MASQUE SOUND HEADS SOUTH OF THE BORDER FOR WORLD PREMIER
OF THE SECOND SPANISH-LANGUAGE PRODUCTION OF THE LION KING
Custom Audio Equipment Package Supports Mexico’s
Largest Theatrical Production to-Date
MEXICO CITY, JUNE 15, 2015 — When Disney Theatrical Productions in partnership with OCESA celebrated the world premiere of the second Spanish-language production of The Lion King at the Telcel Theatre in Mexico City, Mexico, Masque Sound was on location to support veteran Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy and Associate Sound Designers John Shivers and Hugh Sweeney. The leading theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design company collaborated with the sound design team to assemble a custom audio equipment package for the lively stage adaptation of the Academy Award®-winning 1994 Disney film.
Having been involved with The Lion King’s many productions over the past 15 years, the sound design trio was well-prepared to handle any curveballs that the new location might have presented and was predominantly focused on the audio distribution—that its delivery was consistent and maintained its transparency. “When designing the sound for any type of entertainment show, the goal is to provide an even, balanced sound to every seat in the house,” says Shivers. “The trick is to do it unobtrusively. I think the best sound design is one that simply doesn’t call attention to itself.”
In order to achieve this vision, the designers worked closely with Masque Sound to create a custom audio equipment package that would remain discreet, yet effective in its resounding deliverance. At the heart of the package is a DiGiCo SD7 digital mixing console, which has been the standard console on The Lion King for the past six years after meeting incredible success when first implemented on the Broadway stage.
Masque Sound also provided a PA system from Meyer Sound, featuring MINAs on the proscenium for the orchestra section, M’elodies for the center cluster and MICAs for the upper right and left. Meyer Sound UPJuniors were used for fills and d&b E0s for front fills to accommodate the tight spaces in the theatre where speakers were required. Meyer Sound 500-HP, 600-HP and 700-HP subwoofers were utilized, as well.
The microphone system supplied by Masque Sound included DPA d:screet™ 4061s with Sennheiser MKE-1s as back up for the performers. The orchestra was also well equipped, relying on Shure SM57 and SM81 instrument microphones, DPA d:vote 4099S clip microphones, Neumann TLM 102 large-diaphragm studio condenser microphone and KM 84s, as well as Radial Direct boxes. In addition, Sennheiser SK 5212 transmitters were used for the show’s 46 channels of RF and QLab 3 for the effects playback and TC Electronics S6000 for reverb. The team tapped into the theatre’s existing Meyer Sound Constellation System, which worked well to complement as a surround system.
“I love Masque Sound,” Shivers concludes. “I think that they are the best shop in the industry when it comes to providing for our needs. In the past, we’ve gone with other companies for some foreign productions and had mixed success. With Masque Sound, I am consistently confident in their services and know that the audio package will be well put together and technically sound. The equipment always arrives in its entirety so that all we have to do is unpack it and integrate it into the show. With Masque Sound behind us, we knew that we would have no concerns in implementing a stellar sound system for this Mexico production.”
The Lion King’s Spanish-language premiere in Mexico City is produced by OCESA and is the largest theatrical production ever to be mounted in Mexico. The production features lyric translation and adaptation by Armando Manzanero and Aleks Syntek, and book translation and additional lyrics by Susanna Moscatel and Erick Merino. OCESA also produced successful productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and, most recently, the Disney and Cameron Mackintosh production of Mary Poppins in 2012.
For more information on The Lion King’s Mexico City production, including where to purchase tickets, visit http://www.elreyleon.com.mx/.
About The Lion King
In its 18th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 22 global productions have been seen by more than 80 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 112 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years. Translated into seven different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway; London’s West End; Hamburg; Tokyo; Madrid; Melbourne, Australia; Basel, Switzerland; Mexico City; and on tour across North America and Japan, for a total of ten productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, THE LION KING’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.
THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.
The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show around the world.
The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from “Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to the haunting ballad “Shadowland.”
The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer.
For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.
About Masque Sound
Founded in 1936 by a trio of Broadway stagehands, Masque Sound evolved into one of NYC’s most successful theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design companies specializing in theatrical, house of worship, sporting, corporate, TV broadcast and live concert events. Celebrating more than 75 years in the industry, the company is led by President Stephanie Hansen and the firm’s third generation owner, Geoff Shearing. The company also operates Florida-based Professional Wireless Systems, a leader in the development and implementation of wireless technology. Credits range from major Broadway shows and tours including “Phantom of the Opera,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Lion King,” “Jersey Boys,” “Memphis,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Newsies,” “Once” and “Kinky Boots” to yearly Super Bowl broadcasts and installations of varying sizes, including New York’s New Victory Theater and historic St. Bartholomew’s Church. Masque Sound’s 70,000 sq. ft. corporate headquarters and main assembly facility is located at 21 East Union Ave., East Rutherford, NJ, 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan. For more information, call (201) 939-8666 or visit www.MasqueSound.com.
