Wil Taft is the Volunteer of the Month for August
Wil started as Sound Designer with PWLT in 2019. Since that time, he has been sound designer for nine different productions including Hairspray, Oliver, The Trial of Ebeneezer Scrooge, and Sister Act. Wil shared, "In my professional life, I’m an AV design consultant. Outside of work, I love going on long multi-day motorcycle trips and taking my blue heeler on hiking adventures. I also dabble in woodworking and enjoy international travel."
PWLT spoke to Wil about why he started working with PWLT.
"In 2019, I transitioned to work from home before it was cool. At the time, I told my wife Amanda I needed something to do to get out of the house every now and then. She happened to be friends with Katherine Blondin, a longtime actor and crew member at PWLT. Katherine learned I had some experience with AV tech and asked if I might be interested in helping out. The very next day, she called me to see if I could handle the sound for Anne of Green Gables. Though I didn’t have much experience with theater sound design, I was eager to give it a go."
Why do you keep coming back?
It’s just a lot of fun! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many kind, talented, and dedicated people through the productions. There’s something special about being part of a team that brings a show to life, especially when you get to see and hear the audience react—whether it’s laughter, applause, or singing along with the songs.
You have become the PWLT go-to for Sound Design. What should people know about sound design?
Sound design can play a big part in a show, whether it’s creating a sound effect that an actor or even the audience has to react to. As the person running the soundboard, you control what the audience hears, and that responsibility allows for a lot of creativity in how the performance is experienced.
Wil started as Sound Designer with PWLT in 2019. Since that time, he has been sound designer for nine different productions including Hairspray, Oliver, The Trial of Ebeneezer Scrooge, and Sister Act. Wil shared, "In my professional life, I’m an AV design consultant. Outside of work, I love going on long multi-day motorcycle trips and taking my blue heeler on hiking adventures. I also dabble in woodworking and enjoy international travel."
PWLT spoke to Wil about why he started working with PWLT.
"In 2019, I transitioned to work from home before it was cool. At the time, I told my wife Amanda I needed something to do to get out of the house every now and then. She happened to be friends with Katherine Blondin, a longtime actor and crew member at PWLT. Katherine learned I had some experience with AV tech and asked if I might be interested in helping out. The very next day, she called me to see if I could handle the sound for Anne of Green Gables. Though I didn’t have much experience with theater sound design, I was eager to give it a go."
Why do you keep coming back?
It’s just a lot of fun! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many kind, talented, and dedicated people through the productions. There’s something special about being part of a team that brings a show to life, especially when you get to see and hear the audience react—whether it’s laughter, applause, or singing along with the songs.
You have become the PWLT go-to for Sound Design. What should people know about sound design?
Sound design can play a big part in a show, whether it’s creating a sound effect that an actor or even the audience has to react to. As the person running the soundboard, you control what the audience hears, and that responsibility allows for a lot of creativity in how the performance is experienced.
