PERFORMANCE SPACES AND THEATRES

The Connecticut Repertory Theatre currently produces in three different performance spaces. The production season has a typical rhythm each semester of a mainstage show (Katter Theater -thrust), StudioWorks show (Studio/Mobius) and a mainstage (H.S. Jorgensen – proscenium). Mainstage scenic budgets range from $2,800 to $7,000. StudioWorks scenic budgets are typically $600 -$1,000.

Our principle stage, the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, is a 500 seat proscenium stage with extensive state of the art lighting and sound systems and well equipped scene, costume, and prop shops. The H.S. Jorgensen Theatre is equipped with the ETC OBSESSION II control console with 240 2.4Kw. CD-80 Strand Dimmers. In 2007 the Drama Department purchased a Grand MA Lighting Desk for the programming and control of fixed and automated lighting fixtures as well as video projection equipment. The Grand MA console is portable so that it may be used in all of the CRT Theatre spaces. There are 240 distribution circuits in a dimmer per circuit layout. The Jorgensen Theatre has an inventory of state of the art ETC Source Four Spots and PAR’s as well as other specialty units such as ARRI HMI Fresnels, Wybron CXI Color Scrollers, and Jauchem and Meeh Xenon Par Strobes. The total instrument inventory totals over 200 units. The Department of Dramatic Arts won the Martin Grant in 2004, and procured 2-Martin 2000, 2- Martin 550, and 2 Martin 300 automated lighting units. Martin’s Light-Jocky software was also added to the lighting inventory to program the units in the smaller performance spaces where the Obsession II was not available. There are two 40’, full-stage focus tracks available for over-stage work.

The proscenium opening is 16’x 33’ with 2, FOH boom light slots on each side and a beam light slot. A 40’ counterweighted light bridge sits between line-sets 3 and 4 to service upstage lighting needs. There are 27 double purchase counterweight line sets with 44’-0” extendable schedule 40 pipe battens. The loft blocks are grid mounted, and access is available over the entire 30’ x 60’ stage house. High trim is +44’-0” and the grid is +50’-0”. Built in 1955, Harrold Burris-Meyer and Edward Cole were the theater consultants on this project. The stage is fully trapped with 10’-0” clearance, and includes a wrap-cyclorama trough. There is a large extended apron which identifies the orchestra pit. The pit is about 67” deep and is about 11’-0” at is extreme up stage/down stage dimension and is covered with an arrangement of fixed traps. Wing space extends to approximately 28’ beyond the proscenium on both sides.

The sound system FOH console is a Allen and Heath ML5000 /48 utilizing Stage Research’s SFX Pro Audio playback software coupled to an Echo Layla sound card providing 8 channels of programmable playback. Other sound software includes Cool Edit Pro v.2 and Sound Forge. There are 20 Sennheiser UHF, RF body pack microphones. There are also 4-Shure SM58 handheld/body pack VHF units and another 16 Shure VHF body packs. There is a Yamaha PM1800/32 mixer (Vintage 1988) in the control booth for additional production needs. A variety of Hot Spot speakers and powered Hot Spot speakers are available for foldback requirements. There is a central speaker position occupied by a Meyer UPA-1P powered speaker. Right and left house mains vary between EAW Forsythe series and Klipse LaScalla boxes with passive crossovers. USR and USL speakers are Meyer UPA-1P’s. 2 –TOA SL15, 2-way speakers provide effects options. Torm foldback and ROH speakers are available. Subs are service by a mid-house Bose Acoustic wave cannon and controller as well as 2 – JBL EON subs placed in the apron facing and fed from a dBx 120XP Subharmonic systhesizer processor. Effects processors include a Lexicon LXP-15II and an Alesis MicroVerb. Other microphones include an RE20, SM58’s, SM Beta58’s, SM57, and EV 635 Omni. Foot microphones requirements are covered by 4 – Crown PCC 160 mikes. A Sony DA-P1 portable DAT recorder and a rack mount Panasonic SV3700 DAT provide recording options for production. EQ includes BSS TCS-803 and Sabine Graphi-Q Delay units, Klark Technics DN360, 1/3graphic EQ for the mains, and an Ashley active 3-way crossover when required. A variety of power amplifiers are in service. These include a Crown DC300, Crown DC300A, 2- Crown MicroTech 600, 1- Crown MacroTech 1200, 1 Crest CA9 and 1 Crest CFA-CA9 AB and a Carver 60 watt power amp. A Tascam TM-D1000/16 digital mixer provides submix options.

