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  • 1.  Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-10-2018 16:56
    Our school is in the beginning stages of building a theatre.  Does anyone have any documents they could share to help get my research started?  How big of a stage (Dimensions) would you recommend?

    Thanks!

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    Carrie Estes
    Director of Fine Arts
    Grace Christian Academy
    Franklin TN
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  • 2.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-10-2018 19:27
    Building a new theatre is a huge project; not just the stage and house (which are a small part of a list of questions about how the space will be used), but also all the mechanical and technical details, ADA, and so forth. I would suggest finding a theatre consultant up front. He or she can help with a lot of these issues, will have information on other theatres, and may be be able to suggest an architect and an engineer who specialize in these buildings.

    One theatre consultant right here is Erich Friend at Teqnical systems. I don't have contact info, but someone else may. Another very knowledgeable resource is Beth Rand, whom you can reach at PRESETT.org.

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    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
    http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-11-2018 11:55
    I second what George says. This is a huge expense and logistical undertaking. It should not be entered into with out a well balanced committee from the school (consisting of administration, arts staff, and community members), an experienced construction manager, and experienced consultants. Be sure the construction manager has built many of the types of facilities you are looking to build. Special purpose venues like theaters are far more nuanced and complex than traditional building with classroom spaces or offices spaces. 

    Best of luck to you! We went through this process about 15 years ago. It can be a wonderful blessing to your organization, but a very tedious process. 

    ~Dave

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    David Simpson
    Performing Arts Center Manager
    East China Schools
    East China MI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-11-2018 13:14
    Just a quick note to add to what David said. Don't try to save money by skipping the theatre consultant and just hiring an architect. They are both specialists in their fields, and you need both of them.

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    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
    http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-11-2018 19:10

    I totally agree with George.  I have consulted on theatres that didn't hire a theatre consultant, and fixing the mistakes after the theatre is built is really expensive and exposes the students to potential dangers.  If your district says, "Our architect has designed lots of theatres, so we don't need to hire a theatre consultant", get in touch with the teachers at those theatres to see what the final result was.   Chances are good there are systemic problems that are ridiculously expensive, or even impossible to fix.  Designing a lot of theatres doesn't mean a thing.  Have they designed good theatres?


    One other thing, try not to hire a theatre consultant who is also a theatrical supplier.  Some, not all by any means, but some may try to sell outdated equipment they can buy on the cheap, and charge you retail.  Others will try to spec out gear that is really not necessary for your school because the profit margin is bigger.   A theatre consultant who has nothing to gain from upselling probably not try to spec out gear that is more appropriate for a large professional facility.  A theatre consultant who strictly does theatre consulting will be more likely to spec out gear that is appropriate for your program, with infrastucture for future expansion.


    Bob Fowler

    Interactive Educational Video, LLC




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-11-2018 20:03
    Wow. You skipped to how big of a stage and others are already talking architects and consultants. 

    I suggest you consider your existing program and facilities first. What do you produce now? How? With what resources? What facilities? What personnel? Who is the audience? Who do you share with, if anyone? Who will want to share if something new grows out of the ground? Where are you going to be on the development and operational totem pole? What do you know about anything bigger than what you are doing now? These are "PROGRAM" issues, where any professional(s) who are brought in will want to start. They will help the process move from these issues to things like size and equipment. Also, if you realize that you have gone all those years without paying attention to stages and theatres, start now. Go visit as many as you can, especially when you find a friendly host who will show you everything that was done right and wrong. And, let me suggest that you'd rather have something modest to yourself than have to share or to have to call on a district workshop to get a lamp changed.

    Oh, and (metaphorically) get yourself some shoulder pads, elbow pads, a helmet, kicking shoes, and gloves. Probably less than half the people in your position get by with just being friendly and  helpful, but even they, along with most everyone else, needed to be pushy upon occasion. It might help to make friends with a few techie professors nearby. They have had to live with all the mistakes and godsends of their facilities. Someone like you, in this process, is going to face "situations" more than opportunities. There will be days when you need someone besides the consultant or principal to talk over your situation.

    Sorry, not trying to be negative. What a wonderful opportunity. How nice to be able to ask colleagues for advice.

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    Tom Hird
    Hayward CA
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-11-2018 22:07
    Thank you for all of these ideas! We are a private school and a floor plan was already made by an architect and I said woahhh I need to be in on this and I already have some changes that I see. We are a sport heavy school, of course, ha but the Fine Arts Dept is growing! Yay! Tomorrow I'm meeting with head of school to propose my changes/add-ons.
    love the insight above. I know this will be a long road but I want it done right. It will be an auditorium too. It's in the school building not a separate theatre building. Thanks for any advice, much appreciated. Agree with a lot of what has been mentioned. 

    Thanks!!

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    Carrie Estes
    Director of Fine Arts
    Grace Christian Academy
    Franklin TN
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-12-2018 03:29
      |   view attached

    From my 40 years in the theatre consulting business I have heard more than on Architect and Contractor agree that the only thing more complicated to design and build a theatre is a hospital.  I concur.  A theatre has many interrelated parts that must work cooperatively together to be successful.  This is where many theatre projects fall-apart -- each specialty designer does not 'get' how their parts interact with the whole of the theatre and presentation process.  Each and every system in a theatre building affects how the staff, performers, and audience experience it.  Much of a theatre consultant's work is not designing lighting, rigging, and sound systems; instead, it is expended reviewing ALL of the other details of the building design to see that they don't conflict with the end-goal of having a functional theatre.  'Bless their souls, for they know not what they do.'  Somebody knowledgeable in how a theatre is supposed to function has to keep the design and construction teams in-check.

    Attached is a short note about establishing goals for a venue.



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    Erich Friend
    Theatre Consultant
    Teqniqal Systems
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Building a Theatre Help

    Posted 09-13-2018 11:24
    I can't provide documents, or anything like that. What I can tell you, based on what I am currently going through, is to not plan anything in the theatre for at LEAST 6-8 months after it was promised to be completed. If you do need to plan in there, have a plan B at the ready. I have had to reschedule my one-acts (the easiest production we have as far as tech is concerned) twice now, and, though we were promised an end of October completion date yesterday, I also have plans to stage the show at the middle school if necessary. I hope we don't need it. We used their stage for "Into the Woods" last year (when the renovation was SUPPOSED to be being done), and it's just too small for a full scale production.

    So, be prepared :)

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    Jodi Disario
    Director of Drama
    Willow Glen High School
    San Jose, CA
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    Original Message


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