​Can you send me some samples of your work?
​A dreaded question for a Sound Designer.

Sound takes place over time.
Sound takes place in space.
Sound moves.
Sound expands and contracts.
Sound breathes.

Whenever I'm asked to send a portfolio for review, it always gives me some anxiety.  
​In performance, I want my sound designs to interact - with both the audience and the actors -
​ ​in ways which are incredibly difficult to represent in a photo, and image, or even a stereo recording. 

​But, let me see if I can show & tell you how I work as best I can...

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Weightless
​WP Theater
The Greek Myth of the sisters Procne and Philomela - as performed by Indie Rock band The Kilbanes.

The assignment was pretty straightforward:  Sound Design a true rock opera in a very small theatre.
Give the show clarity, energy, dynamics, and volume.
But don't make it too loud.

Imagine CBGBs in its heyday without your ears ringing when you leave.  It actually worked.

The Sound Design was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical.
​It was the only Off-Broadway show to receive this honor in 2023.

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Bernhardt/Hamlet
​Goodman Theatre

Donna Feore's Direction of the Theresa Rebeck Play about a woman taking on a "man's job" -
that was something I (and many of the women on our production) could relate to.

A Suite for Chamber Strings composed in the French Romantic style created the scene shifts for the show.  
​This allowed us to sonically support the classic visual design of the production -
Set by Narelle Sissons, Lighting by Robert Wertzel, and Costumes by Dana Osborne .  

I used a theme and variations structure, ​showing how Sarah Bernhardt's decisions were influenced by the powers around her.
​But, the final moment of the show featured her theme on a solo violin, exposed for all to see.
​This score was Nominated for the 2020 Chicago "Jeff" Award for Outstanding Original Music for a Play.

​Chicago musicians Marin Davids (Violin), Heather Boehm (Viola), and Tahirah Whittington (Cello) performed on the recordings.

Please note:  Sample recordings have been uploaded at a lower sound quality ​with watermark in accordance with copyright and contract arrangements.

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Sammy & Me
​MusicalFare Theatre, The Hangar Theatre, The National Black Theatre Festival,
The Alliance Theatre, & Bay Street Theatre

The extraordinary solo performance by Eric Jordan Young tells a personal story about
how we view our heroes and the effect they have on our lives.

​Mr. Young's character is visited by the ghost of Sammy Davis Jr, and together they tell the history of stage performance
​for black artists from the ​1920's thru today - opening immense pathways for storytelling thru sound design & music.  
Countless characters - all created by Eric's immense talent -  cross the stage in both live performance and recorded effects.

This piece was originally developed in 2006 and has had multiple stagings thru the most recent in the summer of 2023.
 This is a project which is a pleasure to revisit often & continues to be one of my proudest designs.

​
​Excerpt from Sammy & Me
by Eric Jordan Young & Wendy Dann

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Wild Goose Dreams
​La Jolla Playhouse

​This world-premiere work crossed sonic borders between ancient Korean melodies & the sounds of the digital age.  
My design - in collaboration with composer Paul Castles & Korean drummer Anny Hahm - was awarded
​the 2017 San Diego Theatre Critic's Circle Award for Outstanding Sound Design.
​
The character of Nanhee - a North Korean defector - has a nightmare where she travels back home thru the river she escaped:
(There was a lot of subwoofer in the production)​

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Mockingbird
​Nashville Children's Theatre

The stage representation of Kathryn Erskine's children's book about an autistic child dealing with the tragic death of her brother.                We used hyper-realism to show the world thru our heroine Caitlin's eyes.  

​This design was awarded the 2018 Nashville "First Night" Award for Outstanding Sound Design and the
BroadwayWorld Nashville 2020 Outstanding Sound Design of the Decade Award.​​

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