WMU Theatre | The Irving S. Gilmore Theatre Complex

Irving S. Gilmore Theatre Complex
		The original theatre was built in 1968 and augmented with a $5.4 million, 44,000 square feet addition in 1994. All three theatres in the complex are for the exclusive use of the department as laboratories for the study of theatre through the production of plays, musicals and operas. A fourth performance space, a 228 seat Multi-Media Room, with a fully walkable wire-mesh grid 18' above the stage floor and equipped for projection on a 360 degree cyclorama, is shared with the Departments of Art, Dance and the School of Music. Another performance space available to the Department is the adjacent James W. Miller Auditorium, a 3500 seat professional touring house. The Department's four theatres and acting studio serve as our primary rehearsal spaces, and are scheduled as such. With the exception of the dressing rooms and storage rooms, all of these spaces and the theatres function as classrooms. In addition to the equipment specifically associated with the theatres and other spaces listed above, the Department also owns tumbling mats, several audio cassette recorders, a Panasonic portable video cassette recorder with camera and color monitor, a Panasonic video camcorder, FAX machine, and a Xerox copier. All faculty have personal computers, printers, and modems or direct connections to the WMUnet (e-mail, southwest Michigan library catalogs, Internet, etc.) in their offices. Projection equipment (video, slide, film, and opaque/overhead), audio tape recorders (reel-to-reel and cassette), and phonographs are readily available for instructional use from University Audio-Visual Services.

Laura V. Shaw Theatre
M. BUTTERFLY		A 571 seat auditorium with an 18' high proscenium opening which is adjustable in the width from 40' to 54', a 46' deep by 90' wide stage with traditional orchestra pit and plaster cyclorama, traps and a 20-lineset double-purchase rigging system. The stage floor was refinished, including reconstruction of the traps, in 1995. Equipment includes: Strand CD80 dimmer-per-circuit lighting system with "mini Lightpalette 90" memory control console and "Mantrix 2S" manual four-scene preset back-up with electronic patch, and an inventory of 260 lighting instruments, cable, color media, and accessories Two Altman 575w HMI Satellite 1 follow spots Four-channel audio system with Yamaha MC1604 16-input/4-output mixing console with digital delay, one Tascam M1016 sub-mixer, one Panasonic SV-3200 digital audio tape deck, one Panasonic SV-3700 digital audio tape deck, one Otari MX 5050B two-channel reel-to-reel tape deck, one Technics RS-T80R automatic reverse dual cassette deck, one Marantz PMD320 compact disk player, one Technics SL-1200MK2 transcription turntable, one Galaxy Audio Hot Spot, six Crown PCC-160 microphones, three Electro-Voice PL11 microphones, three Electro-Voice RE11 microphones, three Audio-Technica AT853 microphones, and ten speaker systems on a 70-volt distribution system driven by two Altec Lansing 9444A power amplifiers with two Altec Lansing 1652A equalizers Telex wireless bodypack microphone systems: six with FMR-2 receivers, WT-50 bodypack transmitters, Sennheiser MKE2-PT microphones; and six with FMR-100 receivers, WT-60 bodypack transmitters, Countryman Isomax II microphones Phonic Ear PE550T FM hearing impaired system with two Audio-Technica AT815R Shotgun microphones and twenty Phonic Ear PE 350 R multi-frequency wireless receivers (shared with Multiform Theatre) Clear-Com single-channel eight-station intercom system with Beyer DT 108 headsets Pac-Craft 024DC personnel lifts and assorted ladders

Multiform Theatre
DRACULA		76' 2" by 82' black box theatre seating between 270 and 350 patrons (depending on which seating configuration is used) on motorized telescoping modules. Platforms can be arranged in a thrust, proscenium, stadium or theatre-in-the-round arrangement, with stage space placed anywhere the directors and designers wish it to be. Each of the eight units contains 25 seats. The level has perimeter drapes surrounding the entire room to conceal actors and scenery if need be. A 42' full fly house extends over the main floor with a bi-directional 55-lineset double-purchase rigging system able to fly scenery, lighting, drapes and even actors. The floor is sprung (as in acting studio) on cushioned legs on another sub-floor. The ring above (which holds the gallery) can be used for audience seating on all four sides. The next level contains the control booths for lighting, sound and stage management. The fourth level is the catwalk level. Equipment includes: Strand CD80/8AE dimmer-per-circuit lighting system with "mini Lightpalette 90" memory control console and an inventory of 196 lighting instruments, cable, color media, and accessories Four-channel sound system with Ramsa WR4424A 24-input/4-output mixing console, two Panasonic SV-3700 digital audio tape decks, one Otari MX 5050B two-channel reel-to-reel tape deck, one Marantz PMD500 automatic reverse dual cassette deck, one Marantz PMD320 compact disk player, one Yamaha SPX990 multi-effect processor, and four speaker systems on a 70-volt distribution system driven by two Crown Com-Tech 400 power amplifiers with four Rane MPE 28 programmable equalizers Phonic Ear PE550T FM hearing impaired system with four Audio-Technica AT815R Shotgun microphones and twenty Phonic Ear PE 350 R multi-frequency wireless receivers (shared with Shaw Theatre) Lobby page system with six-channel Toa M-900MK2 modular mixer and a 70-volt speaker grid driven by one DuKane "Medallion" power amplifier with one Rane MPE 28 programmable equalizer Dressing room page system with a six-channel Toa A-906MK2 modular mixer/amplifier Clear-Com two-channel ten-station intercom system with Clear-Com CC-85 headsets and Clear-Com KB-112 speaker stations.

