Drool theater

[bex77]

I drooled over a theater space yesterday. And so did everyone with me.

A gang of us working on the revival of the play "The Margaret Ghost" went to see the space where we'll be performing at the end of June. It's the hall of the big UU church in Belmont Center, The First Church in Belmont. http://www.uubelmont.org/

Think about what you would like in a theater if you could build one brand new. This place has it.

- seating for 200 people
- stage lights (counted 35 instruments and a follow spot)
- house lights with multiple controls and dimmers, and control from the booth
- sound system with Bose speakers
- computer projector
- stage with extending thrust and a working curtain
with a screen, wings, storage space and stairs to it from the floor in two spots
- an elevator to move people and equipment
- a/c
- a Steinway grand piano
- separate entrance for cast&crew from the main theater entrance
- a raised tech booth with a huge light panel, sound panel, projector, spotlight
- a modern electrical system
- working bathrooms, on the same level as the theater
- perfect acoustics (whisper on the stage and be heard in the back row)
- free parking
- big green room below the stage with lots of space and windows and a microwave
- a large lobby where you can sell tickets and concessions and people can wait, with seating
and a computer kiosk to run ads or photos
- easels to show the lobby board of cast photos
- built-in shades for the windows to darken for matinees, controlled from the booth
- high ceilings
- a huge industrial kitchen so you can host a gala one night
- nice people who run it
- NO POLES

My mind boggled as I realized these people had built a church hall, but thought of everything you'd want in a theater. And bought the best. I am so used to not having the money to do things at church, or having to do it on the cheap if you can do it at all. Not this place.

I also thought about what we've had to put up with, work around and cope with over the years in the various spaces we've used. We won't have to rent lights or borrow speakers, or blow fuses, or squeeze into spaces too small, or run up and over and around...

I wish I could have had each of you with me last night. But you will have your chance! I hope you can be there in June to see this space...and the play!

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

i think of belmont as a town with money. i'm glad they're using some of it for purposes of AWESOME.