100 VENUE - T H E AMERICAS
MINSKOFF THEATRE NEW YORK, USA THE AMERICAS
The Lion King on Broadway celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a KV2 Audio upgrade.
Minskoff Theare, named after one of New York’s distinguished real estate families, Sam Minskoff and Sons, is one of The Nederlander Organisation‘s nine Broadway theatres. Opening its doors in 1973, the theatre recently went under an extensive six month upgrade in order to welcome one of the most popular stage musicals in the world, Disney’s The Lion King. The internationally acclaimed and highestgrossing Broadway production of all time celebrated its 20th anniversary on Broadway last year. The 20th anniversary system overhaul was a collaborative design effort by Steve Kennedy, John Shivers, Hugh Sweeney and David Patridge. As the show did not halt performances for this overhaul, the team had to install the system in phases on ‘dark days’, so as to not disturb the performers and show times. The Minskoff Theatre is situated in the very heart of New York’s Times Square, with spectacular views across the urban landscape. As you enter the room, the large size is immediately striking, as Broadway houses can often be quite small in comparison. www.mondodr.com
Where typically a large format line array system might have otherwise been applied in an equivalent sized installation, the physical size of the KV2 system appeared very neat and surprisingly unobtrusive in the room. The main system, is a dual hanging A/B left and right comprising ESR215 full range three way cabinets, with a centre cluster of four SL412 loudspeakers. The balcony delays are again an A/B L+R hang of ESR212 with an A/B centre cluster of two SL412 loudspeakers. As underbalcony fills and throughout the theatre there are hangs of EX6, ESD6 and ESD10. On his experience with the system, Mixing Engineer, Alain Van Achte, said: “The detail and accuracy of the KV2 system makes mixing the show easier and more rewarding. I am able to hear more nuances and respond accordingly. As if I were listening to reference monitors for example. I am confident that with the KV2 system I am delivering the soundscape that has been envisioned for The Lion King.” The decision to hang the system with a dual hang configuration was to maintain many of the original design concepts,
