Gareth Owen (sound designer)
Gareth Owen is an eleven time Tony & Olivier Award-winning / nominated[1] sound designer specialising in musical theatre in London's West End, on Broadway and internationally.
Gareth Owen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gareth John Owen 20 August 1979 Sheffield, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of Plymouth, University of Salford (honorary) |
| Occupation | Theatrical Sound Designer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Spouse | Carmen Bierens |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Critics Circle, WhatsOnStage, ProSound, Jeff, Craig Noel, Dora, Helen Hayes, Green Room & BroadwayWorld. |
| Website | www |
Early life edit
Gareth John Owen was born in Sheffield, England, a son of two teachers,[2] both of whom specialised in special needs education. At the age of nine the family moved to the Cayman Islands where Owen attended Cayman Islands Middle School. Upon returning to the UK the family moved to St. Ives in Cornwall where Owen attended both Mounts Bay School and Penwith Sixth Form College[3] before going to the University of Plymouth[4] in Plymouth, to study for a bachelor's degree in underwater science. While at university he worked in nightclubs[5] as a lighting and sound engineer, and as a boatman and beach lifeguard in St. Ives.[6]
Career edit
Owen initially began working in live sound when the Penzance nightclub he was working at started to present live bands which Owen was asked to mix. From here he secured work with Birmingham's SSE Audio Group[7] which lead to an early career in rock & roll, working at festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading, Party in the Park, and T4 on the Beach; and mixing acts such as Def Leppard, The Stereophonics, B B King, The Spice Girls and The Rolling Stones.
Owens theatre career began when he was invited to mix the musical The Blues Brothers which was running at what is now the Trafalgar Studios in Londons west end. About this time, Owen is quoted as saying in an interview "I didn't have a lot of money so I bought a tent and lived in the band's garden".[8] From here he was offered a job as sound designer for the UK tour of Stephen Schwartz' musical Godspell,[9] beginning a collaboration which would continue until the present day.[10] Owen went on to design a number of shows in a freelance capacity, before joining London's Orbital Sound as a full-time sound designer.[11] In late 2009, Owen left Orbital Sound and formed his own company, Gareth Owen Sound.[12]
Since 2010, Owen has since worked with composers including Alan Menken,[13] Andrew Lloyd Webber,[14] Stephen Schwartz,[15] Björn Ulvaeus,[16] Glen Ballard, Max Martin,[17] David Bryan,[18] George Stiles, Cyndi Lauper, Pete Townsend,[19] Alan Silvestri,[20] Alicia Keys,[21] David Foster, Tom Kitt[22] and Stephen Sondheim.[23] Owen has also created musicals based on the music of pop icons such as Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, and The Beatles;[24] and is a collaborator with top directors including Robert De Niro,[25] Christopher Ashley,[26] Jerry Zaks,[27] Des McAnuff,[28] Luke Sheppard,[29] Jerry Mitchell,[30] Laurence Connor,[31] Christopher Wheeldon,[32] Terry Johnson, Michael Grief, Emerald Fennell,[33] Scott Schwartz, Michael Arden[34] and Sir Trevor Nunn.[35]
Broadway musical theatre edit
Owen has worked as sound designer on the following Broadway productions[36] in New York City:
- Hells Kitchen (original creative), Shubert Theater (2024)
- The Who's Tommy, Nederlander Theater (2024)
- Back to the Future, (original creative), Winter Garden Theater (2023)
- Bad Cinderella, (original creative), Imperial Theater (2023)
- & Juliet, (original creative), The Stephen Sondheim Theatre (2022)
- MJ the Musical, (original creative), Neil Simon Theater (2022)[37]
- Diana, (original creative), Longacre Theater (2020)
- Summer (original creative), Lunt Fontaine Theater (2018)
- Come From Away (original creative), Schoenfeld Theater (2017)
- A Bronx Tale (original creative), Longacre Theater (2016)
- Spring Awakening, Brooks Atkinson Theater (2015)
