Well known and respected sound designer Otts Munderloh is again working with Apogee Sound for the new Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine collaborative Broadway musical, Passion. Mr. Munderloh has used Apogee Sound products in the past for such memorable Broadway productions as The Secret Garden, Dreamgirls, Tru, Jerome Robbin's Broadway, Crazy for You, and Grand Hotel.

Passion recently won four Tony Awards, yet was nominated for a total of ten awards. Passion won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Book (spoken script) of a Musical, Best Original Score and Best Performance for a Leading Lady. The play was also nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Director, Best Lighting Design and Best Costume Design.

This marks the first Broadway production to utilize Apogee's CRQ-12 Multi-Mode Parametric Equalizer. Mr. Munderloh claims he is usually a little nervous about breaking in new equipment in his Broadway productions. Since the CRQ-12 was recommended by long time associate and professional sound consultant Alexander Yuill-Thornton (Thorny) of Solstice Company, Mr. Munderloh is convinced the CRQ-12 will be able to provide the best possible equalization and flattest sound system response for Passion. He stated he is very impressed with the fact that the CRQ-12 utilizes six filters per channel as opposed to four or five commonly found in competitive units. Ten CRQ-12 units will provide EQ for the Apogee house sound system in this application. Aside from the incomparable specifications of the CRQ-12, Mr. Munderloh cites a long, successful working relationship with Apogee Sound and it's professional products.

For this production, Mr. Munderloh requested that the narrow conical, high frequency driver from the two-way AE-5 NC loudspeaker be mounted alone in a cabinet slightly larger then the driver itself. These custom high frequency cabinets were installed on each of the mid sections of the balcony boxes, projecting into the back orchestra seating area. This low profile loudspeaker was specifically required because a standard two-way AE-5NC loudspeaker in this area would obstruct sight lines in both the balcony and orchestra. Low frequency reproduction is provided by a standard AE-5NC loudspeaker with a disconnected high driver installed on each side of the theater near the proscenium arch.

These custom made high frequency loudspeakers were conceptualized by Mr. Munderloh and built with the technical design assistance of Apogee Sound Chief Engineer, Steve Kadar. Within just two weeks from time of order and far ahead of schedule, Apogee Sound delivered the entire sound system, including the custom high frequency loudspeakers, to the sound contractor, Masque Sound in Moonachie, New Jersey.

Additional speakers in Passion's sound system consist of a center cluster of six AE-5NC (narrow conical) loudspeakers installed 3 over 3. The top three AE-5NCs cover the balcony seating and the bottom three cover the majority of the orchestra seating. One AE-5NC loudspeaker is mounted to each side of the proscenium arch, level with the balcony boxes, and crossfire is used to cover the center section of the orchestra seats. Thirty-two SSM loudspeakers, the smallest unit in Apogee's product line, are utilized for under balcony, rear balcony, extreme left and right balcony fill. SSMs are also mounted along the pit railing for front fill as well as under the balcony for the rear orchestra section. Seven AE-3 monitors are concealed in the stage set and provide foldback for the performers as do six AE-1 loudspeakers in the orchestra pit and off-stage areas. Two AE-10 subwoofers positioned stage left and right provide deep, rich bass response throughout the theater.

A CADAC mixing console, Crest amplifiers, Sennheiser, AKG and Neumann microphones round out the sound system.