Ideal Theatre

[Ivan2]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 1:57am

Okay, so I'm turning to these boards as a sort of help. For a theatre class, I have to creat a drawing of an ideal Broadway theatre. So I decided to turn to my theatre-friends to ask, if you could see a new Broadway house being built today, what would you want to see in it (not show wise).

EG: Leg room, box seats or loge, proscenium or thrust, etc.

Any help is appreciated.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 2:01am

I think it would be great to see a Broadway theatre in the round. Seeing as there aren't any. The Marriott Lincolnshire always is able to pull of fantastic shows. I have never been to one I did not enjoy. It truly is a shame that the theatre in the round never caught on on Broadway.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 2:14am

Proscenium stage with sloped seating and a really wide stage. Of course, I would also love great acoustics.

[Tag]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 2:27am

-Stadium style seating
-rear & side stages
-automated rigging
-orchestra pit lift
-fully trapped stage
-removable proscenium frame
-rehearsal hall in the building
-FOH shop
-large greenroom/reception room
-downstage in-deck vacuum system to prevent smoke/haze from flowing into the orchestra pit

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 2:30am

Updated On: 5/7/09 at 02:30 AM

[Tag]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 2:47am

Many shows use of vacuum system or a blowing type system. Usually demanded by the musicians union. A vacuum type system is expensive, so why not build it into the stage from the get-go.

I'd say forget about box seating. There is no way to avoid horrible sightlines.

With the seating you don't have to have such extreme rises per row as in a stadium. But enough of a difference (maybe 8-10") between rows.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 2:48am

I know you're not asking me, but... I would have a mezzanine (similar to the Marquis) so that every seat has a great view.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 9:12am

Definitely a lot of leg room.

[broadwayrules]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 9:17am

I think the ideal theatre should have a nice older look, but still have all the modern techonology that the new theatres have. And I second a mezzanine.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 9:19am

Is the "Ideal" from a theatre goers perspective or from a theatre owner/producers perspective?

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 9:39am

...so why not build it into the stage from the get-go.

Alot of times doesn't the real stage floor get covered for most shows?

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 9:40am

often times yes a false scenic floor is built

[Tag]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 1:42pm

Yes but if you still have the technology under the show deck then it is easier to to build the show deck to be compatible with the system that pre-exists underneath it.

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 1:49pm

i agree with the stadium seating like in the Righard Rodgers Theatre.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 2/23/08 at 3:02pm

I definitely second a theater in the round. A space like that would be great on Broadway.

[Ivan2]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 3:30pm

Okay, so far I have a got a GREAT amount of tips from you guys! Thanks so much! My assignment is due in 2 weeks and I'll post the drawings then. They won't be too technical, but will definately be efficient. So far, I am including this into the diagrams:

-Proscenium stage
-Stadium Style seating
-3 setting orchestra pit w/hydraulic lift
-Fully trapped stage
-Removable proscenium
-Plenty of wing space
-In-deck vacuum system
-Excellent accoustics
-60' wide by 50' tall proscenium arch (I know, right?)
-Speaker system built into the proscenium and balconies to avoid seeing the clutter of them.
-Several rows of "Loge" seating, such as in the Gershwin.

And Liverpool, I'm asking the question in regards to the audience member's enjoyment, but at the same time I suppose compromising is the best idea.

Tag, I have some questions on what some of your terms mean, as I haven't quite gotten into so much depth.
-Automated rigging?
-Rear and side stages?
-Orchestra pit lift (do you simply mean having it on a hydraulic lift for the typical 3 setting)?
-FOH Shop?

And what do you guys think about raked staging? Yay or nay?

[East Village]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 3:46pm

Take a look at the Olivier Theatre
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=1541

One of the nicer thrust stages I've seen