It's not just an "auditorium" anymore. Live production has become much more complex and so have the buildings presenting these shows.
This session takes a holistic look at theatre design.
Today's theatres must be designed to accommodate complex production requirements as well as meet audiences’ higher expectations. What are suitable configurations for stages and audience chambers for the art form presented? How can audience comfort and amenities and performer/technician work environments be effectively addressed in the design?
Production equipment such as intelligent/moving stage lighting, video displays, motorized rigging/curtains systems, stage lifts, concert enclosures and variable acoustic systems are becoming the norm, even in educational theatres. How can production equipment be effectively and safely be incorporated into the building architecture?
1 LU/HSW
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to assess client needs to develop a theatre configuration appropriate to, and functional for, the performing art form(s) that is(are) anticipated to be presented.
- Students will be able to design buildings that transform patrons’ experiences and artists’ needs into functional audience and artist amenities through better design solutions including ADA accessibility both front of house and backstage.
- Students will acquire the knowledge of theatrical equipment such as rigging, lighting, railings, fire curtains, seating, and lifts so that they may better design architectural elements within the theatre that will safely and properly accommodate theatrical equipment without impeding theatrical function.
- Students will learn how to recognize inherent hazards of performing arts activities to design in a manner that mitigates risk, and to understand the inherent difficulty of creating accessible routes in multilevel auditoria to better design audience/performer/technician circulation.