Broadway Master Classes 2007 Another Success

Attendees came from as far as Sydney, Australia to this year’s Broadway Master Classes—including sessions for lighting, projection, and sound—held in May and host to a number of VIP speakers as well as manufacturers showing off their wares.

The Broadway Lighting Master Classes (BLMC) featured sessions with Jules Fisher (creative consultant), Kevin Adams, Christopher Akerlind, Dawn Chaing, Peggy Eisenhauer, Beverly Emmons, Wendall K. Harrington, Vivien Leone, and Brian MacDevitt, and as well as a visit to the theatre to see Adams’ lighting for Spring Awakening. “It’s wonderful to be involved with the 13th Master Class,” said Fisher. “Judging from the questions asked today after my lecture, this is the brightest group of students we have had.”

For Broadway Projection Master Classes (BPMC), attendees were treated to the inspiration of Harrington and Willie Williams, as well as a panel discussion with Zachary Borovay, Michael Clark, Jan Hartley, Rodd McLaughlin, Paul Vershbow, and Howard Werner. The BPMC also included special technology presentations by A.C.T Lighting, Barco, Coolux, and Green Hippo. “I found the projections portion refreshing, especially the dichotomy between Wendall and Willie and how they approached their respective fields of projections,” said Shawn Duan, NYU student of the day’s session.

The Broadway Sound Master Classes (BSMC) were led by creative consultant Abe Jacobs, with sessions by Jonathan Deans—including a visit to see The Pirate Queen for which he designed sound—Tom Clark and Nevin Steinberg of Acme Sound Partners, Brian Ronan, Todd Meier of Meyer Sound, Jim van Bergen, and John Taylor of d&b audiotechnik. “Did you go to the seminars at Live Design BSMC?” said Deans. “I not only gave a little chat on Saturday, but I attended all of the seminars and discussions on Saturday and Sunday. I had a blast and met some really great young/future sound designers. This was a fabulous weekend, and I hope you get to talk to someone who was able to attend and share the knowledge that wafted around.”

Live Design thanks all the sponsors who make this week possible: A.C.T Ligting, Abe Jacob, Altman Rentals, Apollo Design, Autograph A2D, Barbizon Lighting, Barco, Big Apple Lights, City Theatrical, ClearCom, Color Kinetics, Coolux, d&b audiotechnik, EM Acoustics, Electronic Theatre Controls, Enttec, Field Template, Fisher Marantz Stone, LCS Audio, Lectrosonics, Lee Filters, Lycian, Martin Professional, Meyer Sound, Microsoft, Midas, Nemetschek/Vectorworks, Ocean Optics, Optocore, PRAM, PRG, Pulsar, RF Pro, Robert Juliat, Rosco, Scharff Weisberg, Selador, Selecon, Sennheiser, Strand, Strong, TMB, Theatre Project Consultants, Thematics, Vari-Lite, Wally Russell Foundation, Wybron, and Yamaha.