Theatre Design & Technology - Feb 1969 - 23

The main stage and the wings left and right total 93 feet,
of width, and the main stage measures 44 feet from apron
edge to the back wall.
A door 20 feet wide by 15 feet high is centered in the
back wall providing access from the scene shop.
Storage Mezzanine. Under the permanent seating tiers is
a storage mezzanine for seat units and larger set units. It
measures 93 feet by 41 feet.
Lighting System. The stage lighting system is a custom designed facility. The system utilizes a computer memory bank
capable of 190 pre-determined scenes. It can control a
maximum of 84 dimmers (3 circuits to each dimmer). (The
first installation of this system was at the Los Angeles
Music Center.)
Sound System. The theatre has a stereophonic production
sound system for play production and speaker presentations.
Another system broadcasts to the auditorium, loggia, dressing
rooms and green room, trap area, Iift and shop. The Experimental Theatre has a similar capability.
An intercom hook-up allows party I ine communication among
any number of earphone jack stations scattered throughout
the theatre area, with an override by the stage manager. In
addition, a telephone hook-up links the entire theatre complex.
The Shop. The shop is fully equipped with power tools,
sinks, material storage area, as well as a motorized paint
frame and well.

Ground level plan

Long section through auditorium

Costume Shop and Costume Storage. Equipment includes
a dye room, washer, dryer, sinks, storage racks and counters,
a mirrored fitting alcove, and a specially designed cutting
table.
A vestibule connects the costume room to the costume storage room where double racking permits the hanging of the
entire costume collection.
An el evator allows access to the dressing areas.
Dressing Room Complex and Green Room. There are
three guest dressing rooms complete with restrooms and
showers.
All dressing rooms have continuous mirror paneling above
the make-up counters and all are fitted with a specially designed light track and simulated stage lighting for the application of make-up.
The green room is wired to monitor the main stage and / or
the experimental theatre.

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Experimental Th eatre. The floor of the experi mental theatre
duplicates the floor space of the main stage and is used as
an alternate rehearsal area as well as a flexible theatre for
student productions. Ceiling is a 2' square Unistrut grid,
with lift-out panels.
Carpeting on the walls provides acoustical and light control.
Acoustical Lofts and Auditorium Ceiling. An acoustical
loft above the ceiling provides for the control of sound reverberation from that of an absolutely "dead" chamber for
the spoken voice to that of a very "I ive" chamber for
music. It is manipulated by a series of motorized curtains.
Three beam positions trisect the ceiling. These allow full
width positions for lighting instruments below black steel
mesh which conceals the loft from audience view.

Complete $3 million Arts Center structure at Rockford.
Stage house is at west end (top) of drawing

[@!O THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

FEBRUARY, 1969

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