Events Detail
Starlight Express
Thursday, 25 Jun 2009
STARLIGHT EXPRESS...
Large-scale Andrew Lloyd-Webber Musical
Client: The Stetson Group Date: 25th June - 9th August Venue: TSB Arena (Wellington), Westpac Arena (Christchurch), Vector Arena (Auckland)
CHALLENGES:
Paul Jeffery writes...
This is an arena show, and these performance spaces invariably present a cavernous sonic environment. Close control of all the accoustical elements making up this show is critical in order to overcome this constraint. The greatest challenge by far, with any theatre show is the clarity of the vocals. In all Theatre, there is a story to be told, and this is the most important audio factor for the audience. We had the benefit of using the DPA microphones on booms and so were able to locate these close to the performer's mouths, which assisted greately with intelligibility. Careful positioning and tuning of the loudspeaker arrays is essential, in ensuring that audience coverage is even, and that there is a minimum amount of sound being directed at reflective surfaces. As with all amplified shows of this size, there is a fine line between the show being on the one hand, dynamic, and on the other hand, becoming too loud. The balance is judged continually by Richard & Paul, taking into consideration such factors as, for example, audience size, and strength of performance.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Paul Jeffery writes...
Starlight Express is a complicated show from both staging and muscial point of view, and requires the input of several experts to educate the new performers and technicians in the nuances and mysteries that lie within it. The "creatives" who were essential to our understanding of the show, with this version of Starlight Express are Mykal Rand, the Resident Director (and the character "Electra"), and Phil Edwards, the Musical Supervisor. They each have a long association with the show, in all its various incarnations around the world and over time. It has been a great journey with these gentlemen, and under their tutelage, we feel we have learned a great deal about this show, and in fact about musical theatre, in general.
OCEANIA CREW:
EQUIPMENT USED:
Main FOH Speakers: Four Main Hangs of 8x EV XLS + 4x EV XLT Cabinets. Two Hangs of 8x EV XL Sub. Powered by Powersoft DIGAM 7000 Power Amplifiers, with EV XLT cabinets powered by QSC 3002 Amplifiers.
Front Fill: 6x Oceania T12 Cabinets, 2x Under-stage 2x EV XSub stacks, 6x EAW JF80 Lip Fill.
Stage Monitors: 10x RCF TT-08 Self Powered Cabinets, 4x Oceania T12 Cabinets, 2x Mackie SR450 Cabinets (off stage show relay) All T12s powered by Oceania Octal Amplifier Rack.
Orchestra Pit Monitor System: 9x Aviom A16-11 Personal Mixers, 9x Norwest Oceania Custom Interface Companion Units, Sony MDR-7506 Headphones.
Microphones: DPA 4088 Cardioid Electret Mics Coupled with Shure U1 and UR1 systems.
FOH Consoles: 2x Yamaha PM5Ds in Cascade Mode.
System Control: 6x BSS 366 Omnidrives, 2x BSS 360 Minidrives, 2x BSS Soundwebs, controlled remotely by BSS Soundweb and London Architect Software through a MOXA W2250 Wireless Serial Device Server.
AV System: 3x Video Relay Systems comprising: 1x Ikegami ICD47E IR Camera for MD, 1x Sony SSC-DC393P Colour Camera for FOH shot, 1x Ikegami IR Camera LX Truss mounted for SM Shot, illuminated by 2x IR Sources, Tafu TF30M80, MD Screens, 2x 52" Samsung LCD located in Truss above FOH position, 2x 22" LCD at end of Show Deck. Other monitors located for SM, MD, Drummer, and FOH operator as required.
Comms: 4x loops of Clear Com provided for SX, LX, Show, and Stage. Stage loop includes 4x sets of WTR680 Wireless Duplex Comms.
Multicore System: 1x 56way system provided for Wireless mics, Race Computer audio, Voice of Control Audio, and SX/MD/RF shout system. 1x 20 way system provided for amplifier returns. 1x 48 way Opticore System provided for Orchestra Pit instruments and returns system.
Digital Playback Systems: 2x PC-based playback systems (with one redundant) for "Voice of Control" and SFX, cw. 2x Presonus Firebox Audio Units and Norwest Oceania Audio Changeover system, and UPS backup. CSC Show Control Software by CTR Electronics (UK) 2x PC based AV Race Playback servers (with one redundant), cw. 2x Presonus FireStudio 8-Channel units, Norwest Oceania Audio Changeover System, and UPS backup.
SPECIALISED EQUIPMENT:
Norwest Oceania ICU: This is a device to supplement the Aviom A16-II Personal Monitor System. It is physically and electrically integrated with the Aviom, and provides local stereo input, local mic input, and a comms loop with built-in microphone that links with the other units in the chain. This was essential to the musicians, who all wear earphones, to be able to communicate during the show. The MD operates his microphone via a foot switch, which enables him to conduct and count-in the musical numbers concurrently.
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