Sound Design

What makes me stand out as a designer is my attention to detail. I love when the mode and lyrics of a song perfectly complement a moment. I aim for a realism in my sound that helps an audience get lost into the new location of the show they are seeing. It is my goal to go unnoticed for the whole show, but leave audiences with a song in their heads on the way out.

 

Here are some of the examples of moments or sounds where I needed things to be what they were in my head, so that we could get lost and believe in this magical world in front of our eyes.

Maytag Virgin

For Maytag Virgin by Audrey Cefally at Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, Florida, I wanted to throw everyone right into the deep south as soon as they entered the theatre, to build a pre show that was music and ambience. This combination of guitar and banjo folk music and a cicada summer night really puts me in the countryside of Alabama.

 

Director: Jeffery Binder; Set: David Arsenault; Props: Elena Romero; Costume: Jennifer Bronsted; Sound: Sean McGinley; Lights: Dalton Hamilton;

 

Police Scanners

During Penobscot Theatre’s production of Safety Net, a play written by Daryl Lisa Fazio, I wanted to have the police scanner sounds be as realistic as possible. So, I teamed up with local Firefighters and we recorded a bunch of real police scanner situations for the pre show. I also got multiple staff members to record individual lines so it sounded like there were more people speaking than I had access to from the cast.

 

Director: Tricia Hobbs; Set: Tricia Hobbs; Props: Meredith Perry; Costume: Brittany Staudacher; Sound: Sean McGinley; Lights: Scout Hough;

 

Composing

for Remember: The Story of Abe Price by Jeffery Binder I was challenged to compose music to underscore major plots and monologues of the production. This was especially challenging since the show is about a holocaust survivor and his life story escaping from prison camps. the music had to be dark and moody without becoming depressing. In the end I really feel I was able to hit all the proper emotions to help the story.

 

Victor Caroli performing as Abe Price

Written By Jeffery Binder

Directed by Steven Calakos

Photo By Matthew Schipper

Bruce Burp

I designed a production of Matilda the Musical at Penobscot Theatre Company in Maine. I attempted to find the perfect burp for Bruce but felt everything just sounded so fake. So, I purchased a 2-liter bottle of root beer and sat in my office and drank it while recording my own burps, then mixed together to be the perfect Bruce Burp.

 

Director/Choreographer: Jeff Payton, Matthew Shaffer; Music: Phil Burns; Set: Chez Cherry; Props: Ben Wetzel, Belinda Hobbs; Costume: Kevin Koski; Sound: Sean McGinley; Lights: Scout Hough;

 

Challenging Myself

During the pandemic I would give myself shows to design to stay sharp and practice my craft. I had a script for Misery based off the Stephen King novel. One of the more Challenging sound effects was the leg smash and the typewriter head bash. I went to the grocery store and bought a roasted chicken and a cantaloupe and I smashed and bashed them until I had the perfect sounds for this moment.