PlayMakers Repertory Company - Resident Sound designer and Engineer
August 2010 to Present
While at PlayMakers, Ryan has designed sound for all shows, from small two person shows to PlayMakers first musical in a decade. He oversees sound budgets, inventory and a student staff in maintaining systems in two theaters, setting up for special events and coordination with other departments. In addition to teaching one class a year, he is an avid believer in the idea of mentorship, and as such, guides students in their exploration of sound for theater. In his first year he helped raise $100,000 for sound system improvements.
The Kennedy Center - Thomas S Kenan Fellow
August 2009 through August 2010
As a Kenan fellow Ryan not only had the opportunity to assist and design for the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences program, but to assist and design around the greater Washington DC area. In addition to working at some of the best theaters in DC, he was part of the final preparation and moving of Arena Stage to their new building, learning about final system and acoustical tuning and relationships with audio consultants. At the end of his fellowship, he designed sound for the world premier of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical adapted from Mo Willems award winning children's book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. The show has since gone on two national educational tours.
Gastelum Sound Design - Freelance Sound Designer
2002 to Present
As a freelance sound designer Ryan has worked at theaters around the country, working with some of the most prominent artists in american theater. While freelancing, Ryan gathered ideas and methods from many different theater professionals, allowing him to learn and apply ideas learned in school. In addition, as an assistant sound designer, Ryan honed his skills on communication with sound engineers, conveying the designer's needs, designing and tuning sound systems and, providing rehearsal material. These opportunities provided him new views, and the opportunity to quickly hone his skills in high stress, fast paced environments. As a sound designer or assistant sound designer Ryan has worked with the following companies: Shakespeare Santa Cruz, The Quixote Project, Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, Studio Theatre, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Children's Theatre of Charlotte, The Kennedy Center, Ford's Theatre, Adironack Theatre Festival, and Triad Stage.
Various Theaters - Sound Engineer
1999 to Present
Over the years Ryan has worked as a sound engineer at many theaters, initially as a way to help pay the bills and later as he moved more into design because of the strong belief that knowing how to engineer a system adds greatly to his work as a designer. By knowing the ins and outs of systems, allowed him to push the limits at times and make less do more. To that end Ryan has worked as a sound board operator at theaters such as the Old Globe, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the Guthrie. In addition he has worked as an A2 (the person who deals with wireless microphones during a musical) at the Old Globe and the Guthrie, and mixed the world premier of Little House on the Prairie at the Guthrie. All of these experience inform him now in his role as Resident Sound Designer/Engineer at PlayMakers Rep, especially as he works to create standards, rep systems and best practices there.
Skills
Logic, Pro Tools, QLab, SFX, LARA, AuotCAD, VectorWorks, d&b R1, d&b ArrayCalc, line array theory, recordings, rigging, sound system design and maintenance, major sound system upgrade planning and execution, personnel management, budget tracking, analogue, digital and broadcast consoles, advanced digital sound systems, computer networking, teaching experience, martial arts, cooking.
Education
MFA in Theater Sound Design - University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 2008
Graduate Certificate in Theater - University of California Santa Cruz, 2004
BA in Theater Arts - University of California Santa Cruz, 2003
Awards and Honors
2009-2010 Thomas S Kenan Fellowship, The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2002-2003 Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program, University of California Santa Cruz
