WAILUKU TOWN, HI – Opened in 1928, the sound system for the 375-seat IAO Theater, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was long overdue for an upgrade. It was recently refurbished by the theater's staff with a Yamaha integrated audio system purchased through Wind Over the Earth, Boulder, Colo.
Local consultant Jonathan Starr and Mickey Houlihan, owner of Wind Over the Earth, worked on the upgrade with a design from Lloyd Kinkade of Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems that included a Yamaha M7CL-32 digital audio console and two SB168-ES Stage Boxes.
Starr credited the new system's automated board with 300 scene memories and built-in effects, along with the digital snakes and stage boxes, for helping the staff manage "diverse and demanding productions" and benefit from multi-track recording capabilities.
The system also includes two Yamaha Installation Series IF3115/64 tri-amped main speakers, two IS2205s flown and used as side fills, two IS1118 subs and four IS1108 monitors. The installed Yamaha amplifiers include a T5n, PC9501n, and two each of PC6501n and P7000s. A Yamaha SP2060 speaker processor rounds out the Yamaha system.
The theater also added 12 Shure wireless microphones, bringing the wireless inventory up to 20 channels, and 108 color-coordinated broadband absorption panels from ATS Acoustics were also ordered and installed to take care of acoustical reflection issues.
"Lloyd Kinkade came over to commission the new system and train the staff," added Starr. "We were amazed at the level of support the folks at Yamaha provided to make this project such a success," he said, marveling that with "absolutely no interruption of theater operations," the old theater is "sounding great."
The Maui Community Theater, also known as the Maui OnStage, has staged productions in the IAO theater since 1984, and recently performed The Wedding Singer using the theater's new Yamaha audio system. The theater plans to host a production of Arsenic and Old Lace while continuing to offer live music, film, classes, and community events.
For more information, please visit www.mauionstage.com and www.yamahaca.com .
