By Alex Dollin
A new theater space has officially opened on the University campus supplied with state of the art technology and a packed schedule of shows ready to be performed.
The new theater in the ew academic building is a black box style theater, that will replace the West End Theater, a facility that was originally intended to be temporary but lasted 20 years, housing more than 150 different productions.
After completing construction this past summer, the New Academic building opened this semester and contains the new theater, the music department offices, voice instruction offices, private rehearsal rooms, offices for adjunct professors and a large choral and band rehearsal space.
The theater will be maintained by the Drama Department and now includes all new theatrical tools and some of the old ones recycled from the West End Theater.
The theater will function as a typical black box, which means seating arrangements can be varied depending on the show. Black boxes are generally used for smaller, more intimate works and are completely changeable to the specifics of the production.
According to Jim Hart, a new production manager for theater spaces on campus who is in charge of scheduling and budgeting, the difference from the former West End is “the ceiling is taller, the lighting is more easily done and it’s a bigger space.”
He explained that some of the new features include “a far superior lighting system,” seating for 240 people and a bigger scenic shop.
Students have already felt the difference in the luxury the space has to offer.
“I’m excited to be working in the new theater,” Jessica Giametta, a senior who will appear in the theater’s first show, “Seven Against Thebes,” set to open Nov. 17, said. “Its much bigger.”
However, Giametta said that there is one problem with the new theater. She explained that is actually blue and silver.
“It’s distracting when we are trying to perform,” she added.
Hart explained the theater was not only built dark blue by contractors, but was actually coated with a glossy paint finish, which is “a problem for lighting in the space.” He added that students and faculty in the Drama Department have nicknamed the theater “The Blue Cube.”
The new theater had its official opening Oct. 18 after a brief ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by refreshments. Among the philanthropists and technical staff of the theater who attended was Alan Pittman, the director of theater facilities on campus. Pittman explained that this type of new space can be easily fought over.
Alan said he often finds himself burdened with trying to give all the clubs space to perform their shows in the times they want. The plan, according to both Pittman and Hart, is to keep the space reserved for the Drama Department only.
“The idea was to give them a space that wouldn’t be fought over,” said Pittman. “The problem is some departments can’t take no for an answer.”
