YAMAHA PM1D IS A HIT ON BROADWAY

—Single Console Handles Audio for 56th Annual Tony Awards—

BUENA PARK, CA (June 14, 2002)—Since 1947, the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing have honored theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on the Broadway stage with the Tony Awards, an annual telecast that is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. Broadcast on June 2 from Radio City Music Hall, The American Theatre Wing's 56th Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards® was a night in which America watched the best of Broadway, with outstanding musical numbers and important recognitions. What America didn't see was an equally important role played by a Yamaha PM1D digital mixing system, directing production, house, and broadcast audio.

See its name in lights: Yamaha PM1D does duties in front of house area at the 2002 Tony Awards, Radio City Music Hall.

According to Fred Napolitano of Cheshire (CT)-based Seventh Row Productions, who supplied audio production services for the show, console choice was based on specifications of mixer Dan Gerhard wanting to simplify the front of house area with a single console. "Dan's concept was to go from several consoles which he had used for last year's Tonys, down to one board," he explains.

With Bernadette Peters and Gregory Hines acting as hosts, performers and presenters included Ralph Fiennes, Alec Baldwin, John Leguizamo, Anne Heche, Calista Flockhart, Blythe Danner, Kate Burton, Arthur Miller, Whoopi Goldberg, Mary Tyler Moore, Liam Neeson, Marvin Hamlisch, Harry Connik Jr., Mos Def, and Michele Lee.

Live musical numbers from the nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals included selections and casts from Mamma Mia! (currently using a Yamaha PM1D for the North American tour) , Sweet Smell of Success, Urinetown, Into the Woods, and Oklahoma!. Other musical highlights included Peters and Hines performing a tribute to New York City, and a musical production number honoring Richard Rodgers. Television audiences also got to view scenes from nominated Best Plays and Best Play Revivals.

"We had over 90 inputs, with all the production elements programmed on the first layer, and the orchestra on the second layer," Napolitano continues. "There were also 24 wireless mics, each with Dan Dugen mixers inserted into the console's mix busses. We also interfaced with the Ed Green's broadcast truck, so almost all 48 mix busses were active."

PBS televised "The First Ten Awards: Tony 2002" (produced for PBS by Thirteen/WNET New York), and "The 2002 Tony Awards" were broadcast on the CBS Television Network. The house P.A. was supplied by PRG Audio Group/ProMix, who are no strangers to Broadway, with Patrick Healey serving as system engineer.

"We (Seventh Row) handle a number of large multi-act corporate marketing events, so this was a very similar application," he adds. "Dan is very 'digital-friendly,' and liked the fact that the PM1D offered the kind of flexibility needed for this type of show. Everything worked smoothly, from logistics to mixing. Mixers like the fact that they have everything they need at their fingertips: effects, gates, and the like on each channel, being able to layer. The PM1D is a natural for theater."

For more information, contact Yamaha Corporation of America, Commercial Audio Systems Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone 714-522-9011, email infostation@yamaha.com or visit www.yamaha.com/proaudio.