Warren Carlyle was choreographer. But I have an expensive apartment in New York that I don’t spend enough time in, I have a beautiful cat that I miss terribly when I’m out of town, and I’ve missed important family or friend events to be able to work these ridiculous hours. Understand music. This means that when you order something through an affiliate link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Be first to get the top news & best streams. The One First Impressions Bailout Song # 1 The Girl for You The Awkward Pause Allison's Theme … And in in the meantime, you can check out even more of our interviews with inspiring people in the theatre industry! I do appreciate the challenges a smaller-sized orchestra with more electronics can present. Tony Award-nominated sound designer Kai Harada is a sonic wizard with 20 Broadway credits to his name. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 1001 Cast Albums to Listen to in Your Lifetime, The Best Audition Songs for Honk! There is a tendency for shows to be written with the idea that a sound designer can just turn everything up. But that pales in comparison with experiences I’ve had in Australia and Japan. Brad Oscar Sings 'Sit Down, You're Blockin' the Vote!'. Having continued successful permanent productions in Chicago and New York, the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet (MDQ) has hit the road with a North American tour. There’s a trend with people who come from undergraduate or graduate programs to have a very stratified and codified view of the world, including our industry and how sound design is part of that. Are any of you working as or aspiring to be a sound designer? Go listen to some crappy band in a club, then go to Carnegie Hall. Co-Sound Designer with Kai Harada 2013 Season . Astro Spatial Audio brings new life to Mozart’s Requiem at Aix-en-Provence Festival. Theatre Trip uses cookies to analyze site usage and personalize ads. Introducing Stage Mag, the New BWW Service to Make Your Own Show Program - for Free! Bart Fasbender Sound Effects Designer. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Broadway: Amelie; Sunday in the Park With George; Allegiance; Gigi; Fun Home; On the Town; First Date; Follies (Tony Award & Drama Desk Nominations); and Million Dollar Quartet. Contact us now. The Blond Ambition World Tour (also billed as Blond Ambition World Tour 90) was the third concert tour by American singer Madonna.It supported her fourth studio album Like a Prayer (1989), and the soundtrack album to the 1990 film Dick Tracy, I'm Breathless (1990). 5:00pm – Session #5 – “Exploring the Relationship between Sound Designers, Acousticians, AV consultants and Installers” – Jonathan Deans, Polyana Frangetto, Kai Harada, Brad Ward and Jeanne Wu hold a discussion on room and system design for new construction, renovations, and themed entertainment. Off-Broadway: Fun Home. – by Character, The Best Audition Songs for West Side Story – by Character. Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Lonny Price directs an intimate new musical by composer/lyricist Geoff Morrow and book writer Timothy Prager that delivers us to the intersection of loyalty, love, and ambition. integrated software solution for theatrical sound design: reference pages, sound links, etc. – Kai Harada Sound Designer of Tony Award-winning musical "The Band's Visit" The Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA Join the 3D AUDIO world! Broadway Rewind: SIDE SHOW Returns to Broadway! In 2014, the Tony Awards Administration Committee announced that starting with the 2014-2015 season the Tony Awards for Best Sound Design of a Play and of a Musical would be eliminated. And in many cases we can. At the end of the day, no one cares if your sound system is made up of NRT-5 or JAL-10 speakers; they just want their show to elicit a specific feeling. A sound designer can help transport the audience to another time, another location, another world. West End Musicians Perform a Medley of Musical Overtures. But “The Band’s Visit,” the hit new musical … Kai Harada Sound Designer, Head Over Heels. Ana Gasteyer & Seth Rudetsky 12/6 8 PM ET, Broadway Princess Holiday Party 12/12 8 PM ET, James Monroe Iglehart & Seth Rudetsky 12/13 8 PM ET. He has created sound design for Broadway productions of Head Over Heels, The Band’s Visit, Amélie, Sunday in the Park with George, Allegiance, Gigi, Fun Home, On the Town, First Date, Follies (for which he received Tony and Drama Desk nominations) and Million Dollar Quartet. Featured Products LEOPARD, LINA. FEEL music. