Theatre Design & Technology - Oct 1971 - 7

Above: Lighting slots in ceiling, Taliesen
Pavilion. Left: Front curtain track partly open.
(Photos: Ned A. Bowman)

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
(I didn't actually VISit the Santa Fe Opera. What
follows was gathered through the good graces of
Bob Benson at Kliegl Brothers, and Philip Lynch
at the Santa Fe Opera. The building has not had
the sort of national coverage it deserves, so we're
sharing this information with TD&T readers.)
The beautiful theatre, which was eleven years old, burned
to the ground during the early morning hours of July 27,
1967, only a few hours after the company had given the
American premiere of Paul Hindemith's Cardi//ac.
From the audience point of view, the new Santa Fe Opera
Theatre retains the best features of the old-the feeling of
intimacy and openness and the view of the lights of Los
Alamos thirty miles distant through the opening at the back
of the stage.
The new theatre is approximately fi fty percent larger than
the old, in both area and volume. Largest expansion is in
the stage and wing space and in the backstage complex, including dressing rooms and storage facilities.

Audience Area: The. essential proportions remain as before, with the same 90' measurement from the back row of
seats to the lip of the stage. The balcony loge structure has
been increased by the width of one bay on either side.
The floor of the mezzanine is now stepped instead of
raked, with six rows of seats. The audience enters through
four double doors at the third row of seats.
Because of the increased length of the lozenge-shaped
canopy-129' from the back to front, or a little over twice
the length of the old fan-shaped canopy-only six rows out
of a total of twenty are unprotected or under the stars. The
sweep and height of the canopy, however, give the open air

THEATER DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

OCTOBER, 1971

feeling of the old theatre. Over 97 tons of structural steel
are used in the stage canopy, in trusses, roof and floor
decking. Interior space within the canopy is six feet deep, to
accommodate I ighti ng instruments, crew access, and the
space to fly some small scenic elements.
Molded fiberglas armchairs replace the former wooden
benches. The new theatre seats 1366, as compared with
1221 in the old theatre. Seating capacity may be increased
to 1550 as future needs demand.

The Stage. The stage itself is considerably enlarged and
will accommodate larger productions than in the past.
The actual stage opening (at the lip of the stage) is increased by more than one-third, from 37' in the old theatre,
to 56' in the new. The stage is now 16' deeper than the
old, with its depth capable of another 18' of extension,
when the major elevator lift is raised to stage level. Used
mai nly for transporting scenery from shop and storage level
to stage level, the lift provides for greater flexibility in
staging.

Backstage Area. Total floor space in the backstage complex is 41,450 square feet, more than ten times the square
footage of the backstage area in the old theatre. The threestory complex at stage right houses dressing rooms, costume
construction shops and storage rooms, and on the lowest
level, storage space for scenery. Stage left is a two-story
complex housing the carpenter shop, paint, electrical and
welding shops and a drafting room.
In addition, the complex provides space for rehearsal
rooms, music library and instrument storage rooms.
Building materials used throughout the theatre are either
fireproof or fire-resistant. Wood is used only as accent or
when dictated by acoustical needs, the chief components
being either masonry or masonry-covered steel. An intricate
sprinkler system protects both the audience and backstage
areas. A 76,000 gallon steel gravity water tank has been
built south of the parking lot.

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