- Let it Be (original creative), St. James Theater (2013)
- End of the Rainbow[38] (original creative), Belasco Theater (2012)
- A Little Night Music, Walter Kerr Theater (2009)
West End musical theatre edit
Owen has worked as sound designer on the following West End musical productions[39] in London:
- Starlight Express, Troubadour (2024)
- MJ the Musical (original creative), Prince Edward (2024)
- Just For One Day (original creative), The Old Vic, London (2024)
- Elf, Dominion Theatre (2022 & 2023)
- Back to the Future, (original creative), Adelphi Theatre (2021)
- Cinderella, (original creative), Gillian Lynne Theatre (2021)
- Prince of Egypt, (original creative), Dominion Theatre (2020)
- & Juliet, (original creative), Shaftesbury Theatre (2019)
- Mamma Mia! the Party, (original creative), O2 Arena (2019)
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Palladium Theatre (2019 & 2021)
- Strictly Ballroom, (original creative), Piccadilly Theatre (2017)
- Bat Out of Hell, (original creative), Coliseum Theatre (2017)
- Young Frankenstein, Garrick Theatre (2017)
- 42nd Street, Drury Lane Theatre (2017)
- Wind in the Willows, (original creative), Palladium Theatre (2016)
- Mrs Henderson Presents, (original creative), Noël Coward Theatre (2015)
- In the Heights, Kings Cross Theatre (2015)
- Memphis, Shaftesbury Theatre (2014)
- Forbidden Broadway, Vaudeville Theatre (2014)
- I Can't Sing, (original creative), Palladium Theatre (2014)
- Merrily We Roll Along, Comedy Theatre (2013)
- Midnight Tango, Phoenix Theatre (2013)
- Let it Be, (original creative), Prince of Wales Theatre (2012)
- Top Hat, (original creative), Aldwych Theatre (2011)
- Fame, Shaftesbury Theatre (2010)
- Sweet Charity, Haymarket Theatre (2009)
- Shout!, Arts Theatre (2009)
- A Little Night Music, Garrick Theatre (2008)
- La Cage Aux Follies, Playhouse Theatre (2008)
- Carousel, Savoy Theatre (2008)
- Fiddler on the Roof, Savoy Theatre (2007)
- Little Shop of Horrors, Duke of Yorks Theatre (2007)
- Footloose, Novello Theatre (2006)
- High Society, Shaftesbury Theatre (2005)
- The Big Life, (original creative), Apollo Theatre (2005)
International and regional musical theatre edit
Owen has worked as sound designer on the following productions around the world:
- Boop! (original creative), CIBC, Chicago (2023)
- Pretty Woman, Netherlands (2023)
- Bat Out of Hell (original creative), The Paris Theatre, Las Vegas (2022)
- Kinky Boots, Stage 42, New York (2022)
- Starlight Express Bochum,[40] Germany (2018)
- Clueless (original creative), Signature Theater, Off-Broadway (2018)
- The Secret Garden, The Lincoln Center, New York (2017)
- Schikaneder (original creative) Vienna (2016)
- Bodyguard, Netherlands (2015)
- Secret Cinema - The Empire Strikes Back, London (2015)
- Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, (original creative), worldwide (2014)
- Moeder ik wil bij de revue (original creative), Netherlands (2014)
- Disney's Beauty & The Beast, worldwide (2014)
- Disney's The Little Mermaid, worldwide (2012)
- Sister Act (2011)
- Hairspray (2010)
- High School Musical Two (original creative) (2009)
- Flashdance (original creative) (2009)
West End straight plays edit
Owen has worked as sound designer on the following West End straight plays in London, although the timeline suggests he is no longer active in this particular discipline:
- Barking in Essex, (original creative), Wyndhams Theatre (2013)
- Uncle Vanya, Vaudeville Theatre (2012)
- Long Days Journey in to Night, Apollo Theatre (2012)
- Sign of the Times, (original creative), Duchess Theatre (2011)
- End of the Rainbow, (original creative), Trafalgar Theatre (2010)
- Woman in Black, Fortune Theatre (2010)
- An Ideal Husband, Vaudeville Theatre (2010)
- Prick Up Your Ears, (original creative), Comedy Theatre (2009)
- Dealers Choice, Trafalgar Theatre (2007)
- Jeffery Bernard is Unwell, Garrick Theatre (2006)
- Dickens Unplugged!, Comedy Theatre (2008)
- Epitaph for George Dillon, Comedy Theatre (2005)
Technical achievements edit
Owen is credited with a long list of technical achievements and industry firsts.