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Other: A Legendary Romance; Poster Boy (Williamstown); Beaches (Drury Lane); Brooklynite (Vineyard); Little Dancer and ... Watch the Trailer for Laura Benanti's HOMESCHOOL MUSICAL, Lena Hall Sings from ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS AND RAGING QUEENS. They all contribute to the cauldron of notes we might get. Sweet Smell of Success ... Derek McLane, Susan Hilferty, Michael Mayer, Kai Harada, and David Lander . And he was also nominated for both Tony and Drama Desk Awards for the revival of Follies. Natasha Katz was lighting designer. At the tender age of nineteen I really didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. More seriously, though, compared to other American cities, there is a “get it done” attitude and an alacrity that exists with New Yorkers that I prefer. Explorer’s Club. Designer. The pace of life in a lot of other American cities tends to be a bit slower. London’s come a long way, and there are a few cities in the United States that are getting better. There’s no formula that makes you successful or not. The decision to go from proscenium staging to in-the-round for Broadway was mainly a production choice, says sound designer Kai Harada. So he’s a pretty great guy to look up to you if you’re considering a career in sound design! The myth that we work in our own little bubble, and if a show doesn’t sound good, it is *solely* our fault. More […] Bringing the glamour and glitz of Paris to Broadway are set designer Derek McLane, lighting designer Natasha Katz, and sound designer Kai Harada. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I’m not sure if it’s because most of my training was from books and talking to people, rather than courses on sound design, but I do tend to find that many people who had to learn on their own and experiment have better instincts than people who come from educational programs. Theatrical Sound Designer Kai Harada Feels at Home Using the Brand On-set for Venue’s Production of Marie, Dancing Still. “Follies” had twenty-seven (I think) and “On the Town” had twenty-eight. For sound designer Kai Harada (Fun Home), the challenge was not primarily in the show’s uncommon intimacy and quiet nature, which he says he loves and is what drew him to the piece. Kai Harada has created sound design for the Broadway productions of The Band’s Visit (Tony and Drama Desk Award), Amélie, Sunday in the Park with George, Allegiance, Gigi, Fun Home, On the Town, First Date, Follies (Tony and Drama Desk nominations) and Million Dollar Quartet. Additionally, actors became less theatrically trained, theatres became less acoustically friendly, and the noise floor in the theatre went up. Manhattan Theater Club Written by: Nell Benjamin - Directed by: Marc Bruni Set Design: Donyale Werle - Lighting Design: Philip Rosenberg - Costume Design: Anita Yavich - Sound Design: Darron L. West. Here’s where you can keep up with Kai Harada and his projects! John Clancy Dance Arrangements. Danny Troob Orchestrations. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. “At this point in my life, I think the biggest challenge I’ve faced is the realization that I’ve sacrificed so many other parts of my life in favor of my career. But he is probably best known for his Tony + Drama Desk Award winning sound design for The Band’s Visit. Dir: Sammi Cannold; Choreo: Emily Maltby and Valeria Solomonoff; Lights: Bradley King; Costumes: Alejo Vietti; Sound: Kai Harada. But not all composers and orchestrators always understand that sometimes, less is more. The sounds are both in the same frequency range and a listener’s ear can’t accurately parse those two elements. “Both of my parents are classical musicians- mom’s a violinist and was a music teacher, dad’s a cellist and was in a string quartet for many years. But I also knew that the professional musician lifestyle was not something I wanted. I trained as a classical pianist for ten years. Chris Fenwick Music Director and Music Supervisor. My father, who toured as a classical musician, always warned me about some cities in the middle of America and how difficult it was to find a suitable snack after a performance- and dammit, he was right! Related: Fun Home on Broadway: Intimacy in the Round, by Eric Rudolph, Mix, Sep. 25, 2015 Many people in the arts do this, obviously, and those people can become quite successful. The thing that I enjoy the most is being able to make a show sound *right*. But the first rule I usually give is, “Don’t be an asshole.” Personality is everything. Kai Harada | New York, New York, United States | Sound Designer at Freelance | 0 connection | See Kai's complete profile on Linkedin and connect Watch Ali Ewoldt, Nic Rouleau & More Unite to Sing FOLLIES! Eric Schaeffer was director. Tom Watson Hair, Wigs and Make Up Design. And although each of those shows had their individual challenges, I was always very proud of the work my team and I did.”