Photo Coverage: John Kander, James Rado & More Celebrate Abe Jacob
By: Genevieve Rafter Keddy Oct. 07, 2014
Long-time friends, associates and family gathered last night (October 6) to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of the theatre community's most treasured members - award-winning sound designer Abe Jacob.
Among those attending and who paid homage to the man who created sound design in the American Musical Theatre (with the original Broadway production of HAIR) included John Kander, James Rado, André De Shields, Jules Fisher, Robin Wagner, Loni Ackerman, Paige Price, with special messages from Chita Rivera, Patti LuPone, Elaine Paige, John Rubinstein, Peter Yarrow, Ted Neeley, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Kay Cole, Michael Butler, Charlo Crossley and more. Among the award-winning Sound Designers mentored by Abe who were there include Steve Kennedy, Nevin Steinberg, Andrew Bruce, Peter Fitzgerald, Joshua Reid.
Abe Jacob is "wildly talented" declared director HAL PRINCE who remembered the EVITA experience as one of the highlights of his professional life.
"I have known Abe Jacob for over 40 years, allowing me to be aware - for the rest of my career - of the brilliance and importance of clear, creative sound. I never realized just how truly complicated and sensitive the art of sound design is. And Abe has been successfully designing and changing as the theatre and theatres change. My first knowledge of sound design was foot mikes. Then through the pioneering brilliance of Abe Jacob, it has been transformed into what it is today and Abe is still doing what he loves and is dedicated to do," said CHITA RIVERA
The remarkable career of Abe Jacob has spanned four decades. He started in Rock and Roll at McCune Sound in San Francisco and went on to create concert sound for such legendary artists as Jimi Hendrix; The Mamas and the Papas; Peter, Paul and Mary; and the historic rock celebration, The Monterey Pop Festival and then brought that rock sensibility to Broadway audiences. Abe's remarkable achievements in theatre sound design virtually brought the field into existence. His major Broadway, touring and world-wide production credits include: HAIR (1970), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1971), PIPPIN (1972), THE WHO'S TOMMY (1973), SEESAW (1974), MACK AND MABEL (1974), ROCKY HORROR SHOW (1975), A CHORUS LINE (1975), CHICAGO (1975), JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (1976), THE ACT (1978), DANCIN' (1978), GILDA RADNER-LIVE FROM NEW YORK (1979), EVITA (1979), WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1981), CATS (1981), BIG DEAL (1986), BLACK AND BLUE (1989), The Gershwins' FASCINATING RHYTHM (1999), RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (2010) and many more.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
70th Birthday Toast for Abe Jacob
Cathy Stokesbury, Vicky Boyles, Adam Boyles, Abe Jacob, Linda Jacob, Amy Martinez
Abe Jacob, Paige Price and Ira Mont
Abe Jacob and Martin Gewiftz
Robin Wagner, Abe Jacob and Peter Brown
Family and friends mingling and watching the slide show
John Kander and Abe Jacob
John Kander, Abe Jacob and Albert Stevenson
Abe Jacob and Andre De Shields
James Rado and Andre De Shields
James Rado and Abe Jacob
John Kander, Abe Jacob and James Rado
Nevin Steinberg reading a proclamation from Mayor Bill de Blasio
Abe Jacob listening to proclamation
Nevin Steinberg gives the toast
Happy 70th Abe Jacob
Abe Jacob watching some of the video birthday wishes
James Rado and Andre De Shields watching James Rado!!
James Rado and Andre De Shields leading everyone in song
The group singing to Abe Jacob
James Rado and Andre De Shields
James Rado and Andre De Shields
Videos