Songs for a New World

Working with Active Elite Theatre Co on their production of Songs for a New World was a real highlight for us. Performed in the Loading Dock Theatre and directed by Ethan Malacaria, the show brought together an incredibly talented cast and band to tell a collection of stories that were powerful, personal, and musically rich.

Two Toned provided full sound design and mixing for the season, along with a complete band package and headset microphones for the performers. The goal was to build a system that would deliver clarity and balance for both vocals and live instruments. Something that could handle the show’s wide dynamic range while keeping everything natural and cohesive.

A big part of the process was the system design for the venue. The Loading Dock Theatre has a good in-house setup, but we saw the opportunity to refine it to better suit the production. We reconfigured the PA layout, moving the main speakers into new positions to achieve more even coverage and improve the overall sound in the space. Once repositioned and retuned, the system offered a much more consistent mix across the audience area.

During performances, our focus was on creating a mix that supported the energy and emotion of the show. As a song cycle, Songs for a New World is so musically driven, the balance between the cast and band was critical, every lyric and dynamic shift needed to come through clearly. Night by night, we refined the mix to follow the natural flow between the songs.

It was a fun and rewarding project, made even better by the commitment and professionalism of everyone involved. The cast and creative team brought huge energy and heart to the stage, and it was great to be part of that process helping make sure all that work was heard at its best.