. Kai Harada Sound Designer. But I can say that, in addition to learning a fair bit about music and how to communicate, that language, psychology and sociology aren’t bad topics to study. Read music. I don’t think it even occurred to me until that moment that this was an ACTUAL career path. I’m very pleased with the trajectory of my career: I’ve done some wonderful projects with some fantastic people. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ae06456765cfa993060ae45fab5811bc" );document.getElementById("e5f300ed73").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Set designer James Noone situates the action under a proscenium in an abandoned theater with empty picture frames ... Sound designer: Kai Harada Choreographer: Eric Sean Fogel Presented by L.A. Opera. And Netflix.”. SAM SMITH - SNL ROBERT O'HARA'S MACBETH Oh, and music. I enjoy the collaborative nature of a great creative and design team, how we can all work together to make the best possible product- negotiating speaker positions versus scenery and costumes and hats versus microphones, and working with the composer and orchestrator to ensure that we are delivering their vision in a coherent and accurate way. welcome to the harada-sound.com website. Tony Awards - 2018 - Best Sound Design of a Musical : Kai Harada, The Band's Visit : Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical : Kai Harada, Fun Home : Man of La Mancha [Broadway, 2002] Associate Sound Designer. Harada was brought on board for Gigi … And the first thing I say is to not *completely* ignore your instructor, but do understand that there are many ways to do sound, just as in life. But we have many people that we answer to. Even at a young age I felt more drawn to the idea of sound reinforcement- of microphones and loudspeakers and how to make things all work together, rather than composing music or making sound effects for plays. Seth & Stars Holiday Sale - 15 Stars for $15/each. Growing up I saw maybe two musicals on field trips, but that was it. Spotlight on Kai Harada: Sound Designer Edition November 10, 2018 October 12, 2020 Theatre Trip 0 Comments Drama Desk , Kai Harada , sound design , The Band's Visit , Tony In Theatre Trip’s “Spotlight On” series, we’re chatting with some of the most interesting and influential people in … The Pirates of Penzance Directed by Bill Rauch Co-Sound Designer with Kai Harada 2011 Season. Kai Harada has designed the sound for too many productions to easily count. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Costume Design: Allejo Vietti - Sound Design: Kai Harada. Tuachan Center for the Arts St. George, UT. The Tony Awards for Best Sound Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Musical recognize excellence in sound design for Broadway theatre.They were first given in the 2007–2008 season. And it’s our job to responsibly accommodate or at least facilitate a conversation between departments to make sure we are all heading for the same goal. She has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters. Musical Numbers. And I spend a lot of time trying to break those views: that’s not how the world works. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In junior high (I grew up in CT) a friend of mine said, “Hey, do you want to hang some lights in the theatre?” And as someone who enjoyed the technical side of things, I said yes. Tony-nominated scenic designer Scott Pask and Tony-nominated sound designer Kai Harada took us onstage and backstage at the Barrymore … Now I’m trapped; I don’t know what else I could do.”. The solution, in many cases, was to make the show louder. The Hunchback of Notre Dame Directed by Tim Threlfall Sound Designer July - October 2016. So I’ve struggled a lot with the work/life balance. under construction for twenty-five years and going strong! Learning how to interpret people’s words and subtext can be incredibly valuable. And when I was young I thought that I might become a classical recording engineer. But I’ve gotten used to the brusque efficiency of the New York metropolitan area.”, “I’m a big fan of old-school musicals with huge orchestras. These cookies do not store any personal information. NEW MUSICAL. Enter your email address to receive new posts in your inbox! Co-Sound Designer Kai Harada's Lyric credits include The Light in the Piazza (2019|20). “I’m torn on