Zack L. York Arena Theatre
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST		The Arena Theatre is a 39' by 43' 3" black box or experimental theatre that seats up to 115 in a flexible seating arrangement. The theatre is fully equipped with lighting and sound equipment. The Arena is frequently used for student-directed productions and the Footlights I and II series, as well as acting and directing classes. It is also the home of the York Arena Series consisting of two faculty-directed productions each season. Unistrut gridiron 14' above stage floor. Equipment includes: Strand CD80 24-dimmer lighting system with "miniPalette" memory control console, and an inventory of 28 lighting instruments, cable, color media, and accessories. Two-channel sound system with Gately EM/EQ-7 4-input/2-output mixer, one Crown "Series 700" two-channel reel-to-reel tape deck, one Sony TC-W320 dual cassette deck, one Pioneer PL-518 transcription turntable, and two speaker systems on a 70-volt distribution system driven by two Altec Lansing 1568A power amplifiers.

Design Studio

Our design studio is large (approximately 45'-0" by 45'-0"). The front wall is finished much like a traditional classroom, with a large blackboard flanked by bulletin boards and a pull-down projection screen. The other three walls are surfaced with four-foot-wide, floor-to-ceiling, fabric-covered, tackable panels separated by floor-to-ceiling tracks for adjustable shelving. This allows us to display/critique flat or dimensional work (i.e., scale models) anywhere on the three large walls. When not in use for display, the shelves can be "parked" above head height and used for general storage.

The furniture in the studio is all custom designed and built-in (to manage electrical and electronic wiring and to optimize lighting). There are 24 student workstations in four rows of six. Each 2'-6" high (to allow use of task chairs rather than stools and to optimize sightlines) by 2'-6" deep by 5'-0" wide student workstation is comprised of a tiltable 30- by 42-inch drafting board with parallel rule atop a 30- by 42-inch flat file drawer and three individually-locking drawers for art supplies (so that three students can share a workstation and each secure their belongings). Adjacent to each drafting board is a platform with a 17-inch color monitor atop a keyboard pull-out and c.p.u. tower cabinet (in our studio, the computers are all Power Macintosh G4's but the furniture will also accommodate Windows machines). Surge-suppressed electrical outlets and network jacks are located inside the c.p.u. tower cabinets (so that almost no computer wiring is exposed), and additional electrical "convenience" outlets are installed in the back of each workstation.

At the front of the studio, the instructor's workstation is a 3'-6" high (necessitating task stools rather than chairs) by 3'-6" deep by 30'-0" wide counter atop locking storage cabinets and 30 locking, single- and double-height 30- by 42-inch flat file drawers. A stainless steel sink is built into one end of the counter and an instructor's computer (G4 and Windows c.p.u.'s with color monitors, tabloid-size color scanner, slide/film scanner, Compact Flash and SmartMedia card readers, etc.) is installed slightly off-center to avoid blocking the projection screen. In addition to its traditional functions, the
large counter can be used as a "stage" for a model for life drawing exercises. The instructor's workstation also includes 35mm Carousel slide projectors and remote controls for a ceiling-mounted video projector. A separate castered cart (which can be used at the instructor's or any student workstation) contains an S-VHS video deck with 25-inch color monitor, a Layla digital audio interface, and cassette, DAT, and mini-disc decks.

The studio is lit entirely with ceiling-mounted track fixtures. The tracks are installed at a forward angle to evenly light each drafting board without throwing the artist's own shadow onto the board (eliminating the need for arc lamps). All of the track fixtures are tungsten halogen, with color temperature matched to the lighting instruments in our theatres. In addition to fixtures over each workstation, zoned fixtures light the three display/critique walls, and dimmer-controlled fixtures light models on the instructor's workstation "stage."

