DSM Hear Us Now!™
Dallas Summer Musicals Launches T-Loop Technology at the Music Hall at Fair Park!

DSM is the first entertainment venue in Dallas to implement this exciting hearing assist system.

          (December 16, 2013 – Dallas, TX)  Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the first live entertainment venue in Dallas to implement T Loop technology, the newest system for hearing assistance, at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

T Loop is a technology which transmits the sound from the stage electro-magnetically.   The electromagnetic signal is then picked up by the telecoil, or Tcoil, in the hearing aid or cochlear implant.

“This will bring the better quality of T Loop to our patrons who have T Loop on their hearing aids,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM.  “Part of our overall technology approach goes beyond T Loop by providing DSM’s Hear Us Now!™  sound enhancements to all hearing assist users, not just T Loop users. This ongoing effort encompasses not only the T Loop technology, but everything we’ve done to enhance the sound experience for everyone as well as additional dedicated processing for all hearing assist users.”
Barry Epstein, honorary co-chair of Curtain Call 2014 with his wife, Paddy, is a member of the DSM 2013 Executive Committee, a longtime DSM supporter and is the go-to expert on the sound system improvements at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Barry is the recipient of an Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award, and in 2011, named a Distinguished Alumnus from Purdue University and has served as chairman of Purdue University’s Computer and Electrical Engineering Advisory Board.  His bio is attached.

“Over the past few years we have dramatically improved the sound and acoustics hearing system for everyone, not just the hard of hearing,” Barry said. “Additional improvements for the hearing assist systems have included syllable by syllable volume adjustment, enhancing the balance between music components and voice and we have added electronics to compensate for the building acoustics effect on hearing assist users. These are concepts not consistently used. We have done tremendous research to see what the advancements are that we can provide our hearing assist users. We have done them all.”

DSM has better headsets especially suited for these new features. The headsets are high powered enough they could be used in the place of a hearing aid.

Bud Porter, a former DSM Chairman of the Board, experienced the T Loop system first-hand at a recent performance.  In a testimonial letter, he said, “The Dallas Summer Musicals T Loop system electronically transmits pure stage sound directly into the electronics of a user’s hearing aid.  The electronic transmission directly into a hearing aid eliminates the typical acoustic problems (echoes, reverberation, noise) of conventional approaches.  Then, since a hearing aid is customized to each user’s special hearing needs, this same custom tuning tailors the stage sound to achieve the best possible result.  And, the results are fantastic.  I can’t tell you how much more I enjoyed the show! I would like to share the good news of this new technology with as many people as possible so they can experience the same new pleasure that I am.”

With the T Loop implementation, DSM is the first and only theater in Dallas to join the elite ranks of the Helen Beaumont Theater and Gershwin Theater, both in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

DSM Special Events and Community Outreach Media Contact:
Sharon Adams
ACPR
972.773.9289
Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM Contact: Kate Finley
Director of Development
214-413-3961
kfinley@dallassummermusicals.org

 Events and Announcements Media Contact:
Sharon Adams
Adams Communications Public Relations

214-343-4402

Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM Technical Contact:
Barry Epstein
972.387.8702
BarryT21@aol.com

All new state-of-the-art sound concept literally targets each seat, making the musical experience at the Music Hall at Fair Park the best ever!

(Dallas, TX) January 19, 2011 – Dallas Summer Musicals sounds better than ever! The Music Hall at Fair Park is now outfitted with an all new, state-of-the-art sound concept. As the quality of sound improves through technological advances and the style of sound changes with each theatrical production, DSM’s goal is to ensure that every single patron enjoys each show and its unique style of music to the fullest. That’s why the new sound concept, new sound system enhancements and many other complementary acoustic improvements have been made.

Many people don’t realize that most Broadway theaters have 800 – 1,000 seats. The Music Hall has more than 3,400. Since most shows design the sound for the smaller theaters, it has been a challenge to distribute that sound to each patron. Now, that has all changed.

“Over the past two years, through a very precise design and strategy, we have added additional electronics and 15 additional speakers which are carefully and individually optimized. Now, this new system, including 40 loud speakers, seamlessly integrates with each show’s system. This ensures that we maintain all of the acoustic nuances originally designed by the director as part of the show,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM.

Part of the challenge was to preserve the art deco look of the Music Hall, a Nationally Registered Landmark building, while transforming its acoustics to complement the need of modern electronic sound systems. Thousands of square feet of acoustic materials have been added to the side walls, the front of the balcony and even the rear walls, doors and certain exit areas, including space-age technology licensed by NASA and new materials that adapt themselves to the surrounding environment.

The research team on this project includes Acoustic Dimensions, a world class acoustic and sound consulting firm; Richard Thomas, Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University; air conditioning specialists, and Barry Epstein, a member of the DSM board with over 50 patents in electronics. All of these experts coordinated efforts to the overall scheme. In addition to that, Epstein analyzes each show for continued improvement. The very latest in computer analysis is used in every step of the process.

Finally, patrons may see Greg Moxley, resident sound engineer and third generation in his family to work at the Music Hall, walking around with a special lap top during the shows. He is not playing games. The lap top is part of the sound system remote control and many may see Greg fine-tuning during a show.

Join in the experience as Dallas Summer Musicals continues to bring the Best of Broadway home to Texas for over 70 years and now, presents the best sound ever in the Music Hall at Fair Park!

Comments:

”I have seen Phantom 8 times. The Phantom sound tonight at the Music Hall was the best I have ever heard.” – John Garcia (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, March 2010).

DSM’s 2011 Season: The 2011 season begins on March 15, 2011 with Tommy Tune’s STEPS IN TIME through March 20; BURN THE FLOOR plays April 5 – 17; NINE TO FIVE THE MUSICAL, May 18 – 29; STOMP, June 7 – 12; MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, June 14 – 26; GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19 – 31; WEST SIDE STORY, October 4 – 23. Season tickets are now on sale. You can see five shows for $75 total.

Season tickets, priced from $75-$380 are available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center. Subscribers may also order tickets to the season specials TOMMY TUNE STEPS IN TIME and STOMP ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP.

Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 10% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to 35% over the cost of last season’s subscription package.

The Music Hall at Fair Park Celebrates 85 Years at Fair Park

DSM is celebrating the anniversary October 2010 through October 2011

Nestled among the greatest concentration of genuine exposition art deco architecture in the world, the Music Hall at Fair Park made its grand theatrical debut on October 10, 1925, with the musical premiere of Sigmund Romberg’s THE STUDENT PRINCE. However, the real star of the show was the Grand Hall itself, which was dedicated “to the good, the true, and the beautiful” and made possible by the cooperation of the Board of City Commissioners, the Park Board, and officers and directors of the State Fair of Texas.

About Dallas Summer Musicals

As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678.

Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org

DSM is proud to announce: Barry Epstein to receive a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award from Purdue University in recognition of outstanding achievements in professional and related fields of endeavor on February 25, 2011 and in recognition of his technical, entrepreneurial and management success and his outstanding support of education. The Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award is presented to engineering alumni who have distinguished themselves in any field of endeavor that reflects favorably on Purdue University, the engineering profession, or society in general. The College of Engineering has over 81,000 living alumni. The distinction of DEA has been bestowed upon [more than 400] of these outstanding individuals. [For more information on Barry, his involvement with DSM and this award, please contact him directly at 972.387.8702 or BarryT21@aol.com]

###