PlayhouseSquare Implements New NEXO M6 For Cleveland’s Hanna Theatre

The Hanna Theatre in Cleveland recently upgraded its sound system, an effort lead by the deployment of NEXO GEO M620 line arrays installed by NAC Technologies, also of Cleveland.

Opened in 1921, the venue hosted such stage and film luminaries as Al Jolson, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Ethel Barrymore, Ginger Rogers, Helen Hayes, Mary Martin and Yul Brynner. PlayhouseSquare assumed management of the Hanna in August, 1999 following its purchase of the Hanna Office Building, which houses the venue.

In 2008, the Hanna underwent a renovation to add a thrust stage, re-working its seating count to 550 and becoming the main performance base for PlayhouseSquare’s long-time constituent, Great Lakes Theater.

“The system that was previously installed during the earlier remodel was a ‘design by committee’—a nice system, but it left a lot of dead spots,” states Rick Galbraith, NAC Technologies. “Size and cost always weigh in, and the client was very concerned about the size of the array and also on a very tight budget.”

No stranger to NEXO GEO, which has been installed (by NAC) in three other PlayhouseSquare theatres, Galbraith explains they started by placing loudspeakers in the NS1 prediction software, virtually arranging the array size, coverage, and SPL based on available rigging points.

“Available rigging points was our biggest challenge,” he notes, “so after using the prediction software, we determined that three clusters of three M6 speakers would be ideal for the theatre. Considering the size of the clusters, the NEXO GEO M6 system sounds amazing, with zero complaints from the theatre or patrons.”

The GEO M620 is a full-range unit for stand-alone, curved array or line array application. Compact in size and lightweight, the GEO M620 uses a NEXO-designed long-excursion high-efficiency 6.5-inch LF driver and 1 x 1-inch-throat driver on a BEA/FEA optimized HR wavesource. HF dispersion is 80 degrees (120 degrees horizontal), with 20-degree vertical coverage, 0- to 20-degree splay when arrayed.

Robert Mingus, director of production for PlayhouseSquare, was instrumental in the decision to install the NEXO M6. “Dave Cooper and Rick Galbraith of NAC have done an amazing job upgrading all of our sound systems here at PlayhouseSquare. We are very pleased and take great pride in the sound quality of our theatres, and I believe this is possible because of the great relationship we have with NAC and their craftsmanship.”

Mingus adds the NEXO M6 solved many challenges, in addition to offering excellent sonic quality. “The M6 system sounds fantastic. Our three-box center cluster, which weighs only 76 pounds, virtually disappears, and is not in the way of lighting. With special brackets from NEXO, we were able to mount the 3-box arrays for L + R onto the proscenium for a very clean look. NAC then tuned the system to perfection, avoiding the many problems of getting the sound into the house and off of the thrust stage.”

NAC Technologies
NEXO

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