Short Term (1998-2000):

Facilities requested/required

·     BLACK BOX THEATER - TWO CHOICES

I.  OFF CAMPUS LOCATION

The description and requirements for a Black Box Theater that follow are drawn from the facilities plan submitted in 1994.

A “Black Box Theater” is an unadorned, flexible performance space that has no fixed seating and no fixed stage area. A variety of staging types are possible including thrust and in-the-round.  The term “black box” comes from the fact that most of these small performing spaces are painted basic flat black.  Seating is very limited, usually no more than 100 to 110 seats.  They are used for a variety of small performances that don’t require full-sized theaters including student productions, laboratory productions, acting and technical workshops, classes, etc.

The concept of a black box theater in a shopping center is not new.  There are several in the greater Los Angeles area that serve the outlying communities or colleges.  All of these black boxes are housed in buildings that were modified to provide the kind of central performing space needed for a black box theater.

For a typical black box theater, the following would be required:

·     Square footage:  Approximately 1,600 square feet would be needed for the actual performing space including the audience area.  It needn’t be perfectly square (40’ x 40’), but close to it.  Additionally, some 300 square feet of storage, backstage, and auxiliary space would be needed, bringing the total to 1,900 to 2,000 square feet.

·     Electrical requirements:  For a small to moderate sized lighting system, a dedicated 200 amp power source would be needed.  In addition, a separate source of 100 amps for sound, outlets, and work lights would be required.

·     Height requirements:  A clear floor-to-overhead height of 12 to 14 feet would be ideal.  A clearance of 10 feet would be absolutely minimum.

·     Parking:  Parking for 40 to 60 vehicles would be needed assuming an audience of approximately 100 and a cast and crew of approximately 12.  Since virtually all performances would take place in the evenings and around weekends, adequate parking lot lighting would be a necessity.

A “black box” theater is a performance/laboratory/classroom space that is used on a daily basis throughout the year.  It can be an attractive addition to any shopping center in that it can bring an average of 85 to 100 people a week into the center.  During performances, the average would be much higher.  Additionally, arrangements could be made with a center restaurant to offer “dinner theater” in conjunction with performance.  There are many possibilities available with neighboring merchants.

There are many additional uses of the black box theater besides the Theater Department’s utilization.  The space could be used by the various community theater groups for their productions.  With the installation of appropriate equipment, it could also be the origination point for distance delivery of academic courses, teleconferencing and marketing.  It also places the College out into the community to make our mission and presence more visible.

In summary, a “black box theater” located in a store front of a local shopping center offers considerable advantages to the college, the shopping center, the community, and to the students.

II.  ON CAMPUS FACILITY

A facility built on campus could be designed to meet a variety of needs and allow creative use of a variety of departments on campus.

In addition to the basic features in choice one, the following cross departmental functions could be served:

·     Drafting lab: set design and conventional drafting

·     Lighting lab: lighting design and facility for photography for special projects and video production

·     Costume lab: costume courses and development of a facility to rent costumes to outside groups

·     Scene shop with facilities not available in the present stagecraft area such as paint pit

Long Term (2001-2005+):

Facilities requested/required

·     See short term.