Adjacent to our design studio is a small (approximately 10'-0" by 12'-0") room which houses our file server (for the 25 computers in the studio as well as design faculty office workstations), a letter/legal laser printer, two Epson Photo tabloid color inkjet printers, an HP DesignJet 750C E-size color inkjet plotter, and the 100Mb ethernet hub. A second small room houses an E-size blue-line/black-line/sepia machine and supplies.

Acting Studio
		A 37' 4" by 37' 4" studio with a sprung floor (a dance floor set on cushioned legs which gives the floor a spring to it) to prevent injuries to actors taking movement and dance classes. The pipe grid in the ceiling is used for the teaching of stage lighting. Equipment includes: Strand CCR 600 30-dimmer lighting system with "miniLight Palette" memory control console, and an inventory of 17 lighting instruments, cable, color media, and accessories Twenty-five stacking chairs Wall-mounted chalkboard and projection screen Wall-mounted mirrors and track-mounted black velour draperies

Dalton Center

The Dalton Center is home to the College of Fine Arts, the School of Music, and the Department of Dance. The School of Music provides a number of rehearsal rooms open to students at their convenience. The Department of Dance also holds studios of various sizes for dance rehearsals and classes. Also in the Dalton Center is the Music and Dance Library, which holds numerous scores and scripts. The Multi-Media Room at the Dalton Center provides another performance facility for the College of Fine Arts.

Costume Shop

A 28' by 42' costume construction shop with adjacent laundry and storage rooms. We have many of our own costumes and we also build, rent and borrow. Staff includes the University Costume Designer, a shop supervisor, student assistants and work study students. Equipment includes:

Irons: Naomoto Vacumeiron table, Naomoto HY5-58 P, Naomoto HY5-5, Naomoto HY5-510.
Sewing Machines: 10 Bernina 1008, 4 Bernina 1006, 1 Bernina 1031, 1 Bernina 950 Industrial.
Sergers: 2 Bernina 203 - 3 thread, 1 Bernina 234 - 4 thread, 1Phaff - 5 thread, 1 Bernina Fun Lock 006D - 4 thread.
Other: 1 Bernina Baby lock Blind Hemmer4 wolf dress forms, 7 superior forms and 2 soft forms.
4 wolf dress forms, 7 superior forms and 2 soft forms.
3 large cutting tables.
Maytag automatic washer and 2 dryers.
Steam jacketed dye vat.

Scene Shop

A 38' by 90' scenery construction and paint shop where all production scenery is built (connected to all three theatres). Well-equipped with woodworking and metal working power tools. Also, painting equipment and assorted small equipment and hand tools stored in the paint and tool rooms. The upper office is for the University Theatre Technical Director who, along with a shop foreman, student assistants and work study, staff the shop. Equipment includes:

Wood working power tools
- 10" Delta radial arm saw for Dado
- 10" Delta table saw with 52" side feed table
- 14" band saw
- 36" lathe with duplicator
- DeWalt 12" compound miter slide saw
- 6" belt 12" disc finish machine
- 15" drill press with 1" chuck
- 5 DeWalt cordless drills
- DeWalt biscuit joiner
- Metalworking power tools include
- Millermatic 185 MIG welder
- Hobart "Handler 120" MIG welder
- Lincoln "Lincwelder AC250K" arc welder
- Miller "Thunderbolt" AC/DC arc welder
- Miller "Spectrum 300" plasma cutter
- Oxy acetylene rig
- Milwaukee heavy duty portable band saw
- 9" horizontal band saw
- Rockwell 6" bench grinder
- DeWalt 3 1/2" mini grinder

Makeup and Dressing Rooms
	There are makeup rooms in the basement level of both Shaw and the Multiform Theatre. These spaces are used for productions as well as makeup classes. Dressing rooms are also located there, and showers and lockers are available in Shaw.

Green Rooms
	Adjacent to the dressing rooms for the Multi-Form Theatre, this area has speakers wired to an intercom system so that actors can hear dialogue on stage as well as communication from the stage manager. The Shaw/Arena Green Room is a multi-purpose room that is used as a classroom, study area, lobby for Arena shows, warm-up and waiting area for Shaw productions, and meeting room.

Arts Management Offices
	The Arts Management Suite is located off the lower front lobby and contains a computerized ticket office for all three theatres, the office of the Director of Audience Services, and an adjacent office for arts management assistants.

Theatre Library / Conference Room

Located off the lower front lobby, the shelves in the library/conference room hold several hundred books on theatre history, script analysis, and general theatre books as well as scripts and the Theatre's video library. These are available for students to check out. On display are various historical theatre models and masks created by Dr. Vern Stillwell, Professor Emeritus of Theatre. The room is primarily used as a meeting space and seminar classroom. Staff and production meetings are held here.