The Studio Theatre, a 100 seat proscenium theatre is located in the Drama/Music building and shares its support facilities with the Mobius Theatre, an environmental black box space. The Studio/Mobius complex annually houses our StudioWorks Series and several student directed dramatic, musical, and dance events. The Studio/Mobius Theatres share a common lighting system: an ETC MICROVISION FX console with 72-2.4 Kw. CD-80 Strand Dimmers. Also available for fixed and automated lighting control in this space is the Grand MA Lighting Desk. There are 250 lighting distribution circuits in the space which terminate in a single switchboard style patch panel. The Studio/Mobius lighting inventory totals over 175 units.

Sound inventory includes Stage Research’s SFX standard playback software coupled to an Echo Layla sound card providing 8 channels of programmable playback. Software includes Cool Edit Pro v.2. There are 6 JBL Control 5 speakers as part of the permanent inventory for the space. The powered mixer is a Yamaha EPX-2150, with 6 inputs, 2 Aux Sends, L/R Stereo Out. Additional sound requirement are supplemented from the inventories of our other theaters.

The Nafe Katter Thrust Theatre: The Connecticut Repertory Theatre opened its new State of the Art Thrust Theatre in the Fall of 2004. This new 235 seat theatre is equipped with the ETC Obsession II control console, Grand MA Lighting Desk, Sensor Dimmers, and a substantial inventory of ETC Source Four Profiles and PAR’s. This new production space is our fourth theatre space and will house not only many of our CRT Productions but also special summer programming.

KATTER LIGHTING INVENTORY

ELLIPSOIDAL SPOTLIGHTS:
30 ETC 19 DEGREE SOURCE FOUR 575 W (HPL-X)
120 ETC 26 DEGREE SOURCE FOUR 575W (HPL-X)
30 ETC 36 DEGREE SOURCE FOUR 575W (HPL-X)
10 ETC 50 DEGREE SOURCE FOUR 575W (HPL-X)

SOURCE FOUR PARS:
50 ETC SOURCE FOUR PAR (EA) 575W (HPL-X)
LENS OPTIONS: VNSP, NSP, MFL, WFL

STRIPLIGHTS:
14 3 CIRCUIT/ 6 FOOT L&E MINI-STRIPS (MODEL # 6560) 75 W (EYC)
DIMMERS:
280 2.4 KW ETC SENSOR DIMMERS
8 2.4 KW ETC SENSOR DIMMERS (HOUSE LIGHTS)
CONTROL:
ETC “OBSESSION II” W/DUAL ELECTRONICS (FULL TRACKING BACKUP), EQUIPPED WITH DESIGNER'S REMOTE CONSOLE (WITH DUAL CRT), AND REMOTE FOCUS UNIT.

PAPERWORK MANAGEMENT: WE OWN AND USE LIGHTWRITE (VERSION 4.00 )

KATTER SOUND SYSTEM
The sound system is headed up by a Soundcraft K2-24 mixer. House and stage speaker requirements are covered by 6 Meyer UPA-1P speakers. ROH is a ring of 8 JBL 25 speakers powered by 2 Crown power amps. Effects are proved by a Yamaha SPX 2000. Playback is provided by Stage Research’s SFX Pro-audio playback software coupled to an Echo Layla sound card providing 8 channels of programmable playback. Software includes Adobe Audition v.1 and Sound Forge. The permanent microphone inventory for the theater is 4 Crown PCC 160 foot microphones.

The Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts: The Jorgensen Center is a 2500 seat road/booking house which is a unit of the School of Fine Arts. Each year the Center books in a series of Theatre, Dance, Opera, and Concert Music events which provide the campus and Storrs Community with a board range of cultural and theatrical productions from around the world. This Center also houses larger Musical Events and Opera Productions produced by The School of Fine Arts’ Music Department. These productions are often designed by students in the Design/Technical Division of the Department of Dramatic Arts.

The Depot Campus: Within 3 miles of the main campus, a satellite campus houses various university services. The Puppetry Arts division and the Props department occupy a 1 million dollar renovated space. Facilities include a high tech classroom, kitchen, puppet arts library, computer lab, large rehearsal room with resilient floor, plaster casting room, dye-vat room with washer and dryer, puppetry wood shop and a large studio space with individual work spaces for each puppetry major.

