Harper Joy is excited to welcome Andy Sowers to Walla Walla, where he is serving as the visiting sound designer for Hair: the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.
Andy comes to Walla Walla from New York City where he works as an all-around theatre artist designing, acting, and directing. After growing up in Saudi Arabia, Andy moved back to the United States to attend boarding school where he discovered his love for theatre after performing in a school production of Pride and Prejudice: “I had this crazy experience where I was able to feel a character’s emotions for the first time, and I became very interested in this human phenomenon.” From that point on, Andy was sold on theatre, enrolled in UCLA to study acting. He eventually settled on directing as his program of choice and soon became fascinated with how design elements aid in storytelling.
He now works consistently as a freelance artist in many areas of theatre. He claims his well-rounded theatre education is to thank for this success. “You need to know how to do it all. Even as a director, it is important to know how lighting works. Those skills are invaluable.”
His strong interest in sound design developed after he was asked to stay at UCLA post-graduation and design for a SITI company show. He was able to train with the company, doing Viewpoints and Suzuki work, while spending the rest of his time sound designing. He finds sound to be an amazing directorial tool. “It bypasses logical circuitry and is able to go straight to your core. Sound has a very interesting relationship to the body. Like if you hear a scary sound, your body basically has this programmed reaction. It elevates the body.”
With so many elements apart from the composition of sound cues, musicals are challenging for sound designers: one also has to balance the band, the cues, and the actors’ voices to create an immersive experience for the audience. Andy was excited when he agreed to work on the show. “I spent a great deal of time steeping myself in music from the time period.”
Performances: May 7, 8, & 9 at-8pm, May 10 at -2pm AND May 21, 22, & 23 at 8pm; all on the Alexander Stage.Tickets are available at the Harper Joy Box Office Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30, 1:30-4:30 and half an hour before curtain.FREE for Whitman students; $12 adults; $8 students and seniors (60+)
NOTICE: HAIR will contain nudity, strong language, smoke, fog and strobe lights