Wizard of Oz: Lighting and Sound Design
Make it Sparkle Video with Michael Montgomery
Community Theatre Director & Producer
5:16 (runtime)
Director’s Notes
In an insightful exploration of lighting and sound in community theatre, Michael Montgomery takes us behind the scenes of "The Wizard of Oz." He shares the challenges and rewards of achieving an orchestrated feel and highlights the crucial role of lighting in a way that guides the narrative and enhances the drama.
Emphasizing the importance of orchestrating tracks for a genuine feel, Michael underscores the role of a 'conductor' who understands both acting and singing to adapt to nightly performances.
Sound and lighting in "The Wizard of Oz" are challenging due to the myriad of elements involved. Lighting in a broad way can wash out the color scheme and show too much—where Michael believes it can be better to highlight certain parts of the stage and story.
Proper lighting not only enhances costumes but also directs the audience's attention to critical parts of the stage, aiding in storytelling.
Tech week discoveries, especially in lighting, can lead to spontaneous magical moments in the show. Adaptability and openness to these moments are key.
Effective sound design involves thinking in snapshots, transitioning smoothly between diverse elements like the Wicked Witch's effects, the Munchkins' sound shifts, and ‘iconic Judy Garland vibe,’ as he calls it.
About Michael Montgomery
Michael Montgomery is currently a Senior Talent Advisor for Oracle Corporation by day (the third largest software company in the world), and is Stageworks Theatre's Artistic Director by night and weekends.
Associated with Stageworks Theatre since 2011 as a Board Member, Director, Producer, Stage Manager and Designer, Michael Montgomery has served in a variety of roles, serving as Artistic Director since 2016. Prior to this, he served five years on the main stage as Director of Production Services. Director credits include The Three Musketeers, Damn Yankees and Oliver. Prior Producer, design and production team contribution credits include Footloose, The Odd Couple, Peter Pan, The Little Shop of Horrors, Freud’s Last Session, Amadeus, Lend me a Tenure, The Foreigner, Into The Woods, A Christmas Carol, Les Miserables, 1776, Fiddler on the Roof and Annie.
Upcoming Productions in 2017 include the Houston community theatre premiere of Peter and The Starcatcher, as well as The Elephant Man and The Wizard of Oz. Awards during Michael’s tenure include 2015 Broadwayworld.com’s Director of the Year for The Three Musketeers, Broadwayworld.com’s 2014, 2015, 2016 award for Most Improved Theatre in Houston. Several other Broadwayworld.com and Houston Press awards for actor of the year, musical of the year, lighting design, sound design, choreography and costumes for Peter Pan, the Musical, Footloose and Fiddler on the Roof.