Shure Welcomes Back the Tony Awards®
The iconic microphone manufacturer and NAMM Member was able to facilitate the return of the Tony Awards® in September. After a year away, the Broadway awards program returned with the help of Shure, who provided their wireless technology to support the return of the prestigious program.
The 74th annual Tony Awards returned earlier this year with the help of Shure and its Axient™ Digital Wireless System. This year’s awards included a performance that began on the streets of New York City and finished center stage at the Winter Garden Theatre. The entire program was broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, and utilized 48 wireless channels that fit into four DTV channels. While this may seem like a solution free of complications, the four DTV channels are shared throughout Times Square. Tony Award engineers credit Shure’s arsenal of tools including, ShowLink®, Wireless Workbench’s Timeline, and Quadversity, for the show's success.
Shure has the precedence of supplying its products for award shows like the Tony’s and CMT Awards and has a standing presence as the innovative audio solutions for Broadway. Before wireless microphones, the theatre relied on cabled microphones and complex boom-mounted arrays. While financially appropriate solutions, both options severely limited the freedom of actors on stage. With the improvements in wireless technology and in-ear monitors, resulting in more affordable options, producers have been able to cut the cord from wired mics, resulting in nearly all productions of live theatre relying on wireless solutions.
Despite Broadway’s exciting return and the resumption of the celebration for outstanding achievement in theatre, there were still challenges posed regarding the need for new safety protocols. Shure assisted in providing a safe experience by supplying products including the Shure AD1 Axient Digital Bodypack Transmitters, ADX1M Micro Bodypack Transmitters, and PSM® 1000s alongside the Axient Digital Wireless microphones.
Bill Ostry, the Eastern U.S. and Canada Pro Audio Sales Manager for Shure said, “Shure is honored to play such a vital role in helping welcome back the Broadway community at the 74th Annual Tony Awards. After a year without theater, we know how critical it is to provide reliable audio technology, particularly our Axient Digital Wireless System, for live high-stakes moments. We have to thank everyone from sound designers to A1’s as well as production companies who have trusted Shure’s wireless systems, microphones, and personal monitoring systems to bring their visions to life.”
For more information from Shure and the 74th annual Tony Awards, please visit https://www.shure.com/ and https://www.tonyawards.com/.