A pioneer in the field of immersive theatre sound, Owen was the first person to use the object based wave field synthesis immersive audio in both Londons West End[41] and on New Yorks Broadway,[42] for the musicals Come from Away and Diana, respectively. He created the world's first sound design to incorporate object based mixing in to a rotating auditorium[43] for Andrew Lloyd Webbers Cinderella musical at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London; and what was, at the time, the largest SoundScape installation in the world[44] for arena musical Starlight Express. Owen is also credited as the first person to integrate wireless tracking of performers in to an object based sound system on Broadway,[45] this time for MJ the Musical. Indeed, he and his team are credited with creating one of the industry standard control applications for live immersive audio,[46] d&b's EnSnap,[47] used on multiple shows and productions around the world.[48]
Owen's use and development of cutting-edge technologies is not limited to immersive audio. He is believed to have designed the show with the largest number of radio mics ever used on a west end musical,[49] 42nd Street at Londons Drury Lane. He was the first person to use the d&b KSL line array system[50] on both a Broadway show and on a west end musical, in both cases for Back to the Future the musical. He was the first person to use the d&b XSL line array system on a Broadway show, this time for & Juliet at the Sondheim theater. Owen was the first person to use a DiGiCo mixing console in theatre,[51] the now defunct D5, for the UK Tour of the Cliff Richard musical Summer Holiday.[52] He is credited as being the first to use both the Avid Venue mixing console[53] and the Avid S6L mixing console in theatre, for the shows Annie Get Your Gun and Broadways Come From Away respectively. Owen was one of the early adopters of computer game audio engines to create dynamic sound effects in theatre, notably on Broadway's Back to the Future musical.[54]
Business ventures edit
Owen is co-founder and CCO of audio hardware manufacturer Fourier Audio,[55] where he is "working to redefine the future of pro audio".[56] In 2023, he and his co-founders Henry Harrod and Peter Bridgman sold Fourier Audio to live mixing desk manufacturer DiGiCo for an undisclosed multi-million pound sum.[57] From this springboard they went on to release the transform.engine, a revolutionary VST plugin host, designed exclusively for the live environment.[58]
Owen is also a co-founder of the software house Show Control Ltd, a company specialising in the coding and development of dedicated theatrical show control systems.[59]
Other endeavours edit
In 2009, Owen joined a steering committee that eventually formed the Association of Sound Designers[60] where he served as a committee member for the maximum term of five years, from 2012 to 2018.[61]
In 2022, Owen was presented with an Honorary Doctorate[62] from the University of Salford.[63]
Selected awards edit
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Who's Tommy | Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Won | |
| 2023 | & Juliet | Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Nominated | |
| 2023 | & Juliet | BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Won | |
| 2022 | MJ: The Musical | Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Won | |
| 2022 | MJ: The Musical | Drama Desk Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Won | |
| 2022 | Back to the Future | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Back to the Future | WhatsOnStage Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2020 | Come From Away | BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design of the Decade | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Come From Away | Green Room Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2020 | Come From Away | WhatsOnStage Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2020 | & Juliet | WhatsOnStage Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Come From Away | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2019 | The Donna Summer Musical | NAACP Theatre Award for Best Sound Larger Theatre | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Starlight Express (Bochum) | Pro Sound Award for Best Immersive Design | Won | |
| 2018 | Carmen La Cubana | BroadwayWorld Germany Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2018 | Bat Out of Hell The Musical | AV Technology Award for Best Use of Audio Solutions[64] | Won | |
| 2018 | Come From Away | BroadwayWorld Toronto Award for Best Original Sound Design | Won | |
| 2018 | Bat Out of Hell The Musical | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Come From Away | BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2018 | Summer | Craig Noel Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Bat Out of Hell The Musical | AV Technology Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2017 | Come From Away | Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2017 | Bat Out of Hell The Musical | BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2017 | Come From Away | Dora Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2017 | Individual Recognition | Pro Sound Award for Sound Engineer of the Year[65] | Won | |
| 2017 | Come From Away | Helen Hayes Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2016 | A Bronx Tale | BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2015 | Memphis the Musical | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2015 | Memphis the Musical | Pro Sound Award for Best Theatre Sound[66] | Won | |
| 2015 | Hunchback of Notre Dame | BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Merrily We Roll Along | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Won | |
| 2013 | Top Hat | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2014 | I Can't Sing! | Pro Sound Award for Best Theatre Sound | Won | |
| 2012 | End of the Rainbow | Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Nominated | |
| 2011 | End of the Rainbow | Olivier Award for Best Sound Design | Nominated | |
| 2010 | A Little Night Music | Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ Janssen, Sarah (13 December 2022). The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2023. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5107-7246-5.
