Mahalia Jackson Theater: Meyer Sound M'elodie Revitalizes Musical Heritage in Post-Katrina New Orleans

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"Everything! Everything! Now we can do any full-on show here, from rock and jazz to classical and dance. There is simply no need to bring in rental systems, period." - Victor Rome Staff Sound Engineer, Mahalia Jackson Theater

The musical vitality in New Orleans was set back for three years with the widespread flooding of Hurricane Katrina closing down some of the city's biggest theatres, including the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. The birthplace of jazz made an important step toward recovery when Mayor Ray Nagin reopened the iconic theater, following a total basement-to-rooftop renovation that included a new Meyer Sound M'elodie line array loudspeaker system designed to fully support the city's rich and multifaceted musical heritage.

"Everything! Everything!" was the ecstatic response of Staff Sound Engineer Victor Rome when asked what the new system would do that couldn't be handled by the pre-Katrina audio system. "Now we can do any full-on show here, from rock and jazz to classical and dance. There is simply no need to bring in rental systems, period."

The new reinforcement system, based around twin hangs of 12 M'elodie line array loudspeakers each, was part of an overall acoustic and AV specification drafted by N.B. Traylor & Associates of Baton Rouge, La. The system was designed by Rob Pourciau on behalf of Soundworks System Integrators (a division of Frischhertz Technologies) and in consultation with Meyer Sound Design Services.

"Our basic charge came straight from Mayor Nagin, who was determined to make this a world-class venue, ready to accommodate anything from Broadway plays to movie premieres," recalls Pourciau, who also served as project manager for the install. "The Meyer systems were fundamental to making this goal a reality."

Supplementing the main left-right M'elodie arrays are a soffit-mounted center cluster comprising MSL-4 loudspeakers, DF-4 downfill loudspeakers, and 600-HP subwoofers. Auxiliary systems deploy UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers for balcony fills, UPJunior VariO loudspeakers for front fills and UPA-1P loudspeakers for upper balcony center delay. A Galileo loudspeaker management system with four Galileo 616 processors provides processing and matrixed distribution, with one processor reserved for a Meyer Sound-based cinema surround system that is already pre-wired and slated for completion in the near future.

"Everybody we spoke to has been blown away by the sound, from patrons to management," observes Steven Fisher of Frischhertz Technologies. "The Meyer system has scored very high marks, top to bottom."

For Fisher, the theater's reopening triggered strong emotions: "My neighborhood of Lakeview was very hard hit by Katrina, so I have a personal stake in the recovery of this city. It's great to see this wonderful arts and performance center back on its feet. For years there has been a big gap in what makes this city tick. Getting it back in place is beyond words. There were a lot of hugs and tears on that opening night."

First opened in 1973, the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts is named in honor of the world-famous gospel singer, a New Orleans native. The venue is operated by Arts Center Enterprises, and serves as the home of the New Orleans Opera, the New Orleans Ballet, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

October, 2009

M'elodie

600-HP

MSL-4

DF-4

UPJunior

UPJ-1P

UPA-1P

Galileo 616