Karen-
This is an important area to be checking on. Providing adequate and appropriate dressing rooms for the performing arts is equally important to providing adequate and appropriate locker rooms for sports teams.
The numbers of dressing rooms is dependent on the number of individual mirror locations in each room. Depending on the available room sizes, the number of rooms required will be determined by the number of individual locations that can be installed in each room. From a Northern Architecture website,:
"A shelf-type makeup table of 18 in. width and 30 in, height should be built around the walls of the dressing rooms with a 2 ft 6 in. or 3-ft space for each actor. In front of each actor will be a makeup mirror with a 75-wett light on each side. Benches or chairs 18 in. high, sufficient for all of the makeup positions, should be provided."
They do need bathrooms, which should not be shared by the public. Again comparing to sports facilities, there should be showers available.
To consider professional requirements dressing rooms as a model, Actors Equity requires:
"The guidelines for dressing rooms state that Equity members must be provided with properly heated and ventilated dressing rooms with adequate lights, mirrors, shelves and wardrobe hooks. Florescent lighting is not permitted for make-up purposes, which is why incandescent bulbs flank dressing-room mirrors. Also, for every six actors assigned to a dressing room, there must be a washstand with hot and cold running water. Lavatories and showers are not required to be in the actual dressing room, but must be on each floor, or alternating floors."
Adequate ventilation is essential; no just comfort ventilation of HVAC, but industrial-type ventilation engineering to manage the hair spray, makeup and other chemical used in the space.
I hope this info is helpful.
Take care and stay safe.
Bill
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Bill Reynolds (he.him.his)
Lecturer in Theater Safety & Health
Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre
203-314-1543---cell
Bill.reynolds@yale.eduAuthor: Safety and Health for the Stage
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2022 18:54
From: Karen Wiebe
Subject: Dressing Rooms
Is there a required number of dressing rooms that are needed for theatre programs? Do they need bathrooms? Can they use hall bathrooms that patrons use?
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Karen Wiebe
Drama Director
Randall K. Cooper High School
KY
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