A look behind the mask – how the immersive sound design for Masquerade was created
Since July 2025, the immersive new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous “Phantom of the Opera” has been wowing Broadway audiences in New York. Under the direction of Tony Award winner Diane Paulus, the audience not only watch (and listen), but also immerse themselves in the action: in a multi-storey former department store in the centre of Manhattan, visitors move between large and small rooms, changing stage scenes, characters and ever-changing soundscapes. The latter are brought to life by more than 1,000 permanently installed loudspeakers from LD Systems, which have been seamlessly integrated into the opulent, detailed sets. But how is it possible to create clear, immersive soundscapes in such a complex room layout? Below, Brett Jarvis, Masquerade’s lead sound designer, and Ivan Klepac, Field Application Engineer, Integrated Systems, present an in-depth look at the technical realisation, the project processes and the intense collaboration between the Masquerade crew and the LD Systems/Adam Hall Integrated Systems project support team.