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Department ofTheatre and Dance

Facilities

The Theatre and Dance Dept. uses two facilities: Mayer Theatre and the Music and Dance building. These facilities are next to each other, making moving from a class in one area to the other a simple matter.

Mayer Theatre

  • Mainstage

    The mainstage is convertible from a standard proscenium space seating 500 to a thrust stage (utilizing two stage lifts) with two voms, seating 390. The fixed stage itself has a performing space 40’ wide by 30’ deep.

  • Fess Parker Studio Theatre

    This is our black box theatre where the seating is completely movable to any configuration we wish to use for different productions. Seats up to 130. A unique feature of the Studio Theatre is the rolling catwalks that allow us to hang all of the stage lights without the use of a lift or ladder. The catwalks have also been used many times as an upper playing area.

  • Rehearsal Hall

    Large rehearsal hall with a wide variety of rehearsal furniture, AV equipment and rolling full length mirrors and dance barres for dance use.

  • Greenroom

    Large, nicely furnished room with small kitchenette for hanging out between classes, eating lunch or a place to wait for your scene during performances. Well used by both students and faculty as a place to mingle in an informal setting.

  • Scene Shop

    Large, well equipped shop for construction of all production scenery with access doors directly from the shop to the mainstage, studio theatre and rehearsal hall. Includes shop welding shop within.

  • Costume Shop

    Well lit shop for the construction or alteration of costumes for all productions. Includes attached rooms for laundry and dye work along with a craft room with ventilated spray booth.

  • Auxiliary Spaces

    - Dressing rooms with lockers and showers
    - Large makeup room
    - Full basement costume and prop storage
    - Cole Plaza, small outdoor amphitheatre

Music and Dance Building

  • Dance Studio A

    The larger of the two dance studios. Most of the dance technique classes are held in this room as well as faculty and guest choreographer rehearsals and casual performances of student works such as in our end of the year dance show, Abydos. The dance floor is colored such that the dancers know exactly how much performance space they will have when they rehearse pieces that will be performed in Mayer Theatre. This room is equipped with video recording, storage, and playback equipment allowing for instant playback to dancers for critiquing after a rehearsal. Wall to wall mirrors on one wall with fixed dance barres on the other three walls.

  • Dance Studio B

    The smaller of the two dance studios. This room is used for small group work, student rehearsals and for our Pilates mat class. This room is equipped with video recording, storage, and playback equipment allowing for instant playback to dancers for critiquing after a rehearsal. Wall to wall mirrors on one wall with fixed dance barres on the other three walls.

  • Pilates Studio

    Small, well equipped Pilates studio where students can sign up for individual sessions with our certified Pilates instructor.

  • Auxiliary Spaces

    Dressing rooms with lockers and showers.

Theatre and Music Annex

  • Writing Room and Play Library
    A quiet place located on the second floor to write and read with designated writing and library hours.