Theatre Design & Technology - May 1970 - 13

sufficient to give adequate illumination over the entire rehearsal area.
j) Telephones-Any telephone which is
located on the stage floor or in the
near vicinity to the stage should have
a light as well as a bell system so that
the light system may be utilized during
performance. There shall be a telephone by the Stage Manager's prompt
desk.
DRESSING ROOM AREA
a) Stairs-All stairs should be covered
with safety threads. Wherever possible, dressing rooms should be located
no more than two (2) flights above
stage level. High speed elevators of
ample size should be provided in all
other cases.

"1 have always felt the traditional opera house is the real home of theatre. I have attempted within a contemporary idiom to express that same sense of theatre excitement. "-Ralph Alswang.

b) Passageways-Passageways and stairways should be of ample width to allow convenient passage oftraffic going
both ways in wide period costumesat least four (4) feet.

STAGE AREA

c) Basins-There should be at least one
(1) wash basin for every three (3) performers; with hot and cold running
water in each dressing room.

a) Stage Floor-There is a clear prohibition in the Equity rules against dancing on marble or concrete floors, either
for performance or rehearsal. Therefore, stage flooring should be of wood
and not be laid directly on concrete
or marble or any similar nonresilient
material.
In constructing a new wood floor,
there should be as much air space as
necessary between the wood floor
and the supporting elements to provide for reasonable "give" or resilience when the stage is used for theatrical presentations. In no event
should there be less than three (3)
inches of air space between the floor
and the supporting surface. Should
the stage floor be constructed of concrete or nonresilient materials, a false
floor must be placed which shall be
of wood, or a similar resilient material. Between this false floor and the
non-resilient floor there should be an
air space of not less than three (3)
inches. Optimum conditions should include substances similar to battleship
linoleum laid upon wooden stage floor.
Similar consideration must be givento
all areas which are used for rehearsal.
b) Intercoms-There should be two (2)
separate
inter-communication systems. One should providecommunication from the stage manager to the
dressing rooms and green room. Second one should give a playback of the
performance to the dressing rooms
which would be uninterrupted. All this
in addition to other systems, i.e., for
the fly gallery, and auditorium.
c) Toilets-2 separate toilets should be
located in the immediate vicinity of
the stage area, a minimum of 2 on
each side of the stage.

@I!!::J THEATER DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

d) Wings-It has been our experience
that all too frequently theatres of proscenium of thrust stage design are
provided with too little wing space on
one or both sides. It is suggested that
adequate wing space be provided on
both sides so that scenery, actors and
other facilities can be easily accommodated. Wing space on each side
should be equal to the stage area
within the proscenium arch and clear
of obstructions.
e) Crossover-Optimum conditions should
include cross-over with sound piped in.
Stages should be constructed in a safe
and convenient manner and adequately
lit to make it possible for the actor to
move from one side of the stage to
the other without exposure to the audience, and I or to provide entrance from
stage to basement on both sides of
stage for crossover and as entrances
from basement dressing rooms. Recommended minimum crossover space
backstage should be five (5) feet wide
exclusive of upstage.
f) Quick Change Room--Change rooms
should be provided on either side of
the stage and should be of a permanent nature. There should be adequate
lighting, table space and space for
hanging of costumes.
g) Drinking Fountain-There should be at
least one drinking fountain on each
floor level, and one on each side of
stage.
h) Lighting
Backstage-No
dressing
room, or other room should open directly on to the stage without a light
baffle being provided.
j) Lighting

for
Rehearsals-Provision
must be made for adequate rehearsal
lights as part of the permanent house
equipment not dependent upon the
equipment brought in by the production. The rehearsal lights should be

MAY, 1970

d) Chorus Rooms-Four (4) chorus dressing rooms should be provided, two (2)
for men and two (2) for women, each
large enough to accommodate twelve
to fifteen (12-15) chorus. (In theatres
not intending to present musicals or
plays requiring chorus, these dressing
rooms could be used for extras or
supers when necessary.) Basins and
showers should be provided within
the confines of or immediately adjacent
to the individ ual rooms. If chorus
rooms are not on stage floor level
provision should be made for quick
changes, one (1) for male and one (1)
for female. Minimum space for each
performer should include 3V2 feet of
table space, plus hanging space for
costumes. Each chorus room should
have adjacent lavatory and shower
facilities, with one (1) shower for each
five (5) performers, one (1) toilet for
each five (5) performers and one (1)
basin for each three (3) performers in
the chorus.
e) Dressing Rooms-There will betwo(2)
star dressing rooms (single rooms)
with adjoining sitting rooms and lavatory, 4 additional rooms which can
be made into 2 suites of two rooms
each. In addition, there will also be
ten (10) dressing rooms, each of which
will be ten (10) by twelve (12) feet
and will accommodate two (2) people.
Each room will have lavatory and
shower facilities.
f) Dressing Tables-Table surfaces should
be thirty (30) inches from the floor
and should provide 3 V2 feet of space
for each performer and surfaced with
formica or a like material.
g) Drawers-A locked drawer should be
provided in dressing rooms for each
performer.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - May 1970