BRIAN KARL MOEN, SOUND DESIGNER AND I.T. GURU

With 21 full time staff members at Broadway Rose Theatre Company sometimes it’s tricky to know what everyone does. I had a moment to sit down with Brian Karl Moen, the man who keeps everything running on the technical side of things here at Broadway Rose. Here’s what he had to say about his expansive job title.

Blythe W: Sound Maintenance & Operation Engineer/IT & Data Specialist… That is a lot of titles after your name on the staff website. What do they all mean?

Brian M: It means no one knows exactly what I do! The joke I tell is, “If it has an on button, it’s my responsibility.” As Sound Maintenance & Operation Engineer, I make sure that all the sound gear is functioning and working, and set it up the way we need it for whatever show we’re doing at that time. My incredibly helpful assistant, Briana, helps take some of that responsibility off my plate. As Sound Engineer, I will take my design, or a design that is given to me, and set it all up for the show.

BW: At what point in the production process do you step in?

BM: I am also the resident sound designer, so if it is a show that I am personally designing, then I will be there from the beginning of the concept and production process. As Sound Engineer, however, my job doesn’t start until we begin load-in, which is the process of bringing in all the physical components of the show; the set, sound equipment, lighting, costumes, musicians, and finally the actors. I take the sound design and apply it to our theater: finding the correct levels for the actors and musicians; making sure that any sound effects are properly designed and ready to go. Every sound that you hear over the speakers in a show is planned out and it’s my job to make sure that it is all setup.

BM: I was the IT & Data Specialist for production, but when the position became available for the whole company, I was offered that role. I make sure that all our files are safe and accessible, and I help manage Tessitura, our customer relationship management system, used to manage our patron database and ticket sales.

BW: How were you introduced to Broadway Rose?

BM: One of my friends from college was an intern here and worked on a lot of productions. He would invite me to the dress rehearsals. Through meeting the staff and making connections, I was offered an interview, and, after that, a job!

BW: What is your professional and educational background?

BM: I’ve solely worked in theaters since college. I have an Associate’s degree in both Acting and Technical Theatre, with a focus on the technical side of things. After that, I began working at various theaters and churches in the community to build skills and make connections.

BM: Hairspray! It’s one of the ones that I will periodically throw on the soundtrack for, and just listen to as I work.

BW: Have you ever been in a musical?

BM: I was in several in college… my favorites were Fiddler on the Roof and Guys and Dolls. I worked tech for many other shows as well. Fiddler was the first full-scale production I was in, and I made the mistake of volunteering to provide 90 hours of tech while also being in the show. So, I would spend all day working on tech, then run to rehearsal at night!

BW: What’s your favorite Broadway Rose show you’ve worked on?

BM: The two that I always look back on are Murder for Two and Fly By Night. Murder for Two was just so much fun. My wife and I came to opening night, and she looked at me and said, “How are you still laughing?” She thought, after seeing it for weeks, I wouldn’t laugh anymore, but the actors were just that funny. Fly By Night was a beautiful show that we worked really hard on, and it came out amazingly.

BW: You’ve had an exciting year! Anything you want to share with our community?

BM: My wife and I had our first child this year! His name is Zeke, and he is everyone’s favorite employee at work. He’s eight months old and loves to hang out at the theater sometimes with Dad. There’s never a shortage of people who want to hold and hang out with him.