MELBOURNE, Australia – Jands Production Services provided the audio setup for recent productions of Fame the Musical, West Side Story and Hairspray, with Michael Waters serving as theatrical sound designer. All three productions used Shure UHF-R Micro Bodypack Transmitters (UR1M).
"It is a very new product which has not yet been widely commissioned in the theatre world," Waters noted. "JPS and I are one of the first rental companies to dive head long into using it with three productions on the road."
Measuring 49 mm x 60 mm x 17 mm in size, the Shure UR1Ms are "very small, and in theatre world, costumes are a major consideration," Waters added. "Directors and costume designers don't want to see any bulbous lumps on the back of the costumes. This is particularly important where skimpy leotards are worn such as in Fame. It also gets really tricky when you have to put double packs on performers and sometimes three packs if you have an in ear monitor – you can end up with a large spare tire on the performer!"
The compact dimensions don't appear to be forcing a compromise on sound quality or reliability, either. "Not only do they sound fabulous, they seem to be withstanding a lot of physical activity," Waters said. "All three musicals incorporate a considerable amount of choreography, with a lot of energy and sweat produced on stage, but they're standing up really well. Kelley Abbey, director and choreographer on Fame the Musical, was extremely happy with them."
Waters added that the overseas creative team on West Side Story had not seen the Shure UHF-R Micro Bodypack Transmitters before this production. They are now looking at possibly using them on other productions of the musical around the world.
For more information, please visit www.jands.com.au and www.shure.com
