Hard Times

Stephen Flaherty's award-winning musical, A Man of No Importance, tells the story of an amateur theatre group in Dublin and their leader, who is determined to stage a version of Oscar Wilde's Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities. For the Gallery Players' 2012 production of the show, my sound design sought to complement the action by incorporating source music through practical speakers and layering environmental ambiences, in order to provide a new sonic dimension to scenes and settings. I also worked along side the musical director in balancing the sound of the 6-piece orchestra in the performance space, providing constant feedback and troubleshooting during tech rehearsals. The Gallery Players took home two New York Innovative Theatre Awards for their production, for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role and Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role.

Hard Times: An American Musical

The Cell Theatre

Hard Times (written by Larry Kirwan of Black 47, directed by Kira Simring and produced by The Cell Theatre, NYC) is an exhilarating interplay of African-American and Irish dance. Set against a backdrop of NYC draft riots during the Civil War, the cast ebulliently taps away while sweeping the dust off the wonderful songs of Stephen Foster. Sound helped give life to the world outside the playing area, as I used practical speakers to recreate the sonic effect of outdoor riots, implemented by a six-output QLab system.

www.facebook.com/HardTimesMusical

Review: Tyler Plosia, CurtainUp