this one. Other theatres: Broadway: On the Town, First Date, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet. Derek McLane was set designer. I have interesting projects lined up. I enjoy overcoming the physical and acoustical challenges of a space, ensuring that every audience member gets the best possible auditory experience, and making something that I am proud of. Director Sam Gold—who won the 2015 Tony for Direction—realized that the only way to improve the staging was to go in-the-round, Harada notes. Lillis Meeh Special Effects. For the 5 th Avenue Theatre, a venue that seats almost 2,200 patrons, having a fully stocked arsenal of microphones to rely on for its theatrical productions is of utmost importance. I have a couple of awards. And I have a great team of people I can rely on. Thursday, June 25th Your email address will not be published. Go listen to some music you don’t like. Last updated: December 14, 2019 Read about MclLane's set and Katz's lighting in Part One. But there’s something so visceral about hearing a big-for-Broadway orchestra play a gorgeous score. Kai Harada made his LAO debut with Candide in 2018. what does it mean when a director says, “I want this to sound more blue?” It’s up to the sound designer to figure that out. IBDB (Internet Broadway Database) archive is the official database for Broadway theatre information. Once again Meyer Sound systems are powering the music along the Great White Way, with top-grossing hit productions relying on LEO Family line arrays and UltraSeries loudspeakers. James Moore was musical director. When Marie, Dancing Still sound designer Kai Harada first arrived at 5 th Avenue, he was pleased to find the venue’s inventory of DPA mics—having used a variety of the brand’s products over the years on various Broadway shows. And the psychologist part of me takes some sick pleasure in identifying how best to communicate with difficult people. From there, I met some professionals, and soon after that I landed my first assistant gig with renowned sound designer Tony Meola. Realizing that everyone has an ego, and everyone has insecurities, can also aid in identifying what makes other people tick.”. Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical Kai Harada has also put together an amazingly comprehensive sound handbook, so if you are at all serious about a career in sound design, you should give it a read for sure! “With the exception of Tokyo, New York has the best food choices and availability, especially after rehearsal or performances. Scenic Design David Gallo Costume Design David C. Woolard Lighting Design Mike Baldassari Sound Design Kai Harada. Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip and the author of The Thespian’s Bucket List and 1001 Cast Albums to Listen to in Your Lifetime. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What type of education would you say is necessary for becoming a successful sound designer? Kai Harada. Your email address will not be published. World Premiere of Avett Brothers Musical SWEPT AWAY Starring John Gallagher, Jr. Now Scheduled for 2021 at Berkeley Rep. Photo Coverage: THE HOBBIT Star Richard Armitage, Amy Ryan & the Cast of LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Meet the Press! Gregg Barnes was costume designer. And slowly it dawned on me that there was a whole side of technical theatre that involved sound. Bryce Cutler Projection Designer. I can teach about sound, but I can’t teach someone how to be a human being. Unfortunately, there are occasionally those shows on which there is less cooperation, and more personalities and egos to fend off. Maybe play some music. Antoine Silverman Music Contractor. And just because something sounds passable on a demo recording from a studio setting, it doesn’t mean that it will always translate to the live realm.”. We would love to hear all about it in the comments below! That said, if someone composed a really innovative musical with a LOT of electronic instruments that called for some really cool spatialization, I’d be all over that, too.”, “Vacation (I don’t know where yet). BroadwayHD's November Lineup - A KILLER PARTY, HEDWIG, and More! Latest. So on one hand it makes me a very lucky person; but that said, it comes with a price.”. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). David Brian Brown was hair designer. Designer. Additionally, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his work on Fun Home. