The Godfather of sound, Abe Jacob, has been honored by USITT, TSDCA, and Live Design to name a few, but most of his game-changing career in Broadway sound design had basically ended before the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League began honoring sound designers with Tony Awards. It is ironic, because Jacob was instrumental in creating the discipline; before Abe Jacob there were sound operators, not sound designers. Live entertainment would sound very different without the work of Abe Jacob. However, the oversight by the Tony Awards committee is about to be remedied as Jacob will be the recipient of a Special Tony Award, presented on June 16 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater. The Special Tony Awards are giving to outstanding members of the profession, productions, and organizations that do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
Abe Jacob's statement on the Special Tony Award: “I am deeply grateful to be honored with this special 2024 Tony Award. My thanks to the Tony Committee, The American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League and accept in recognition of the creative contributions sound design has made to the theatre. I share this Award with all sound designers everywhere.”
Abe Jacob began his career working with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Carole King, and Barbra Streisand, even The Beatles. After moving into theatre, Jacob changed how musicals sounded beginning with the groundbreaking work, Hair, designing the sound for musicals. In incomplete list of his notable works over the last 60 years includes Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, The Who’s Tommy, Seesaw, Mack And Mabel, Rocky Horror Show, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Act, Dancin’, Gilda Radner - Live From New York, Evita, Woman Of The Year, Cats, Beatlemania, Big Deal, Black And Blue, The Gershwins’ Fascinating Rhythm, Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles, and many more. At New York City Opera, his work there included productions of A Little Night Music, 110 In The Shade, Sweeney Todd, and Candide.
In addition to his work as a designer, he has taught several generations of sound designers and engineers and mentored many of the industry's most in-demand professionals.
Live Design has interviewed Jacob several times over the years about his projects and career: