Auditorium, or Theatre?

[MillburyAuditorium]

Hello everyone,

Well, I call the facility I "work" in at my school a Theatre because it is a Proscenium Theatre. But the plaque outside, and the faculty call it an Auditorium. Is there really a difference? Or is just what you prefer? I just usually associate an Auditorium as either an outside arena type place, or inside place where seats are 180 degrees around the stage, And a theatre, or a proscenium theatre at least, a place where all seats face straight to the stage and no wings of seats.

: P I like politcally correct, if anyone has an answer I can be in this as well : )

[hhslights]

I have personally always considered an auditorium a multi-purpose indoor venue with a stage with a stage, lights, house, microphones, speakers and other related things. The main thing is though that it is not used for just theatrical performances. I do not consider my venue at my school a theater because it is used by more than the drama department, in fact, it is mainly used by the music department. My class is called Auditorium Technology, not Theater Technology like most. It is also under the Music Department and not the Drama Department. That is probably a supporting reason to my opinion that my venue is an auditorium.

A theater on the other hand in my opinion is a venue that is almost exclusively used by theatrical performances. I like to base my concept of a theater off of the Festival Theater in Stratford, Ontario. A theater in my opinion has more of what you would expect from a venue supporting theatrical productions full time. A theater also does not need a size requirement. Smaller, cozy, venues would also be considered theaters in my opinion. A theater is a venue used to bring the audience into another world, used to tell a story or whatever.

This is my opinion on the matter, I do not know if there are set definitions or if it is left up to opinion on the matter. I do feel however that there are very strong distinctions between an auditorium and a theater. High Schools usually have auditoriums because they are usually multi-purpose venues used to serve a purpose more than just drama.

[MillburyAuditorium]

Dang it xD
We have an auditorium then. : ) Used by dance schools, the mucis department, drama, and other clubs.

I like Theatre better : P

[Les]

This has been debated before. The general consensus was that the theatre is the complex in which the auditorium (performance hall) is located. So, theatres have auditoriums.

The theatre will house the offices, dressing rooms, scene shop(s), storage spaces, restrooms, technical areas, and you guessed it -- the auditorium!

[MillburyAuditorium]

ooh. Thanks

[cdub260]

My main venue is an outdoor theatre, commonly referred to as an amphitheatre. Some people call it the Laguna Amphitheatre, but its actual name is the Irvine Bowl.

Other venues onsite include the Forum Theatre, a 236 seat enclosed proscenium arch theatre which is used for all kinds of different shows and events by various local groups. Due to its classical Proscenium layout, it could in no way be mistaken for a multi-purpose room, but is in fact used for multiple purposes.

Then we have a third stage out at the center of the Festival Grounds which we call the Frog Pond Stage, which is simply a wooden deck surrounded by grass and concrete. This one is nether a theatre nor an auditorium, but is still a stage.

[derekleffew]

Ah, but the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles is actually an amphitheatre! (Affectionately called a "shed" by those in the concert touring industry.) MillburyAuditorium, notice how some of the words you typed have turned yellow? Click on them sometime.

Lisa Simpson: "It IS a good school. Their gym and auditorium are actually two different rooms!"

Words to add to wiki:
shed
amphitheatre
cafetorium
gymatorium
auditeria

[SHARYNF]

To get around the semantics I have seen that many locations are now using Performing Arts Center

Sharyn

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by SHARYNF

To get around the semantics I have seen that many locations are now using Performing Arts Center

Sharyn

Wait do you work for the same companies I do?

Oi...Honestly I've been trying to get the falculty/staff/students to use theatre because all of them look at an auditorium as a place to trash.

[SHARYNF]

;-))))))

At least it is better than Multi Purpose Room

Sharyn