The Props area has hand prop storage, a sewing room, offices and a shop with MIG welder and typical metal and wood working tools

There is also a 1200 sq-ft storage facility at the depot campus which is shared by the carpentry, props and puppetry divisions.

HSJ Scene Shop: The Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre is immediately adjacent to the scene shop. The scene shop is a 16’x 40’ space which houses all major wood working and welding equipment. A large scene door connects the shop to the HSJ stage which serves as the build area for all productions. The HSJ stage provides about 2500 sq-ft of floor space. There is also a counter-weighted paint frame and paint gallery for painting drops up to 22’x 41’. Scene shop equipment includes a 5HP/12” Powermatic table saw with Beismeier fence, a Delta 5HP/14” radial arms saw, a Dewalt 12” sliding compound miter saw, a 7” Sawbuck-compound framing saw, a Delta floor mount drill press, a Delta bench mount drill press, a Dewalt panel saw, a Powermatic 12”disk/48” belt sander, a multi speed Powermatic 14” band saw, a 10 pedestal grinder, a ½” capacity plasma-cutter, Millermatic 200 MIG welder with spool gun, Miller 600 / 120VAC MIG welder, Oxy-Acetylene gas kit, Stick welder, Rigid portable electric pipe vise, Milwaukee Portaband, 2-Hitachi 12” portable abrasive disk cutoff tools, a 14” Milwaukee Abrasive Cutoff tool, and a horizontal metal band saw. Hand tools include 10, 12VDC Dewalt cordless drills, a variety if ¼”, 3/8” and ½” chuck electric drills, right angle drill, 2- Bosch saber saws, 7 ¼” Circular saw, 2 – Milwaukee Sawzalls, Bosch hammer drill, Cut-awl, 4x24 Belt sander, 1x22 belt sander, 2 random orbital disk sanders. Pneumatic fasteners include a 12d common nailer, a 8d common nailer, 2 - 0.25 crown staplers, 4 – 0.325 crown staplers, 1 – 1” crown stapler, 2 – 0.5” crown light staplers, 1-2.5” capacity finish nailer, and 1-1.5”capacity pin nailer. Pneumatic air requirements are hard piped throughout the shop and stage space by a 10HP, 25CFM compressor located adjacent to the scene shop.

Rigging Equipment: 2 – 1 ton Loadstar chain hoists rigged for inverted operation provide lifting options for set put-in and class instruction. There is one 2HP/208 3 phase motor controlled by a laptop running Avista motion control software by Creative Connors. There is also a 3HP/208 3P variable speed winch with preset memories for stage motion control and 3, 1HP DC variable speed motors. A variety of pneumatic cylinders and pancakes and direction control valves exist for rigging projects. Two spur gear type hand winches and 2-dual smooth drum winches provide manual winch options. A 1.5GPM power unit and 36” hydraulic cylinder comprise the hydraulic rigging capabilities.

OTHER TEACHING AND STUDENT FACILITIES

The Design Studios and Labs:

A Graduate Student Design Studio, equipped with individual work stations, plan files, computers, internet access and growing research and support materials is located in the design area of the Drama building. Adjacent to the studio is a Computer Design Laboratory equipped with 12 Windows Pentium 4 computers for managing lighting paperwork and for computer aided drafting using “AutoCAD” v. 2004 and VectorWorks 12 as well as WYSIWYG software. There is also a Hewlett Packard “E” size Design Jet Color Plotter.

An Undergraduate Student Design Studio is also located in the design area of the Dramatic Arts Department. The Studio is equipped with drafting and drawing tables, plan files, a blue line machine and pin up boards, model shelves and audio visual teaching facilities.

Our Lighting Design Laboratory is equipped with a ETC “Idea” control console, and 24-2.4kw Theatre Techniques Dimmers, and its own battery of state of the art lighting instruments, including ETC Source 4 Units. The lab also contains sample cuts of all current filters in the Roscolux, Lee, Gamcolor and Geletran lines. The lighting lab is a center for exploration and experimentation for both students and faculty.

THE WHYS: What to expect from your education with us.

PHONE NUMBERS: Who to call where.

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