4.8.5 Black Box Theater

It will be possible to arrange the stage and audience in a variety of configurations—end stage, thrust stage, arena, etc. The theatre will be equipped with a system of seating platforms and comfortable stacking chairs that can be ganged into rows of seats. The portable platforms can be used for both seating and staging risers. The platform system should be able to conform to any configuration required in coordination with the school. Potential seating configurations must be predetermined for code review.

The theatre will have a minimum of two entry doors at the stage level to allow the public to access the seating and the actors to access the stage, no matter what the configuration.

• All public and actor doors will include light and sound vestibules.
• The theatre will also include an oversized loading door so that large scenery can be transported directly from the Storage Room into the Theatre without disassembly.

The flooring in this room shall be sprung stage flooring. The ability to attach production elements – scenery, lighting, projection equipment, etc. – to the walls will be necessary. The ability to have a modular floor, so that it can be removed or reconfigured for added flexibility, is preferred.

The stage curtain set will consist of curtain tracks which may be pulled into various masking configurations.

• They shall be able to be stored or removable when a “stripped-out” look is desired. The curtains may also form partial walkways within the theatre, allowing actor circulation behind scenery or between exits.
• In addition to the fixed curtains and tracks, a complement of loose masking will be provided for show specific hanging.
• A cyclorama will be provided for sky effects. The same track may also be used to hang scenic effects, such as painted drops or colored curtains.
• All curtains must meet CPS specification requirements and be fire retardant.

A system of galleries, catwalks, and/or pipe grid shall provide for mounting and servicing theatrical lighting. At a minimum, there is a pipe grid over the entire space at 16 to 20 feet high. At a maximum, there are perimeter galleries around three sides at approximately 16-feet high and stage lighting catwalks running parallel to the wall without a gallery.

The lighting system will include similar sub-systems and connections as noted for the stage.

An elevated control suite will be provided in the non-gallery face of the theatre at the secondfloor level for the operation and control of the lighting, sound and stage management.

• This suite will be accessed off an entry vestibule that will also serve as the primary means of access to the stage galleries. The control suite shall be accessible.
• The control rooms will have a laminate or solid surface counter to support the consoles and other equipment needed.
• There will be acoustically rated, operable windows that will separate the control rooms from the theatre of which they are a part.
• Dimmable task lighting and switched overhead lighting will be tied into the dimming systems.