From Studio to Stage: Godwayne Joins the Sound Team for “Fermata”

Freelance music producer Godwayne is no stranger to creating rich, emotive sounds in his home studio, but this year, he’s stepping into a new creative realm—theater. He’s been chosen as one of the sound engineers for the upcoming play “Fermata”, written by Dustin Celestino, directed by Edith Garcia, and co-directed by Coleen Aldana. The play is being presented by the dynamic WID(e)YE Collective, a group known for pushing boundaries and creating immersive experiences through collaborative storytelling.

For Godwayne, this opportunity to work on a theater production is an exciting challenge, blending his skills as a music producer with the live, dynamic demands of theater sound. How did he land this project? It turns out that his involvement was a natural fit, thanks in part to a connection with one of the executive staff members of the production. “I’ve known one of the executive staff members for a while. They’ve seen my work in the studio and were familiar with how I approach sound,” Godwayne shares. “When they reached out about ‘Fermata,’ it just felt like the right kind of project to dive into. It’s not every day you get asked to contribute to a theater production, especially one with such a strong and meaningful script.”

“Fermata” is a play about moments in time, capturing emotions, silences, and rhythms that echo through the characters’ lives. Godwayne immediately saw how this project connected with his approach to music. “The script is powerful. There’s a lot of raw emotion and tension, and that really spoke to me as a producer. In a way, sound in theater is similar to music production—it’s about shaping emotion, building tension, and creating something that resonates deeply with the audience.”

For Godwayne, stepping into the world of theater sound is an exciting challenge. He’s no stranger to working with different creative elements, but live theater offers a whole new dimension. Unlike in the studio, where sound can be perfected and manipulated endlessly, theater requires real-time, live adjustments. “It’s a whole different ballgame. You can’t just tweak things the way you would in the studio. You have to be prepared for the flow of the performance, the timing, and the actors. It’s all about supporting the story and the actors, helping the audience feel what’s happening without overshadowing it.”

“Para sa akin kasi, yung live element of theater, sobrang  nakakaexcite. Hindi mo pwedeng balik-balikan o i-edit lang like sa usual recording studio,” Godwayne says. “Need mo sumabay sa flow ng performance—gano’n siya. Yung music and scoring, ‘di lang basta background; dapat malakas yung emotional impact ng story, pero hindi umaabot sa point na mag-overtake siya.”

As he prepares for his role as sound engineer, Godwayne has been immersing himself in the script, closely collaborating with the directors and the creative team to understand the emotional beats of each scene. He’s been building a unique sound palette, experimenting with everything from ambient sounds to abstract tones, finding ways to make them work seamlessly with the performance.

“Yung sound design dito, ‘di siya tungkol sa malalakas na tunog o effects lang. Gusto ko yung tunog na ramdam mo, kahit ‘di mo pa siya masyado naririnig—yung tipong may impact siya,” he explains. For Godwayne, this project is a chance to push the boundaries of his craft and explore new ways to communicate emotion through sound. As “Fermata” gets closer to its debut, he’s eager to see how his sound design will add layers to the production’s immersive storytelling.

The collaboration with the WID(e)YE Collective marks an exciting new chapter for Godwayne, as he blends his music production background with the world of theater. And while his roots are firmly in the studio, this shift to live sound design could open up new possibilities in his career. Fans of Godwayne and theater enthusiasts alike can look forward to experiencing “Fermata” when it premieres, with the knowledge that the sound design is in the hands of someone who brings a fresh, passionate approach to every project.

To keep up with Godwayne’s work, whether in theater, music, or other collaborations, be sure to visit his website and follow him on social media.

Last updated: April 11, 2025.