Kansas City Repertory Theatre Sound
       formerly Missouri Repertory Theatre

Missouri Repertory Theatre first began producing plays in 1964, and Sam Scott, the founder and longtime director of National Public Radio station KCUR-FM served as the first sound designer. Over the years several talented graduate students in the Theatre Department MA program also created sound for Rep productions, including David Greis, Michael Schweppe, Robert Neuhouse, Steve Vreba, Jeannie Wilkerson and Tristan Wilson.

With the opening of its current performing space in 1979, Spencer Theatre had a completely new and complex sound system that enabled productions to implement a greater sound design diversity. Tom Mardikes did his first two designs with the Rep in January of 1982: "Crown of Thorn" and "Macbeth". Since his production of "The Innocents" in the summer of 1982, done with composer Allen DeCamp, Mardikes has been the resident sound designer for the Rep and produced music and sound for over 120 productions in Spencer Theatre.

Mardikes implemented the first rewiring of Spencer Theatre in the summer of 1982 with the help of Reid Woodburry, Jr. Another equipment upgrade was put in place in 1988 with chief engineer Herb Lagoski. The most recent equipment upgrade for Spencer Theatre took place in 1995 with chief engineer Robert Beck and graduate student Eric Webster. A Crest 40 input GTx console was installed with new Crest power amplifiers, EAW FL-103, UB42, UB12 and SB250 loudspeakers. In 1998 the Clear-Com system was replaced, numerous minidisc players were added to the sound operation, as well as a pair of Genelec 1037 loudspeakers. 1999 and 2000 are seeing a complete replacement of the All-Call system, Green Room and Dressing Rooms monitoring systems.

Mardikes has always worked with talented composers on the creation of original music for most Missouri Rep productions. Early on he worked on many productions with Allen DeCamp, Larry Bailey and Mark Houston. His longtime partner has been Greg Mackender, whose first Rep score was Equus in 1985. Greg now serves as resident composer for the Rep, composing three new scores each year.