Lion King with Cadac J-Type

Pro-Music-News

Sound

Cadac J-Type Console for Lion King

Sound designer Tony Meola at the Broadway production of Lion King

The success story for Disney's Lion King continues, with the latest production opening in London's West End - at The Lyceum Theatre - on 19th October 1999. Sound design is once again by Tony Meola, who won the 1998 Drama Desk Award for his original work on the Broadway show. The show includes a 89-input Cadac J-Type Live Production console, equipped with motorised faders - with sound equipment supplied by London's Autograph Sound Recording. Wireless microphone system is a Sennheiser 40 channel Em 1046 using SK50 transmitters.
The company totals 46, led by thirteen principals - including Josette Bushell-Mingo as Rafiki, Stephanie Charles as Shenzi, Rob Edwards as Scar and Roger Wright as Simba. Six children play the young Simba and the young Nala in rotation. Directed by Julie Taymor, the production features scenic design by Richard Hudson and lighting by Donald Holder. To date, Disney's Lion King has won 25 major awards, including the Tony Award for best musical, and the show continues to attract audiences with its mix of striking costumes, Elton John's award-winning score and popular story line. Even prior to opening, the London production announced a new booking period through to September 2000 - reflecting the show's huge success.
The Lyceum was completely refitted for the musical, with sound designer Tony Meola translating his acclaimed sound for the Broadway show and commenting: "There are many similarities between the theatres, although the Lyceum does have much tougher acoustics, which presented us with some challenges. We were able to transfer the sound design with relatively few changes, plotting in the automation software from the Broadway show to set up the Cadac and sound system. Space is not such an issue in London, giving us a more open front of house desk configuration. Next on the agenda is the opening in March of Lion King in Toronto - this will become the model for future tours and other productions world-wide, with the objective being to put the software in, knowing that the show will run to the correct model. This gives us the repeatability and control that is required to ensure consistency of performances wherever the show runs globally".
First launched in 1992, the Cadac J-Type has established itself as the world's leading console for major musical productions. The most recent evolution of the console involved the introduction of a range of Programmable/Recallable modules, suitable for retrofitting in existing J-Type frames. These modules allow users to store and recall all potentiometer and switch settings during a performance, including those of the Routing, EQ and Insert points, on a cue by cue basis, giving the J-Type considerably enhanced automation facilities. The Programmable/Recallable modules use nulling LEDs to assist with fast, manual reset in low-light conditions - as pioneered by Cadac on the Concert Board - and currently comprise Dual Input Channels, Stereo Input Channels and a Sub Group & Matrix, with Sub Group VCA assignment to a DC Master.