Hara and Steven Pasquale.
Sound Designer Jon Weston and Masque Sound began their collaboration on THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY when the musical made its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival last summer. “I have enjoyed a long relationship with Masque Sound and it’s great to be working with them once again,” says Weston. “They are an excellent sound shop to collaborate with and I can always count on them to provide me with the equipment that I like to use, which in some cases is not that easy to find since I like the characteristics of older gear. I specifically chose an older-era console, speakers and amplifiers for this production.”
Weston’s goal in designing the sound for THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY was to be as sonically transparent as possible. “In order to provide that organic, analog feel for the show, we walked the line of acoustic reinforcement very carefully and discretely, including an all-acoustic orchestra pit,” he adds. “I really wanted the sound to be as real as possible.”
At the heart of the custom audio equipment package Masque Sound provided was the Cadac J-Type analog console, which Weston considers the finest-sounding audio mixing console. Masque Sound’s custom equipment package also included Tannoy 3836 Dual Concentric 15-inch speakers, EAW JF200 and JF60 ultra-compact two-way range speakers, d&b audiotechnik E8 and E12X-Sub loudspeakers, Meyer Sound subwoofers and speaker processors, Yamaha H series power amplifiers alongside d&b audiotechnik power amplifiers, Sennheiser and Shure wireless microphones, XTA Electronics DP428/448 Speaker Management System and a Clear-Com intercom system. In addition, Masque Sound provided frequency coordination for the 24-channels of wireless in-use throughout the show.
“My biggest challenge on this project was finding the equipment I wanted because it’s not stuff that rents all the time and Masque Sound did an incredible job in accommodating my needs,” says Weston. “This was a true collaboration and my team, made up of Head Sound Engineer Jason Strangfeld; Assistant Sound Engineer Sean Luckey; Production Engineer Charlie Grieco; Sound Engineer Michael Eisenberg and Assistant Sound Designer Josh Millican, along with the designers of the other departments, were all on the same page on how we wanted the show to look and feel, and I think we were very successful.”
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 lead by Geoff Shearing, the firm’s 3rd generation owner, and Vice President and General Manager Stephanie Hansen. 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.
