GALLERY

Located on a main intersection at a prominent edge of the campus, the location and design provide a high profile for the faculty and the department. This Instructional Theatre Complex was designed to accommodate research, training, and performance activities for the University's Department of Drama.

The facility includes an underground parking garage and an upper level walkway to other campus buildings (for comfortable winter travel), contains a full complement of front-of-house and backstage facilities centered around two principal performance venues: the Main Stage, a fully-trapped 321-seat proscenium theatre complete with 78' fly tower, 56 linesets and orchestra pit; and the Second Playing Space - accommodating an audience up to 100 with flexible seating allowing for various configurations.

Unique features of this complex stem from the design to accommodate teaching as well as performance functions.   The lighting and sound booths are large enough to serve for instruction, with the sound booth doubling as a small recording studio while the lighting booth is designed to function as an experimental light lab.   Strategically placed next to the performing area are the scene shop, a paint/fit-up area, and a prop shop.   There are also large storage components for the multitude of theatre-related sets, props, costumes and electrics.   The facility also includes naturally lighted costume shops and labs - the largest of their kind in the country.

Careful design consideration was given to the flow of stage sets and materials from the receiving area, to scene shop, to paint/fit-up shop, to the stage.   This allows (through the use of a sound door) rehearsals on stage and the use of the paint/fit-up and scenery shops to occur simultaneously.

Landry & Bogan furnished full theatrical consulting from programming through construction, providing design assistance with stage traps, lighting positions and access, backstage space layouts, shop layouts and other building elements related to theatrical function.