Black Box Theater

draft 5/31/01, updated 7/16/01
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Problem : Conventional proscenium theaters do not engage the audience and create the intimacy possible in alternative theater configurations.

Discussion : Drama has occurred in a variety of playing configurations for millenia. However, it is difficult for an organization to afford and support a large complex of theaters of fixed configurations. This had led in the late twentieth century to theaters designed for presentation to audiences in a variety of flexible configurations.

Solution : Provide a flexible theater space in which the playing area, the seating, the lighting, and so forth can quickly and easily be changed to different configurations for seating, playing area, entrances, and exits. To be fully effective, cross-over space must be provided to allow actors to make entrances and exits from any corner of the space without being perceived by the audience when not within the theater volume.

Arena	Thrust	End wall

Three configurations of a black- box theater (based on Theater Design, G. Izenour, 1977)

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