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Remote Audio Recording for Musicals: A “Theoretical” Approach

Clarence “Doc” Davis
Otterbein University
Department of Theatre and Dance
Columbus, OH

ABSTRACT:
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, theatrical producers worldwide were faced with the challenge of how to produce musical theatre while bringing the risk of infection down to acceptable levels. As Otterbein University Department of Theatre and Dance prepared to produce The Theory of Relativity on-stage (filmed to stream), it was clear that normal onstage singing was not feasible. Therefore, all dialog, singing, and most sound effects were pre-recorded 100% from the performers’ homes and living spaces. Final stereo files were created, with which the performers matched their actions onstage in order to reduce the aerosols exuded into the shared space. The video and audio recordings were then combined into a finished product for the audience to stream. The process of creating this recorded-to-stream staged piece led some among the cast and crew to re-evaluate their definitions of what does and does not constitute a live “Theatrical Performance.”

FULL PAPER:
Remote Audio Recording for Musicals: A “Theoretical” Approach
Publication: USITT Current Practices and Research in Sound
March 8, 2021

PRESENTATION:
The 61st Annual USITT Conference
March 8, 2021