Seuss!

E

Eric Simna

Sophomore
Jan 12, 2011
104
0
16
Cleveland, OH
www.a440sound.com
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My office for a couple days. This was supposed to be a simple kids musical camp. Aviom Pro64 snake system and a Yamaha O3D. 20 wireless mics, 4 PCCs, Computer audio. All for ONE performance. Yeah, simple.

There is no such thing as a simple musical.
And I'm stuck doing Seussical.
Talking in rhyme.
Too much of the time,

And my first rehearsal was in front of an audience of 90.
 

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Re: Seuss!

Oh the thinks you can think!

I've done Seussical the Musical a couple of times and find myself liking it more as time goes on. The "minimalist" approach to both the music and lyrics serves Dr. Seuss very well.

The challenge for the system design and mixing is to get all those nearly homophones distinct and separate. If the intelligibility is lousy, so will the audience experience be.

All the Whos in Whoville say "we are here, we are here!"

Tim Mc
 
Re: Seuss!

The show is a challenge. Now add to that challenge a cast which still doesn't have everything memorized (kids have had the script for about 20 days) and are as quite as mice. Luckily Mommy and Daddy are just happy just to hear little Suzi's voice.

But you're right. The show is very good. I will certainly have songs stuck in my head for at least a week or two.
 
Re: Seuss!

I just did Seussical Jr. For a local school this past spring. I think we kept it pretty tame at 16ch of wireless and 1 CD player. The most "fun" part of that play was the opening number, lots of quick entrance to keep up with! The only way to get those songs out of your head is with a rusty butterknife, lol.
 
Re: Seuss!

Tom Manchester said:
The only way to get those songs out of your head is with a rusty butterknife, lol.
Click to expand...

Agreed. And yeah. Opener is a killer. Luckily they overcast (all campers needed a part) so the Wickershams and Bird Girls were loud enough as groups to not require their mics be turned on. Regardless, it was messy.

I really like the Jr series from MTI. I've been working with it for about 13 years now. My one complaint is the Disney-fication of the librettos now. It started with Aladdin Jr. Putting the vocal scores in line with the dialog. Its not easy to read, at all.
 
Re: Seuss!

IMAG0336-s.jpg

That looks like a breeze compared to what I had to deal with tonight...

Last minute show, I'm told nothing about it other than to bring a rack of 6 wireless and 892 headsets, a Soundcraft GB4, and a few varicurves.

As it turns out I am supposed to be combining my 6 wireless with 12 other wireless systems, which just so happen to be of the same model and frequency band as the ones I have brought. load in is 3PM, rehersal starts at 5, doors open at 6:30 for a 7:00 show. The all of the wireless were AT 3000, and *if* the spectrum is completely free of interference I *might* be able to get 16 channels going, so I start with my co-ordination and get everything dialed in pretty close, but the director still wants a few more channels because all of the actors need a mic. :?~:-?~:???: Call the shop and have them bring me a rack with another 8 channels of ULX-P and more headsets, get those all dialed in.

Oh, and all the actors were ages 5-11, and we didn't get a complete rehearsal in before the doors opened so I ran the show without most of my cues. Plus somehow I also got stuck micing up all the little buggers by my self...

Ah, the joy of directors gone mad over a simple summer theater camp.
 
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