Out of interest, what are your best stories for things one-time
theatre builders have thought to be important, and what they haven't considered?
Complete wall to wall ceilings in the
auditorium, extensive casework in dressing rooms and control rooms, expensive
clear finished wood floors on
stage, and elaborate and expensive
catwalk details come to mind. I'm sure there are others on a less frequent basis, probably many
lobby centered.
Access is what is most ill considered - getting things and people on and off
stage. Scenery to and from the exterior. Adequate passage to a shop. A route from the
house and
stage to the control room (How many times have I seen plans where it's out through the
lobby, down the
hall to a stair, up to second and back down a
hall. It belongs behind
main floor seating with nearly direct access.) A
stage to
lobby path that is not through the
house. Access to everything high for service (though
LED house lights help this but how many times I've walked into a building an heard of complaints about no way to change lamps.) Access to catwalks and grids. I'm a fanatic about comings and goings, and getting to all of the equipment. And especially access to rigging overhead - both a
loading bridge and a way to inspect the loft blocks. I'm completely intolerant of underhung rigging with no access, no
loading bridge, and probably no way to get a decent
personnel lift onto
stage, plus a
stage that won't support it - a kind of grand slam of poor rigging planning.
And
counterweight rigging without a purpose other than they thought it should be there, like the school I was in the other day - 17' high
proscenium, 18' tall travelers and legs hung on
counterweight sets, 21' high
trim. WTF? And really, what good did it do to have borders on linesets here? That's ignoring ducts that run across
stage and obstruct the stupid rigging.
From a purely aesthetic and support the performer
point of view - wide and massive aisles, cross aisles, moats between
stage and first row,
etc. - all driving the last seat further away. This usually accompanies cross aisles at the front of balconies - and impossible sight
line condition that cannot be overcome - and often significant violation of basic
egress and accessibility regulations.
And noise - roof top units on top of the
auditorium. Band rooms adjacent to stages without a prayer of isolation. Mechanical rooms ditto. If the
auditorium and
stage are not quiet, they are much less good.
Go back to the basics - a quiet windowless
flat floor room with very adequate doors, a strong overhead structure, a big electrical feed, and a resilient floor that is kind to performers moving and can be attached to. Given those basics and everything else can be fitted out - maybe in a day or maybe a week or longer if o be permanent - but overhead hanging of stuff, risers and chairs, av systems, lighting systems - easy peasy.
A few of my least and most favorite things....