Man: Biology of a Fall, a new full-length opera, had its world premiere in October at the Kumble Theater of Long Island University. Created by Evan Hause and Gary Heidt, the opera, written for a chamber orchestra, is about Frank Olson, one of the first American scientists to study biological weapons for the United States Army, and his tragic experiences during the mid 1900s. The production ran for four nights and received a great response by the audience.

IAR instructor Dan Gaydos was in charge of Production and Sound Design for the performances, and he enlisted the help of IAR students. Beginning with full-scale rehearsals, Dan and his IAR crew were responsible for synth playback and sound reinforcement in real time as well as live recording. Pre-production work included mic placement for the orchestra and performers, which was achieved with floor mics and others hung from the light grid. During the opera, Dan and the team followed the script and responded to over 60 cues for synth playbacks, echoes, and sound effects, all of which were run through the house speakers. The Production and Sound Design team also mixed and recorded the tracks live, to be edited post-show for DVD.

The students were very hands-on and involved in every step of the production. They responded to direction from the stage manager, conductor, and artists. This required extreme dedication and focus. It was a valuable experience for the students to work in sound production for a professional opera, and they performed wonderfully. Dan noted that co-creator Evan Hause was, “appreciative that the students were on the spot all of the time. They were extraordinary.”