Dear Reader:
For the last nine years, lighting artisans from around the world have descended upon New York every December to attend the Broadway Lighting Master Classes. Led by Broadway legend Jules Fisher, the BLMC has become the place for both aspiring and working lighting designers to learn more about their craft from the leaders in their field.
Sound designers, now it's your turn.
On December 6-9, Entertainment Design will produce the first-ever Broadway Sound Master Classes. Led by theatre sound designer Abe Jacob, this four-day event will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn more about this burgeoning art form from some of the top sound designers working on Broadway today. We're really excited to have Abe onboard for this, since he practically invented the art form, designing the sound for such seminal shows as Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, Cats, and Evita.
BSMC sessions will be begin on Thursday, December 6, with attendance at a Broadway show, complete with backstage tour, and continue with classes all day Friday and Saturday. Friday evening, all attendees are invited to our annual EDDY Awards. The closing event is a brunch and panel discussion on design collaboration, held in association with the BLMC. (Yes, lighting designers and sound designers together in the same room! Think of the possibilities!) Though the curriculum and speaker list is still being worked out, sessions will focus on the artistic process of theatre sound design as well as its technical challenges. If you'd like more information, email [email protected]. And keep reading this page each month for updates on speakers, session topics, and other info.
I'd like to think of this as another important step in the evolution of the role of the theatre sound designer. With Abe Jacob imparting his vast knowledge of his craft to legions of young aspiring sound students, and the participation of other highly talented Broadway sound designers such as Tony Meola, Jonathan Deans, John Gromada, and Andrew Bruce, we hope this annual event will create a fertile environment for the exchange of ideas and the nurturing of artistic expression.
Of course, if all else fails, we can just lock the sound designers and lighting designers in a room and see who comes out alive.