Meyer Sound LEO Family reinforcement systems lay down a rock-solid sonic
foundation for two of the hottest musicals playing on London’s West End, Andrew
Lloyd Webber’s brash and energetic School of Rock and the soulfully scintillating
Motown: The Musical. Both systems were provided by London-based Autograph
Sound with logistical coordination by Scott Arnold.

The sound design for School Of Rock was by Mick Potter, whose credits include Les
Miserables, The Phantom Of The Opera, Evita, Cats, Miss Saigon and Sunset
Boulevard among many other notable productions. For the London design, Potter
tweaked the system template he created in 2015 for the still-running Broadway
production, with both systems anchored by main left and right hangs each
comprising 10 LYON-W wide coverage line array loudspeakers.

“The linearity and complete lack of coloration of LYON is critical to delivering the
dynamic range of this show, from quiet dialogue to full-on rock and roll,’ comments
Potter. “In musical theatre, getting out exactly what you put in – only louder – is
absolutely key when you are trying to tell a story while, at times, keeping the
sound reinforcement absolutely invisible.’

The production also showcases the high-impact yet controllable bass of the LEO
Family’s 1100-LFC and 900-LFC low frequency control elements. “Both the 1100-LFC
and the 900-LFC sound fantastic, with unbelievable detail,’ Potter notes. “Also, the
new 900-LFC provides a lot of flexibility in theatre applications due to its
modularity.’

Another unique feature of both the Broadway and West End designs is a centre
horizontal array of small MINA™ line array loudspeakers, with an arc of 11
speakers suspended over the stage in London. “It was a necessity because of the
scenic design but it works out very well, covering the whole auditorium horizontally
and vertically,’ says Potter.

To augment the LEO Family components, the complete Meyer Sound system
incorporates an additional 44 loudspeakers and seven subwoofers, mostly drawn
from the versatile UltraSeries. Drive and optimization is provided by a Galileo®
loudspeaker management system with nine Galileo and two Galileo Callisto
processors.

Motown: The Musical opened to rave reviews earlier in 2016 at the 1400-seat
Shaftesbury Theatre and continues its extended run through at least October of
2017. For the London production, sound designer Peter Hylenski upgraded his Meyer
Sound system to 14-per-side LEOPARD™ line array loudspeakers with deep bass
solidified by a half dozen 900-LFC low-frequency control elements. The full system
complement also includes 12 UPM-1P, 14 UPM-2P, eight UPM-1, 10 UPJunior™, four
UPQ-1P, and eight MM-4 loudspeakers along with two M1D-Sub and two 700-HP
subwoofers.

School of Rock: The Musical is based on the 2003 film of the same name and
features Lloyd Webber’s music with lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian
Fellowes. Motown: The Musical is based on the memoir by Detroit R&B recording
mogul Berry Gordy and showcases music by Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Mary
Wells, The Temptations and The Jackson 5, among others.