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Daphne’s Dive. I know I am incredibly fortunate to have a career that I am so passionate about. In three seasons at OSF: Sound Co-designer, My Fair Lady, The Pirates of Penzance; Sound Designer, She Loves Me. Click here to buy Fun Home tickets today! interviews with inspiring people in the theatre industry! View more. The Band's Visit (Original, Musical, Broadway) opened in New York City Nov 9, 2017 and played through Apr 7, 2019. Theatre Trip participates in affiliate programs. Broadway Rewind: GROUNDHOG DAY Gets Ready for Broadway with Andy Karl & More! I do give lectures from time to time. A related myth that’s more common these days is that we have total autonomy over the sound of a show. Music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim. You can’t always have a screaming electric guitar phrase at the same time as a vocal line. Kai Harada. Fun Home Cast List on Broadway.com, the most comprehensive source for Broadway Shows, Broadway Tickets and Broadway Information. Kai Harada Sound Design. Kai Harada was sound designer. Broadway Rewind: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Gets Ready to Return to Broadway! Here’s a new episode of in 1: the podcast, hosted by Lighting Designer Cory Pattak, as he speaks with Tony Award-winning Sound Designer, Kai Harada. THE INHERITANCE, A STRANGE LOOP, and More Take Home 2020 Drama Desk Awards; Check Out the Full List! But the true brilliance in the set design lies in the stage wide box that remains a constant presence. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Figure out if there’s anything you can take away from it. Months after the opening of hit Broadway musical The Band's Visit, celebrated sound designer Kai Harada has won a prestigious Tony Award for Best Sound Design in a Musical, including fully object-based 3D sound courtesy of Astro Spatial Audio.. But what people failed to realize is that shows became more pop/rock-based. Required fields are marked *. “There is an old myth is that sound designers contributed to the downfall of the American musical, by using microphones and making things louder. It might be a director who may have hired us, a composer who has a specific vision in his or her head, an overzealous orchestrator, a choreographer who has lost a fair amount of hearing, or a producer who pays our salaries. Like I’ve said, so much of what ANY designer has to do is collaborate, cooperate, and sometimes translate- e.g. VIDEO: On This Day, August 31- HERCULES Starring Jelani Alladin, Opens in Central Park! But that was a reaction, not an action. None of us work in a vacuum; we have to collaborate and cooperate and compromise. And today we’re doing a special feature on Kai Harada, an award-winning sound designer from New York, New York! I continued to do more work in high school and college theatre, then worked one summer at a local sound company that rents out equipment to Broadway shows. Songs, Videos, Sheetmusic and More. SEATTLE – For the 5th Avenue Theatre, a venue that seats almost 2,200 patrons, having a fully stocked arsenal of microphones to rely on for its theatrical productions is of utmost importance. Someone’s instructor may say, “You have this project when you’re a third year, you do this when you’re graduating, and then you move to New York where you’ll work as an assistant for two years and after that you should be mixing a show.” Everyone has a different path; everyone has different strengths and weaknesses; and those may shift how a path into professional sound design actually happens. To accommodate venues seating from 1,400 to over 3,000, sound designer Kai Harada specified a Meyer Sound system based around MICA and M'elodie line array loudspeakers. I’ve been very fortunate to have worked on some fantastic projects, from the revival of “Follies” to “Fun Home” to “The Band’s Visit” to “On the Town,”. Pay attention to what the world around you sounds like.”. “Not really. But you can always opt out by clicking "reject"! Associate Sound Designer. “One of the things I enjoy the most is also what can be the most frustrating: other people. Peter Pan Directed by Glenn Casale In Theatre Trip’s “Spotlight On” series, we’re chatting with some of the most interesting and influential people in the theatre industry. The Seattle-based theatre has found that dependability with DPA Microphones, which were recently deployed for the venue’s production of Marie, Dancing Still. So my childhood was spent at classical concerts, sometimes backstage, sometimes in the recording booth. Kai Harada is credited as Technical Crew and Designer. Pattak and Harada talk about all of the challenges of dealing with roving musicians, musicians under the stage, all with an incredibly nuanced score for The Band’s Visit.