The Palace Theater originally opened in 1922 and is part of the Playhouse Square complex, an integral part of the Cleveland Theater District. The venue, which seats 2,700, is used for an eclectic mix of shows, from touring productions to concerts.
Recently, the existing sound system was replaced and a new system was designed and installed by NAC Technologies (Cleveland) under the leadership of senior audio engineer Rick Galbraith and company owner Dave Cooper.
Replacing the Old System
The Palace replacement system was the third for NAC at Playhouse Square. The new sound system consists of 63 NEXO S12s and subs, NXAmps, and a Yamaha M7CL-48 digital console. NAC Technologies has installed NEXO products in two additional theaters at the complex. "We've had good success with the NEXO products in all three theaters," states Galbraith.
"The elegant Palace is the grand dame of the complex," says Galbraith. "Its 1981 audio system was well-maintained, but past its prime, with inadequacies in coverage and a low SPL."
The key element in finalizing the decision to replace the Palace system came when Galbraith and Cooper were on a regional tour with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. "The last stop on the tour was the Palace Theater, recalls Galbraith. We hung our own NEXO touring rig, so that over the course of 12 days, top management would have the opportunity to hear what they were about to purchase."
Three Line Arrays
NAC added three large line arrays, left, center, right, each consisting of 11 GEO S1210s and one S1230. GEO S1230s are also used for left/right upper box fill. Six 1230s are used for floor fills left/right along with four Alpha S2 subs. Two under balcony rings consist of six near and five far GEO S1230s. Eight GEO S1230s are located in the lighting perches for the farthest seats in the top balcony. PS8s are used for front fill. Five NEXO 4×4 and four 4×1 amplifiers power the entire system.
NAC Technologies also provides Severance Hall with a GEO S8 system rental along with M7CL digital consoles. Home to the Cleveland Orchestra, this vintage 2,100-seat theater was originally built in 1931.
"Since Severance Hall is a symphonic space, the classical performances are never amplified," notes Galbraith. "Whenever there is a lecture, theatrical performance, dance or pops-type event, we supply a NEXO GEO S8 rig powered by NEXO 4 x 4 amps with anywhere from 12-16 boxes per side plus CD12 cardiod subs, if required. We installed a permanent speaker cable system, a permanent PD, and custom front fill harnesses that enable us to put a rig in or take it out in very little time. The house crew even has a GEOplot hanging in their office, and they fly and pin the rig for us."
NAC typically brings in M7 consoles to Severance Hall because space is limited and there simply is no place for racks of processing. They recently ran a Cat5 cable to the recording room and purchased SB168 ES stage boxes so the theater can have a three-way digital split between the front of house, monitor mix, and recording. A DM1000 is used by the Hall's mixing engineer, Bruce Gigax, to record a live mix of the orchestra's concerts for broadcast on local classical station WCLV.
M7CL consoles have also been installed in the State and Hanna Theaters at Playhouse Square as well as at Progressive Field. "The M7CL is universally accepted on any tour rider," adds Galbraith. "We've also trained all local union engineers on the M7CL so that in any given theater, the mix engineer can just walk up and use it."
