Richard Kenneth Thomas (aka Zounds, Zounds Productions) is an early practitioner/advocate for theatre sound and composition for live theatre. He began his career at his recording studio, Zounds Productions, which he founded and co-owned with Brad Garton in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Zounds Productions produced among many other bands, legendary punk band Dow Jones and the Industrials.
Richard K. Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Kenneth Thomas June 27, 1953 |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University (BA) Purdue University (MFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Professor, Sound Designer, Composer |
| Employer | Purdue University College of Liberal Arts |
| Website | www |
He advocated for sound and composition as full members of the theatre creative team through his long relationship with the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, for which he was made a Fellow and Awarded the Joel E. Rubin Founder's Award in 2008,[1] and awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award for Sound Design.[2]
He published many early articles on theatre sound design and composition in the Theatre Design and Technology Journal dating back to 1988.[3] [4] He has published two books, one a biography of legendary Broadway Sound Designer Abe Jacob, The Designs of Abe Jacob,and Music as a Chariot, for Routledge, a philosophical treatise on theatre as a type of music, specifically, music to which ideas have been attached and conveyed through mimesis.
He has explored his theories on theatre as a type of music in a series of original productions that include Choices which was performed at World Stage Design in Taipei, Taiwan,[5] and included as part of the US National Exhibition at the 2015 Prague Quadrennial,[6] Ad Infinitum³, which performed at the 2011 Prague Quadrennial,[7] and subsequently at the 2013 opening of the Qualcom Institute at the University of California, San Diego,[8] and Labcoats on Clouds, which performed at the 2007 Prague Quadrennial.[9]
His explorations in theatre as a type of music evolved largely out of the dozens of productions for which he composed sound scores over his nearly forty-year career as professional composer and sound designer.[10] Thomas is a full professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University, where he has been honored many times including winning the 2017-2018 Purdue Liberal Arts Discovery Excellence Award for Creative Art,[11] being named a Purdue Legacy Artist in 2010,[12] and awarded The George P. Murphy Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2008.[13]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Thomas Honored - Twice!". sightlines.usitt.org. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "DAA Award Winners". sightlines.usitt.org. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ Richmond, Charlie. "Richmond Sound Design - Audio Engine & Show Control Bibliographies & Articles". www.richmondsounddesign.com. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "Nxtbook Media - Today's Digital Publishing Solution". www.nxtbook.com. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "WSD2017｜Sound Design Schedule". www.wsd2017.com. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "Choices - Aural atmosphere by a team from Purdue University". USITT at PQ 2015. 2015-03-14. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ s.r.o., (c) VIZUS.CZ. "DISK STORIES". scenofest.pq.cz. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "Qualcomm Institute Celebrates New Name at Research Open House". www.calit2.net. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "International Sessions Offer Global Perspectives". sightlines.usitt.org. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ Arts, College of Liberal. "$title.value // Purdue College of Liberal Arts". Purdue College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ Arts, College of Liberal. "2017-2018 Award Winners // Purdue College of Liberal Arts". Purdue College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ Arts, College of Liberal. "The Legacy Project // Purdue College of Liberal Arts". Purdue College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ^ "Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award - Office of the Provost - Purdue University". www.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-17.