Black box or Proscenium?& specs
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Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1804
Printed Date: 11/21/24 at 11:06pm
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Topic: Black box or Proscenium?& specs
Posted By: dam1
Subject: Black box or Proscenium?& specs
Date Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:33pm
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We are long established community theatre that had a real home once and then lost is to a fire and now for the last ten years have struggled to continue to exist in a High school. They have been great to us, but it is a high school with a bad reputation. Anyway we have property and have finally got the board ready to build, yet some want a 200 seat proscenium and some a 99 seat black box. Does anyone have any info or know where to glean any specs on size and cost on recently built black box or Proscenium?
thanks
doug ------------- samtrigger |
Replies:
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 4/19/06 at 5:37pm
| I am not sure about building cost in your area but a black box can be set up in any way. If you want a pro for a show you can always buils a false one. I love a black box!!! Good Luck |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 4/20/06 at 9:09am
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I love the idea of the "black box" and agree that such a configuaration can be set up in any way, but my experience shows that nearly 90% of the time (FMU*) the director (and/or technicians)pushes the stage against one wall and lines up the chairs like bleachers because that's "easiest." Most plays are written for the proscenium; most audiences are used to it; most technicians are comfortable with it. I suggest a compromise and build a 3/4 or "thrust" stage. You get the intimacy of a black box theater plus the added convenience of a proscenium with wing space and offstage exits. *FMU = "Figure Made Up."
------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/20/06 at 12:09pm
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I agree Topper! Every time I work a Black Box, I feel that it is only temporary space or a Gaff until they get something better! It might be I?m far too Pro Arch orientated or just an old black duck! ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: castMe
Date Posted: 4/21/06 at 7:32am
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Given my druthers, I'd rather work proscenium, but for six years I have
been directing mostly in black box and have found many
advantages. Your set can be suggested rather than
full-blown. This often saves time and money although it requires
more imagination (thinking outside the (black) box)?? I read once
of a company that produced K2. The action of the play takes place
with the two actors clinging to the face of K2, the second highest
mountian on earth. Rather than build a mountian in their black
box, the director, designer and TD put the audience INSIDE the mountian
so the actors would, while hanging on the side of the cliff, face in to
the mountian and therefor the audience. An elegant
arrangement. My main point is that most shows will, with some
thought and ingenuity, will work in any space. One other thing I prefer about the black box is the closer proximity of the audience to the actors. I feel I get better work out of my actors since the nearness of the ticket holders forces a more focused approach to the craft. You can't let your eyes wonder during a scene ... it's more noticable. If you can't wander, you're forced to pay more attention to those one stage with you. It forces you to become a better listener. These things, I believe, make you a better actor. Good luck with your new theater....How Fun !! ------------- Investigate. Imagine. Choose. |
Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Date Posted: 4/21/06 at 10:24am
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This may be a stupid question, but what is this "Black Box" you are
talking about. I guess I have never been to a play presented in this
kind of situation, but now I am curious. ------------- Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona. |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 4/21/06 at 1:04pm
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NO such thing as a stupid question! Visit this link for succinct explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box_theater - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box_theater ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:44pm
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Just one wee point is when working with an arena or in the round,
the normal stage directions & positions of the proscenium stage are
not used such as stage left, OP or PS. It easier to orientate everyone
to use the cardinal points of the compass North, south, east & west. You will find especially in large spaces they designate this with large letters painted or stuck on the ceiling or the roof. Of course the normal performers blocking moves are mixed in as well, but it can be confusing for the poor old techs! Especially those operating the Domes;- Stand by Cue * ?Iris pick up USL of DSR? - "Yes! But which Up Stage Left of Down Stage Right do you want?".  This occurs in Ice Shows & even with the Circus, not often but sometimes! ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 4/26/06 at 9:01pm
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If you're truly in Albania, this won't make a difference . . . but just in case your location ID is a mistake . . . There is a new rule in Equity (and I'm not too sure which way it swings), regarding the 99-seat house. Check it out and then judge what your actor pool is like. If you are in an area with many Equity actors and few non-Equity (say back East), then this may be a consideration in what type of house you design. ------------- |
Posted By: Playwright
Date Posted: 4/26/06 at 9:52pm
| If I were designing a theatre I would go for the proscenium. If you're in a position to rent to outside groups (dance schools,music schools for recitals etc) as a source of revenue for periods in between shows, I think a proscenium would be more adaptable for more groups. Just a thought. |