Sound Design: Brandon Reed
What opportunities did Romeo & Juliet present for you as a sound designer?
Romeo & Juliet is my first opportunity to finally be able to design a work from Shakespeare. His work can be interpreted in many different ways when it comes to sound design. It was exciting to work with Michael Daehn on what direction we wanted the sound to go.
Did Romeo & Juliet present any specific challenges for your design? How did you overcome them?
Nothing majorly problematic, but it was difficult to figure out what direction we were going to take in the beginning with the music (such as song choices and such). Once that was decided, the rest of the process went relatively smoothly.
How did Michael Daehn’s directorial concepts influence your design?
Not at all. For the sound design, we decided to take an all-together different approach. We wanted the music to live within the world, but at the same time be able to draw the attention of the audience. What we came up with was music that stayed within the world of the play, but at the same time had a modern feel to them with even some electronics in some of the pieces.
How did your sound process for Romeo & Juliet unfold? Where did you begin?
It started over the summer with reading the play and having several meetings and emails with Michael Daehn. From these meetings we discussed the feel of the music as well as the sound effects and what we wanted. From there, I gathered the music and kept meeting and discussing with Michael what worked and what needed to be changed. Leading into the school year I started to attend rehearsals to develop a better idea of what needed to be done sound wise and continued working on my design. Leading up to tech rehearsals and to where we are now!
What is your favorite moment in the show? Why?
For me, it would have to be the moment that Romeo and Juliet first meet. I’m a helpless romantic myself and that part always warms my heart and I believe that our actors do a great job with bringing that to life. If not that, then definitely the moment in the first act between the nurse and Lady Capulet. The Nurse is very comical with the way she can’t stop herself from laughing at her thoughts annoying Lady Capulet.
What opportunities did Romeo & Juliet present for you as a sound designer?
Romeo & Juliet is my first opportunity to finally be able to design a work from Shakespeare. His work can be interpreted in many different ways when it comes to sound design. It was exciting to work with Michael Daehn on what direction we wanted the sound to go.
Did Romeo & Juliet present any specific challenges for your design? How did you overcome them?
Nothing majorly problematic, but it was difficult to figure out what direction we were going to take in the beginning with the music (such as song choices and such). Once that was decided, the rest of the process went relatively smoothly.
How did Michael Daehn’s directorial concepts influence your design?
Not at all. For the sound design, we decided to take an all-together different approach. We wanted the music to live within the world, but at the same time be able to draw the attention of the audience. What we came up with was music that stayed within the world of the play, but at the same time had a modern feel to them with even some electronics in some of the pieces.
How did your sound process for Romeo & Juliet unfold? Where did you begin?
It started over the summer with reading the play and having several meetings and emails with Michael Daehn. From these meetings we discussed the feel of the music as well as the sound effects and what we wanted. From there, I gathered the music and kept meeting and discussing with Michael what worked and what needed to be changed. Leading into the school year I started to attend rehearsals to develop a better idea of what needed to be done sound wise and continued working on my design. Leading up to tech rehearsals and to where we are now!
What is your favorite moment in the show? Why?
For me, it would have to be the moment that Romeo and Juliet first meet. I’m a helpless romantic myself and that part always warms my heart and I believe that our actors do a great job with bringing that to life. If not that, then definitely the moment in the first act between the nurse and Lady Capulet. The Nurse is very comical with the way she can’t stop herself from laughing at her thoughts annoying Lady Capulet.