Wireworks on National Tour of Wicked

Wireworks Corporation was cast to provide fiber-optic cabling for the hit show, Wicked, on its second North-American tour. Wireworks digital cable assemblies and custom interface panels were instrumental to the road show, the company reports, making it the first production of Wicked to be equipped with a fiber-optic audio distribution system.

In order to orchestrate all the sound equipment, the designer Tony Meola and associate designer Kai Harada turned to the sound rental company PRG Audio, which was responsible for providing all sound equipment, including a Stagetec Nexus digital audio interconnect and routing system, as well as durable fiber-optic cabling from Wireworks. In addition, many of the Wireworks tails and trunks were custom ordered, as the show needed particular, non-standard lengths for the cable runs. Wireworks also manufactured several custom plates, including those with fiber-optic connectivity points.

"Wireworks helped us determine the proper type of durable fiber-optic cable and connectors needed to make a road-worthy system," says Harada. "Since Wireworks is a standard for Broadway touring and Broadway musicals, it was a natural choice to have the company's cabling products involved with this show."

"Each Broadway production requires a unique approach, as each has its own set of challenges -- the Wicked road show was no different," says Gerald Krulewicz, president of Wireworks. "We worked directly with the show to devise a complete fiber-optic system that could withstand the wear-and-tear of a touring production, while keeping up with the high sound quality that is expected on Broadway. Wireworks' proven reputation on Broadway provided the durability and reliability the system required. "

This second North American touring production of Wicked started out in Fort Myers, Florida earlier this year and will continue to tour for the remainder of 2009 and beyond.