- ^ "HeadLiner Radio Interviews Gareth Owen". Spotify. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ Vergnault, Olivier (21 April 2019). "Cornish man wins three theatre Oscars". CornwallLive. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Sound Designer Gareth Owen". prezi.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Gareth Owen, musical theatre sound designer". AV Magazine. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Dale, Andy (16 March 2020). "St Ives Life Saving Club". St Ives Community Land Trust. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Harvey, Steve (29 July 2016). "How SSE became a Go-To for Festival Sound". Pro Sound News. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ Smurthwaite, Nick (13 March 2017). . The Stage. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Godspell, Liverpool". the Guardian. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (31 March 2020). "Original London Cast Recording of Stephen Schwartz's The Prince of Egypt Will Be Released in April". Playbill. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ Mutter, Zoe (18 October 2019). "Gareth Owen, musical theatre sound designer". AV Magazine. from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Gareth Owen Sound Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Disneys Musical at Ronacher | Schedule & Tickets". Musical Vienna. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Gareth Owen: Taking a Chance on SoundScape". Headliner Magazine. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Prince of Egypt Musical Completes Casting for U.K. Premiere in London's West End". Broadway.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Jones, Sarah; Perkins, Meghan (20 April 2020). "Mamma Mia Immerses Guests In A Party Soundscape". Live Design Online. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Wexler, Matthew. "'& Juliet' reimagines romance in the age of TikTok with Max Martin's Grammy-winning songbook". Queerty. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Memphis extends booking at Shaftesbury to October 2015 | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "News". Pete Townshend - News and History. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Silvestri, The Film Music of Alan. "BEST NEW MUSICAL: Back To The Future: The Musical - 2022 What's On..." The Film Music of Alan Silvestri. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Rosky, Nicole. "Alicia Keys Says the Goal is Broadway for HELL'S KITCHEN". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Margrira (12 September 2023). "Alicia Keys' Musical 'HELL'S KITCHEN' Soars with Stellar Team and Creative Talent". NJURBANNEWS. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Meet the Sound Designers". Avid. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Gareth Owen: Theatre Sound Designer". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ Gerard, Jeremy (15 June 2016). "Robert De Niro Will Co-Direct Broadway Musical Version Of 'A Bronx Tale'". Deadline. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Artistic Team". Fords Theatre. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Miltenberger, Lauren (13 February 2020). "American Idol Winner Nick Fradiani Will Star in A Bronx Tale North American Tour". Purdue Convocations. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "The Sounds of Summer – FOH | Front of House Magazine". Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "& Juliet - Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre". Luke Sheppard. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Casting announced for Off-Broadway production of KINKY BOOTS". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Waite, Jacob (27 July 2022). "Gareth Owen harnesses d&b Y-Series to sound out famed UK musicals". TPi. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Meet the Tony Nominees: Gareth Owen Brings a New Kind of Sound to Broadway in MJ | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Broadway.com". Broadway.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Masque Sound Custom Audio Package Resonates With Audiences At U.S. Premiere Of New Musical, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME". Masque Sound. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Cox, Gordon (12 March 2019). "Listen: The Secrets of Broadway Sound Design". Variety. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Gareth Owen Playbill Vault". Playbill. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (2 March 2020). "Michael Jackson Musical MJ Assembles Creative Team". Playbill. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Gareth Owen Takes Avid From Broadway to the West End". www.avid.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Gareth Owen Broadway and Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Transforming StarLight Express through Immersive Audio". Avid. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Light, Redacción ISP Audio &. "Come From Away: d&b Soundscape debuts in London's West End". Revista ISP Audio & Light (in European Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Lane, Rob (23 May 2022). "d&b Soundscape helps to bring the 'King of Pop' to life in MJ: The Musical". Installation. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ McGrath, Dan. "Object-based audio meets a rotating auditorium". AV Magazine. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "d&b Soundscape transforms Starlight Express". www.dbsoundscape.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "zactrack SMART Celebrates A Broadway First, Tracking Sound For "MJ The Musical"". Live Design Online. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "d&b En-Snap cue automation". www.fast-and-wide.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Gumble, Daniel (14 December 2020). "d&b develops new Soundscape software with Gareth Owen Sound". Audio Media International. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Lane, Rob (23 February 2022). "d&b Soundscape drives Björk's Cornucopia tour in LA and San Fran". Installation. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Ramsey, Colby (26 June 2017). "42nd Street breaks new musical ground with Shure UHF-R". Audio Media International. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "d&b KSL goes back to the future". www.entouragepro.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Orbital tours UK with Digico on Summer Holiday - Orbital Sound - Audio and Communication Equipment Hire and Sales". www.orbitalsound.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Web, UK Theatre. "Tour archive for Summer Holiday (Musical). 3rd March 1997-7th November 1998 [TOUR]". UK Theatre Web. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Venue Empowered Installs? [Archive] - Avid Pro Audio Community". duc.avid.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "The Sound Design of Back to the Future: The Musical". Krotos. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Waite, Jacob (29 July 2021). "Fourier Audio Startup Set to Transform Live Events". TPi. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "Fourer Audio : Who we are". Fourier Audio. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ Staff, Mix (2 October 2023). "DiGiCo Acquires Fourier Audio". Mixonline. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Shuler, Christopher (25 October 2023). "DiGiCo and Fourier Audio Set to Transform Live Sound". Mixonline. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Rob Halliday: Want to work in theatre? Learn how to write code". The Stage. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Who We Are". The Association of Sound Designers. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "The History of the ASD". The Association of Sound Designers. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "West End sound designer Gareth Owen receives award for contribution to theatre". The Stage. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Tony Award Winning Sound Designer Receives Honorary Doctorate". Salford University. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "AV Tech 2018 Winners". AV Technology Awards Awards. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Pro Sound Award Winners 2017". The Pro Sound Awards. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ . The Pro Sound Awards. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
External links edit
- Official site
- Gareth Owen at the Internet Broadway Database
- Association of Sound Designers