DG 1110.3.120
DESIGN GUIDE: MUSIC AND DRAMA CENTERS
JANUARY 1981
C H A P T E R 3: ROOM CHARACTERISTICS
ROOM FORMS: PROBABLE CHOICES
F I G U R E 3-2.4
for varying types of activities, the Program Di-
This Guide will discuss three seating capacities
rector found that 500 works well for most legit-
as most likely choices for Army Music and Drama
imate drama, is too large for "serious" plays,
Programs. They have been chosen primarily be-
and too small for musicals which consistently
cause they work well with established music and
sell out.
theater design criteria. The capacities are ap-
proximate numbers which can give or take 100
a. 300 Seats:
seats.
For technical reasons 300-seats represents a
Facilities of existing installations do not neces-
small legitimate drama house for a modest,
local community audience. It offers economi-
sarily conform to these three groupings. Smaller
cal production, which in turn encourages ex-
houses of around 100 seats have been developed
as dinner theaters adjunct to a regular drama
ploration and frequent turnover for varied
experience and participation. Its concept is
program. Generally, dinner theaters require more
pre-professional or avocational involvement.
square footage per seat, plus considerable food
A smaller house lacks "critical mass" to appeal
service area. They are most successful when an
intimate relationship between audience and per-
to general audience interest and will find it
difficult to justify the cost of equipment needed
former is established by the arrangement of the
for a working plant.
Room.
b. 650 Seats:
Many existing 300-500 seat Army facilities are
Because it verges on the limit of optimum vi-
conversions of former 1000 seat movie houses.
sion conditions in a Frontal house, 650-seats
The 300 seat range appears most commonly at
represents a large legitimate theater. Of course,
small installations where space for support fa-
there are many larger commercial theaters.
cilities (Backstage and Front End) are at a
For music 650 corresponds to the smallest
premium.
music house likely to be built as a singular
facility. Smaller rooms are not ruled out, but
At an installation having a 500 seat facility used
they are technically limited to music forms,
3-8
Previous Page
