Elon University’s “Rent” Production Pioneers Immersive Sound Design in McCrary Theatre
Audiences experienced a groundbreaking audio experience at Elon University’s recent production of “Rent,” held at McCrary Theatre from February 13-15, 2026. The production featured an immersive sound design, a first for the venue, enhancing the emotional impact of the rock musical and providing a hands-on learning opportunity for students.
A New Dimension of Sound
The immersive sound design, developed by Elon senior Brandon Cericola, a music production and recording arts major, in collaboration with Associate Professor Michael Smith and Production Manager Rick Earl, utilized ten strategically placed speakers to surround the audience with sound. This setup moved beyond traditional left and right stereo, creating a more enveloping and dynamic auditory experience. According to Cericola, immersive audio “gives you a lot more space to work with, so it allowed for certain room and cool things from a mixing perspective that we can’t do with just a left and right stereo.”
Technical Challenges and Solutions
Adapting McCrary Theatre, which was not originally designed for surround sound, presented unique challenges. The team used a laser measurement device to analyze the theater’s acoustics and determine optimal speaker placement, accounting for sound wave reflections and potential interference. Cericola explained the process involved calculating delays for each speaker to avoid “comb filtering,” a phenomenon where slight delays between signals cause certain frequencies to be canceled out or amplified.
The speaker configuration included two speakers at the front of the theater on each side of the stage, two in the middle, and two towards the back, before the balcony. An additional two speakers were positioned at the stage level in the back, and two on the balcony level. Cericola identified the center of the theater as the “money seat,” where the sound from all speakers converged for the most immersive effect.
Managing Complexity
The production utilized 80 audio inputs and 38 outputs, requiring Cericola to manage a complex soundboard with nearly 84 different channels. To simplify the process, he organized the channels into 11 “scenes,” allowing him to control 24 buttons at a time. “It’s a huge amount to manage, and no human can manage, like, 120 buttons at once,” Cericola noted.
Impact and Future Applications
Despite the technical hurdles, the immersive sound design significantly enhanced the audience’s connection to the performance. Cericola described how the setup allowed viewers to “feel like they’re a part of the cast in a way,” becoming more fully immersed in the world of the musical. The success of this project demonstrates the potential for innovative audio design to transform the theatrical experience at Elon University and beyond.
About Elon Performing Arts
Elon University’s Performing Arts department is housed in the Center for the Arts, a 75,000-square-foot facility, and Scott Studios. The Center for the Arts includes McCrary Theatre (575 seats), Yeager Recital Hall (125 seats), and the Black Box Theatre (100 seats), along with dance studios, practice rooms, and production facilities. Scott Studios features the Roberts Studio Theatre (200 seats) and a large rehearsal hall. Elon Performing Arts offers a variety of productions throughout the year. More information about facilities can be found on the Elon University website.