project: Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

space: Montgomery Arts Theatre

owner: Dallas Independent School District

location: Dallas, Texas

architect: Allied Works Architecture | Booziotis & Company Architects

Overview

As the final phase of the DISD's Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts project, the Montgomery Arts Theatre was constructed on the west side of the school campus. This performance venue, next door to the renowned Winspear Opera House, is a 450 seat proscenium style theatre designed to accommodate drama, dance, orchestra, recitals, and musicals. This intimate modern theatre boasts the latest in stage and performance technologies.

Lobby

The lobby of the Montgomery Arts Theatre has entrances that share the same street as the Opera House - providing it very high visibility to the surrounding Dallas Arts District. The lobby was designed to accommodate not only a gathering place for patrons, but for pre-show performances as well. A sound system was provided in the lobby for various events such as public addresses and small musical presentations.

Auditorium

In following the open feeling the architects provided for the academic building spaces, this theatre is designed with catwalks and stage technologies open and visible to the audience. A series of technical platforms and catwalks line each side of the audience as well as catwalks overhead. These open catalks allow the various stage technologies to be visible to the audience, adding to the overall theatrical experience. A generous proscenium opening of 50' feet in width and 25' in height is provided to accommodate many larger format performances and to maximize volume for orchestra.

Stage Lighting

The latest in performance technologies was provided for this arts magnet school. The relatively new IGBT style dimming by Philips Entertainment/Entertainment Technologies was provided. A combination of IGBT rack dimming and distributed dimming is used providing nearly 400 dimmed circuits to the theatre. An ethernet cable plant distributes DMX-512 to all of the dimming products as well as to various ethernet DMX nodes and other connection locations for use with portable theatrical DMX devices. A main lighting console is located within the Lighting Control Booth and various architectural style wall panels are located around the theatre and backstage for control of houselights and smaller events. Lighting positions in the theatre include eight stage floorpockets, four over-stage lighting electrics, a proscenium beam located just downstage of the proscenium wall, four side lighting ladders, and a double-hung front of house catwalk beam. The double hung catwalk allows for lights to be mounted above and below the dimmer strip, essentially doubling the number of lights that can be used - or to have two shows lighted simultaneously. The open catwalks also allow for the mounting of lights anywhere on the overhead or side catwalks for specials.

Sound System

The sound system within the theatre is comprised of a Renkus-Heinz left, center, right cluster configuration with the center cluster directly above the proscenium opening providing coverage to the entire audience while the far left and far right loudspeakers, located just to the sides of the proscenium opening, for stereo effects and stage/performer imaging. The self-powered loudspeakers are easily accessible from the catwalks and receive their processing from the control booth and from the main sound system rack located above the sound booth on the next level. The sound system is provided well over 100 inputs around the theatre as well as monitor foldback, line level, and tieline connections. The connections provided on wall plates, large technical panels, and floorpockets. The theatre is also provided an extensive tie-line system that provides audio ties to other performance spaces, studios, and at a broadcast truck dock for future televised events. A large format, 40-channel mixing console and various processing equipment is provided within the Sound Control Booth. A technical intercom and paging system is provided for communication between technical areas, backstage areas, and performer dressing rooms.

Rigging System

In keeping with the desire to provide these specialized students with the latest in performance technologies, a fully automated stage rigging system was provided for all stagehouse rigging functions. A total of 27 J.R. Clancy PowerLift Stage Rigging Hoists were provided with space and infrastructure for the installation of 5 additional future hoists. The hoists serve a number of linesets including draperies, lighting electrics, orchestra shell, and utility battens for scenery. All utlity battens and some drapery linesets are variable speed to allow for various effects and cue times. Fixed speed hoists serving the electrics and orchestra shell are controlled via wall-mounted push-button control station while the remainder of the linesets are controlled via fully programmable, computer based, automation control station. The rigging system provides the latest in stage rigging innovation for the students and provides significant safety enhancements over the "old" style counterweight systems.

Orchestra Lift

As with most Arts schools, the performance hall is heavily used - and for a myriad of types of performances. In response to quick-turn around time between shows, an orchestra lift was provided. The chain-link lift by Serapid smoothly and quietly raises and lowers the orchestra lift portion of the stage, downstage of the proscenium, from stage level, to orchestra level, to storage level, and anywhere in between. Aside from accommodating orchestras, the lift also serves as a substantial equipment elevator allowing the school to raise and lower pianos, music stands, chairs, etc., between the stage and under-stage storage.

Orchestra Shell

As the Theatre also hosts the school's music program performances, such as orchestra and band, a proper orchestra shell was provided in order to couple the upstage performance area with the audience acoustically. A full Wenger Diva Orchestra Shell, complete with ceiling reflectors and tower walls, was provided allowing for approximately 1,400 sq. ft. of performance space upstage of the proscenium wall - or approximately 2,100 sq. ft. in total stage performance space - for musical presentations. The shell consists of 3 overhead ceiling reflectors and 8 rolling wall towers. The shell is finished in a durable maple laminate to match the surrounding wood grains used within the theatre and has a series of stage lights mounted within the ceiling for appropriate performance lighting.