Our Learning Spaces

Theatre spaces

Studio Theatre

A three-quarter thrust/modified proscenium space designed by theatre professor emeritus Randy Ward. With 205 seats, the space includes a trap below the stage and hidden vomitoria surrounding it, providing flexible actor access around the stage area. A dismountable second level balcony is readily available for additional performance space.

Theatre 101

A 42' x 42' experimental black box space with a lighting grid at 18'6'' above a finished floor. Capacity is variable, with an upper limit of approximately 130 seats. Audience risers and portable seating allow for flexible staging configurations. Used primarily for workshop productions and regular performance classes, Theatre 101 has strong technical capabilities and a welcoming glass-walled lobby facing College Avenue. An upstairs studio provides additional space for rehearsals and theatre classes.

Henderson Hall

Equipped with:

• Costume design lab
• Scenic design lab
• Lighting design classroom
• Sound design lab and recording studio
• Computer lab with CAD and graphics programs
• Multi-use ensemble rehearsal room / cinema screening room
• Standard classroom fully equipped with computer and projectors

Scene Shop

2,600 square feet. A 20-foot ceiling. And right next to the Studio Theatre stage. This is where sets transform from sketches to steel.

The shop has industrial-grade woodworking, machining, and metalworking tools. The space is also certified for hot work, so yes, you can weld here. MIG welders, TIG welders, arc welders, and plasma cutters are all equipment on hand, making steel and aluminum regular materials for builds and projects in the Theatre program.

Beyond wood and metal construction, the shop designs and builds motion control systems, too, which means we can engineer scenery that moves. The scene shop also has a full size ShopBot CNC router, ample dust collection, and a dedicated paint area. Adjacent to the scene shop is the Electro-Mechanical lab where students can find a multitude of electronic and mechanical components and parts, everything you need to make an adapter to retrofit the controls for a vending machine.

Costume Shop

1,200 square feet with plenty of windows and natural light, which matters when you're matching colors. Tables for cutting and ironing, a fitting room, and Bernina electronic sewing machines, plus sergers for clean edges and digital embroidery for the details.

An adjacent craft area has a spray booth, washers and dryers. A large commercial dye vat means you can learn to dye, age, and distress fabric until it looks just right. There's also plenty of shelving for fabric and notions.

Storage

The department utilizes a 17,000 square foot warehouse off-campus that houses more than 25,000 costume pieces. It also holds an array of antique, modern, and handmade furniture, and plenty of specialty items. There is also on-site storage for hand props, located below the Haymarket Theatre. A true treasure trove for designers and directors. 

Management Office

Located in Henderson Hall, the Management Office handles marketing, publicity, and front-of-house for every major music, theatre, dance, and cinema production.

Additional Spaces

Dance classes in War Memorial Hall and the Creativity and Innovation District, as well as performance opportunities in the 1,200-seat Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre at the Center for the Arts, provide even more spaces for creativity and learning.