Bridging Past and Present Through Sound
How does one curate a period-appropriate soundtrack for a play set in 1815 and infuse it with contemporary qualities that will connect with audiences today? Add to that balancing act the charge of capturing the holiday spirit without turning the show into a play about Christmas, and Phil Johnson, sound designer for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, had a real challenge on his hands.
Fortunately, Johnson, who brings a decades' experience designing sound for theatrical productions, was more than up to the task. His first step was researching what people in the Bennets' orbit would have listened to during the Regency era.
"I'm a history buff. I love the idea of transporting back to that time through sound — embodying how people lived their lives during that time, what would they have heard, and what would have resonated with them," said Johnson, who also did the sound design for Portland Center Stage at The Armory's recent production of Redwood.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley centers on Mary, the studious and musical Bennet sister who often struggles to express herself. The piano gives her a voice.
"Mary expresses her emotions through the piano. I tried to find an arch of what she's trying to communicate through song selection to the other people in the room. And sometimes she plays alone, which allows her to be completely exposed and vulnerable," Johnson said.
For the most part, the script doesn't specify what song Mary is playing at any given time. That gave Johnson latitude to choose the piece most appropriate for any given scene.
"One of my favorite things is when playwrights give me a certain amount of freedom with their sound," Johnson said.
Johnson used period-appropriate instruments, but mixed modern textures into his arrangements.
Even before getting his Bachelor of Fine Arts and a master's degree in sound design, Johnson loved DJing and making playlists. Those instincts still inform his work today.
Johnson always starts the sound design process by creating a playlist of music that makes him think of the show he's working on and inspires him. The playlist for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is available on Spotify and YouTube.
"It's a way for audiences to relive the show and keep the magic alive," he said.
More about Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley:
Reviews of Miss Bennet
"Lauren Modica and Joshua J. Weinstein were a PURE DELIGHT to watch. I had all the feels. Great chemistry!"" - Audience Comment
The Armory Bar Takes on English History
The Armory Bar manager Melissa Larrabee explores what might have been served at Pemberley during a Christmas celebration, creating four new cocktails and two family-friendly mocktails to warm your hearts this festive season!
The p:ear Giving Tree
Support p:ear, a fantastic non-profit whose mission is to provide mentoring services to Portland’s homeless and parent-less young people for over 15 years.
Oh, Tennenbaum!
The family Christmas tree is an iconic American cultural tradition, but getting a tree gussied up for the holidays has a long and storied history. Spruce up your knowledge with these fast facts about fashionable firs!
Miss Bennet Character Breakdown
Get to know the characters of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley with this helpful guide by our literary manager, Benjamin Fainstein.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Cast & Creative Team
Meet the cast and creative team for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Plot Synopsis
Spoiler alert! Here's a plot summary for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.
Current & Upcoming
Art Exhibit: ¡Soy Yo! by Mika Martinez
¡Soy Yo!, is a multi-media project, created by Mika Martinez, that examines and celebrates Latinx identity featuring more than 50 portraits of the Hispanic/Latino community in Portland.
Piano Bar with Courtney Freed and David Saffert
Join us for this monthly event with local songstress Courtney Freed and Portland-based pianist David Saffert as they host a good old-fashioned PIANO BAR.
NASSIM
From Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour (creator of the Off-Broadway smash hit White Rabbit, Red Rabbit) comes an audacious new theatrical experiment, presented in collaboration with Boom Arts. Each night, a new, unrehearsed local performer joins the playwright on stage, while the script waits, unseen, in a sealed box... Touchingly autobiographical yet powerfully universal, NASSIM is a striking theatrical demonstration of how language can both divide and unite us.
Art Exhibit: Garam Garam Chai by Yusra Siddiqui
Portland Center Stage will host Garam Garam Chai, an art exhibit by Portland-based multidisciplinary artist Yusra Siddiqui, featuring a series of hand-sewn teabag printmaking pieces that serve as a contemplation of the communal tea times shared between Desi and British culture.
Coriolanus
Shakespeare’s tragedy about the war hero Coriolanus and the fight between the elite and the deprived masses will be fueled by a dynamic female and non-binary ensemble with a muscular, movement-focused staging.
May First Thursday with Adriana Wagner Quartet
May First Thursday will feature live music by the Adriana Wagner Quartet in the Main Lobby, joined by Garrett Baxter on bass, Matthew Sazima on piano and Ken Mastrogiovanni on drums.
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
Season Superstars
Season Supporting Sponsors
Season Producing Sponsors
Guardians of the Arts
