The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (now known as The Wallis) has opened in Beverly Hills with audio-visual design and installation from Electrosonic for its public spaces and theaters. The Wallis, designed by SPF:architects, is the first performing arts center to be built in Beverly Hills.
The Center houses two performance spaces: the showpiece blackbox-style Lovelace Studio Theater, which has been re-imagined in the historic 1933 Italianate Beverly Hills Post Office, and the main stage Bram Goldsmith Theater, which makes its home in a brand new building. An education wing marks the Center's commitment to bringing theater to young people.
Electrosonic's Design Consulting team first came on board with the project in 2008 and provided design services for both theaters and their supporting dressing rooms, green room, workshops and control rooms.
The 500-seat Bram Goldsmith Theater will be used for theater, dance and music. Its first season productions include "Noel Coward's Brief Encounter," "Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life," Martha Graham Dance Company, Rueibin Chen, Sundance Institute's ComposersLab and a symphonic presentation of "The Trumpet of the Swan." The Goldsmith theater has a traditional proscenium stage and full fly system, and features a top-of-the-line L-ACOUSTICS ARCS Wide/Focus line source array. Electrosonic design consultant Steve Coe initially specified another audio system from L-ACOUSTICS, but as construction progressed, the manufacturer introduced the new ARCS system that proved to be even better suited to the space.
"The client didn't want to see any speakers in the theater; the speakers needed to be hidden in recesses and architecturally integrated with the space," Coe explains. "So when L-ACOUSTICS unveiled its ARCS Wide/Focus system, we thought its smaller size would work to our benefit from an integration point of view. It's very unobtrusive and has a subtle warmth that's ideal for a theatrical environment."
The main cluster of speakers is a four box Wide/Focus array that flies out on a motorized winch, which disappears completely above the ceiling reflector when not being used. An orchestra shell can be put in place for orchestral performances. Two 12XT speakers flank the proscenium; fourteen 8XTi speakers are recessed into the side walls for surround sound and fill. Four 5XT speakers provide surround sound for the upper balcony and the system low end is reinforced by four SB18i subwoofers.
"The ARCS system is probably the best we could have installed," says Electrosonic project manager Dan Laspa. "This new speaker line is small and perfect for the space. The performers who appeared at the opening gala commented on how good the system sounded."
A Yamaha PM5D portable digital mixing desk serves both theaters. It was chosen for its popularity among theatrical professionals who will be immediately familiar with its use.
Electrosonic also furnished Clearcom wired and wireless intercom systems and a QSC Q-Sys DSP system for the entire Center with ceiling-mounted speakers in the lobby, back of house, dressing rooms, all tech rooms and shops.
The blackbox-style Lovelace Studio Theater is a multi-purpose, flexible performance space with a flat floor and retractable seating for 150. It will host public performances and children's programming, and serve as the heart of the theater school for young people. The children's production "Jason and the Argonauts" and "White" recently finished their runs.
"Since the Lovelace is a completely flexible space, there is little permanent equipment installed there," says Coe. A control booth has a small Yamaha LS9-16 digital console and AV connector panels are found in the lighting grid and on the side walls; QSC speakers and subwoofers can hang on the grid or stand on the floor.
Electrosonic also designed audio and video signal distribution for the two theaters, including a custom 96-way Whirlwind microphone channel splitter, with Jensen transformers, to permit the greatest flexibility in configuring productions. Digital audio and video tie lines connect the Bram Goldsmith Theater and Lovelace Studio Theater. The company will supply monitors, speakers and source racks for the Center's education wing and rehearsal spaces, which are still under construction.
About Electrosonic
Electrosonic, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is an international audio-visual company that creates tailored, state-of-the-art solutions for a wide range of markets including theme parks, museums, control rooms, and corporate meeting rooms. Since its founding in 1964, Electrosonic has built a strong reputation for working on complex projects, both large and small, and has developed lasting partnerships with customers and suppliers. Beyond complete integrated systems, Electrosonic provides a comprehensive scope of services including technical design, projector lamp sales, maintenance and operational support.
Learn more about Electrosonic. Visit http://www.electrosonic.com