Well, we just had a refferendum pass for our schools and a new auditorium/theater is in the plans to be  added to the high school. Wondering if anyone has any "must haves" or "must not" things you could tell me about. We are just in the begining stages of development and I don't want to find  something has been left out simply because we didn't think to ask for it. 

What I do know is it is planned to be 500 seats. There will be a scene shop, and a production booth. Right now that is all I know, and even that is not for sure, yet.

If you have any advice I would love to have it. Whether it be structural or equipment. As Technical Director I do know I need more storage, and more lights!

Thanks!

Aimee

This is from the audience member's point of view:  make sure you have the seating spaced so there is plenty of leg room.  Don't make the audience pack in like sardines.

On the stage, a dip trap that surrounds the acting area, along with an apron [forestage] stage.

All the dip traps should have general power & patch circuit outlets, along with patch audio point in/outlets.

If they go for a Fly Loft, ensure that the fly battens can be brought in to the stage floor & flown more than just the height of the proscenium, a rule of thumb, is twice the height of the pro-scene area, this allows for the grid, head blocks & gear ect.

A lighting patch system that can be expanded easily to accommodate upgrades.

Cat walks over the audience to make access to lighting equipment safer.

A mobile Stage Managers desk, that can be located easily on OP or PS of the stage. With in house programme monitors from colour house & infrared stage cameras, [programme monitors in front of house foyer & dressing rooms] performers call & tech talk back system .

Have standard off the shelf, sheet size masonite or similar, placed on the stage floor, which can easily be replaced if damaged, rather than just polished floor boards.

However it may be worth your while to gain information from local theatre venues & arrange to take the Architect, on a fact finding visit to them.

All the architects I have worked with, have really no idea what a theatre needs, other than from what they have gleaned as a member of the audience, then it was only because they got a comp ticket once!

Lots of good suggestions.  Here a couple more.

Do not let the number of seats determine where the sound mixer goes.  Many theatre put the sound in a booth with the lights.  It does give room for more seats, but it also makes it very hard to run the show sound.  I would suggest a permanent sound area at the center rear of the auditorium.

A suggestion on something you probably will not need is a Company Box (or Switch).  This is a standalone electric setup for traveling productions.  They can plug directly in to this box for show electric.  There are two high schools in the Detroit area that have brand new state-of-the-art theatre, and someone talked both into these $15000-$20000 options.  This much money could be better spent.

John