Wireless Mic & Projector Rental for Shrek The Musical

Oct 14

Written By

Shrek The Musical JR. at Woodcroft College

Starting point: Most productions of Shrek The Musical need 16 to 20 wireless channels. Our starting point is the Standard 20-channel system, which covers the leads plus the featured fairytale creatures. Shrek The Musical JR. usually fits in 12 to 16 channels.

This is our suggested starting configuration, not a requirement of the show or its licensor. Your count depends on your edition, your staging and your crew.

How we got to 20 channels

Shrek has four big leads and a crowd of featured fairytale characters who sing solo lines in group numbers. A typical plan:

Leads (6): Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad, Dragon, Pinocchio
Featured (8 to 12): Gingy, Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, Big Bad Wolf, the Three Little Pigs, Captain of the Guard, and other fairytale creatures with lines

Cover the rest of the fairytale ensemble with area or choir mics. Young and Teen Fiona can share packs with other small roles if they have enough time offstage.

This count assumes: every listed role has its own transmitter; your venue covers big ensemble numbers with area or choir mics; and there are no pack swaps. Doubling roles or swapping packs lowers the count. Miking ensemble members individually raises it.

Doubling, pack swaps and your sound operator

Two actors can share a transmitter only if they are never on stage at the same time and a crew member has time offstage to move the pack, re-fit the mic and check it. Every channel also needs attention at the mixer: one operator following a marked script can run a show this size, but bring them into rehearsals before tech week.

Recommended package

Wireless: Standard, Good (Shure SLXD), 20 channels, with Broadway lavs: $1,995/week. Book this exact system at Broadway Media →
Better microphones: the same 20 channels in Better (Shure QLXD or Sennheiser EW-DX) is $2,995/week, and Best (Shure ULXD) is $3,995/week. Better → Best →
Protection plan (required): choose one at checkout at Broadway Media: a Damage Waiver at 10% of the rental ($199.50 on the Good system for one week), your organization’s certificate of insurance, or a security deposit. Compare the options →
Shipping and longer runs: shipping is charged at checkout at Broadway Media. Each extra week is the same weekly rate, with no multi-week discount.
You provide: a mixer with 20 free mic inputs and a sound system. Economy is the only system that includes a mixer, so a Standard system connects to yours. Check your venue →
Range: add a wireless expansion pack (from $195/week) for each 8 channels if performers work more than about 50 ft from the rack, such as in the house aisles. View expansion pack →
Projector: Swamp, castle and Duloc scenes change fast, so a bright projector makes scene changes simple. Start with your screen width, then check mounting distance and stage light on the projector page. Compare projectors →

Mic notes for Shrek

Shrek’s makeup and headpiece: plan mic placement with your makeup team. An earset, or a lavalier taped along the cheek, usually works better than a hairline mic under prosthetics.
Lord Farquaad: if your Farquaad performs on their knees, place the pack at the back of the waist so it stays clear of the costume rig.
Dragon: some productions use an offstage singer with a puppet. An offstage handheld or wired mic keeps that voice clear.
Fast changes: Fiona has several looks; use a mic belt rather than a costume pocket so the pack stays put through changes.

Projecting the swamp

Scenery is licensed separately from the projector rental. Search Broadway Media’s catalog for your version of the show, then rent a projector to run it. Search scenery at Broadway Media →

Timeline

Pick a start Monday on or before the first rehearsal that needs mics. Broadway Media targets delivery by 5 p.m. local time that Monday, so plan setup and a full test during business hours that week, and book an extra week if you need the gear sooner. Book at least 9 days ahead; orders placed within 4 weeks of the start date may carry a rush charge. How renting works →

Request a quote for your Shrek production →

Shrek The Musical is a trademark of its owners. Rent Stage Gear is not affiliated with or endorsed by the show’s licensor. Photo: Shrek The Musical JR. at Woodcroft College, from Broadway Media’s production gallery.