Download Modern Theatre Architecture Power Point

A brief introduction
to the parts of a modern theater
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A revolution in the style of theatre began in the
late 1800s and continued throughout most of
the 1900s
The new style of theatre stressed a more
realistic and naturalistic form of drama along
with the concept of unity in style for all of the
elements of the production
The scenic elements became realistic
environments and not just backgrounds
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The action moved further back onto the stage,
the apron size became smaller, the gallery side
seats and boxes no longer had good views of
the action
The side seats started to be eliminated and and
the remaining seats faced the stage straight on
The Modern Proscenium Theatre started to
take shape
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In the US in the 1920s-30s there was an effort to
establish quality theatre productions outside of
New York City
Large quality Proscenium theaters began to be
built in cities around the country
From this movement sprung even smaller
theatre groups that began producing in “found
spaces” such as barns, churches, ware houses,
and libraries
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These found spaces usually didn’t have room
or the structural ability to add Proscenium
Arches and planned auditoriums.
Many Thrust and Arena style stages began to
pop up around the country
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Influenced by different experimental theatre
movements, having theatres be used for Dance
Shows and Choral and Orchestral concerts and
even events such as car shows have changed
the modern theatre
The reduction of a large guilded arch has given
way to a smaller plain proscenium arch that
can become a part of the Production
The Set for Cats was a Junkyard that spread all
over the theatre, apron, arch, pit, balcony and
ceiling
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For 350 years the Proscenium Stage and it’s
machinery have been the dominant style of
presenting a production.
It is extremely effective but its critics say that
the antiquated style forcibly separates the
audience from the performers
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The arch is a direct descendant of the Greek
Proskenium
It can vary in size and shape
An average arch for an auditorium of 300-700
people is
18’-22’ High and 36’-40’ Wide
Quincy High’s Lloyd Hill Auditorium is 22’
High and 38’ Wide
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The playing area behind the Proscenium Arch
is known as the Stage
For actors a stage floor must be firm, resilient,
non-skid surface that facilitates movement
For scenery purposes it must be resistant to
splintering, gouging caused by heavy stage
wagons, should be able to be painted, and
should muffle the sound of scenic and acting
movement
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The wings are the areas of the stage on either
side of the playing space
The wings are primarily used for storage of
scenery, props, and actors that are not needed
on stage
There are masking curtains that hide the wings
from the audience’s sight
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The Apron is also known as the Forestage
It is the extension of the stage from the
Proscenium Arch toward the audience
It is usually 5’-15’ deep
It will often have access through the
proscenium arch known as Ante-Proscenium
Doors
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The orchestra pit is a large pit that houses the band for
a performance
It usually is deep enough not to interfere with the
spectators view of the stage
When not in use it creates a formidable void between
the actors and audience
Many theatres have fixed this situation by having
platforms that cover the pit when not in use
A modern solution is having motorized platforms that
can be arranged in different configuration
The newest solution is having no pit and the band
mic’ed in a different location
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If you couldn’t tell from the word Auditorium
the focus of the space is on Auditory elements.
The walls slightly fan out to allow sound to
bounce around, while the ceiling wraps around
and the floor rakes up to create better acoustics
Many Auditoriums have different angled
panels that can be adjusted for different events
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Orchestra, Balcony, Boxes, Mezzanine
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The Fly Loft also known as the “flies” is the
space above the stage
It is usually 2-1/2x Taller than the Proscenium
Arch
This allows scenery to be flown out completely
out of sight
The gridiron or grid is located just below the
roof of the fly loft
It allows access to the rigging hardware along
as supporting the weight of the scenery
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Many new additions have taken place to
ensure the safety of the patrons
Smoke detectors, heat sensors, sprinkler
systems, fire curtain and fire doors have all
been put into practice in case of fire
Ventilation systems and AC units have been
installed for the comfort of the audience
More exits and emergency lighting systems are
all in place in case of an evacuation
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The link is to a video on a ground breaking
theatre design that transforms
TED TALKS- Joshua Prince-Ramus: Building a
theater that remakes itself
http://youtu.be/LHHlPnfOtRo