Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: getting a new auditorium/theater

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th8rguykc
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Joined: 5/27/04
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Posts: 28

Posted: 6/21/05 at 11:51am

Okay, it seems simple but let's mention it. If you have a separate area to build in (Scene Shop, tat would be nice too-), make sure a door is installed that is larger than the largest piece of scenery you will ever have to move through it. (Ex: Maximum height of scenery 14 ft, door 16 ft. high.) This is something I have seen in several high school theatres, while theater entrance doors might be double wide it is only standard door height.

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casey05
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Joined: 6/17/05
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Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:07pm

Another thing that just came to me was to have tiered seating for the audience. Even if it's only up a little bit, it makes all the difference for the audience.

Also, at our school we had a small thrust designed. We could wheel it in, and it was better for when we had assemblies and the like (people speaking would not have to go behind the wings to get onstage). It's also handy for if you have events during a production, so the set can still be rigged on-stage and people don't have to worry about where they can and cannot stand.

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Russell W
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Joined: 3/27/05
Location: Australia
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Posted: 6/25/05 at 5:51pm

Hi Aimee,

Please don't(!) put your sound operator in the bio-box. Ensure that a suitable space is allocated in the auditorium. With all the best intentions, you cannot replicate the auditorium sound in the bio-box. Your sound operator must hear what the audience hears. Make a space tor them near the centre (left-to-right) and well toward the back of the auditorium

Assuming that seat space is about 1m (front-to-back) and about 0.65m (wide) [i.e. 40in X 26in], and that each row is off-set by half a seat from the one in front of it (for improved audience site-lines) then you'll need to allocate the equivalent of seven seats for the sound operator. Those seven seats are made up of three in one row and four in the next row. That will give an area approximately 2m X 2m for the sound desk, the operator (and assistant). The desk should be sturdy and the area should have plenty of power-points (for the mixer, effects units, etc..., etc...). A low wattage work light under the desk helps, too.

It would be really nice if the entire sound system could be run off a separate electrical circuit with a good quality electrical-noise filtering system fitted. That will reduce the possibility of hums and buzzes from the lighting systems getting into the sound system.

I think most readers are jealous -- it is not often that we get to have a say in developing a theatre space!

Cheers from Oz.

"Without music, the soul is silent.
Without education, the world is dark."
-- Melia Peavey, 1997
(Director, Peavey Electronics Corporation)

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Topic: getting a new auditorium/theater( Topic Closed)
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th8rguykc Player Joined: 5/27/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 6/21/05 at 11:51am
	Okay, it seems simple but let's mention it. If you have a separate area to build in (Scene Shop, tat would be nice too-), make sure a door is installed that is larger than the largest piece of scenery you will ever have to move through it. (Ex: Maximum height of scenery 14 ft, door 16 ft. high.) This is something I have seen in several high school theatres, while theater entrance doors might be double wide it is only standard door height.
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casey05 Lead Joined: 6/17/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Posted: 6/21/05 at 10:07pm
	Another thing that just came to me was to have tiered seating for the audience. Even if it's only up a little bit, it makes all the difference for the audience. Also, at our school we had a small thrust designed. We could wheel it in, and it was better for when we had assemblies and the like (people speaking would not have to go behind the wings to get onstage). It's also handy for if you have events during a production, so the set can still be rigged on-stage and people don't have to worry about where they can and cannot stand.
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Russell W Player Joined: 3/27/05 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/25/05 at 5:51pm
	Hi Aimee, Please don't(!) put your sound operator in the bio-box. Ensure that a suitable space is allocated in the auditorium. With all the best intentions, you cannot replicate the auditorium sound in the bio-box. Your sound operator must hear what the audience hears. Make a space tor them near the centre (left-to-right) and well toward the back of the auditorium Assuming that seat space is about 1m (front-to-back) and about 0.65m (wide) [i.e. 40in X 26in], and that each row is off-set by half a seat from the one in front of it (for improved audience site-lines) then you'll need to allocate the equivalent of seven seats for the sound operator. Those seven seats are made up of three in one row and four in the next row. That will give an area approximately 2m X 2m for the sound desk, the operator (and assistant). The desk should be sturdy and the area should have plenty of power-points (for the mixer, effects units, etc..., etc...). A low wattage work light under the desk helps, too. It would be really nice if the entire sound system could be run off a separate electrical circuit with a good quality electrical-noise filtering system fitted. That will reduce the possibility of hums and buzzes from the lighting systems getting into the sound system. I think most readers are jealous -- it is not often that we get to have a say in developing a theatre space! Cheers from Oz.
	"Without music, the soul is silent. Without education, the world is dark." -- Melia Peavey, 1997 (Director, Peavey Electronics Corporation)
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