Theater and Performing Arts


Belmont Abbey College Selects Architect for New Performing Arts Center

Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., recently announced the selection of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting (Little) to serve as the project architect for its new Visual and Performing Arts Center, according to a news release. The 1,000-seat theater will serve the college and local community as a home for theater, visual arts, performing arts, art exhibitions, and other cultural and educational events.

New Jersey High School Debuts Auditorium Renovation, Technical Upgrades

Plainfield High School in Plainfield, N.J., recently completed a series of construction projects including an auditorium renovation, a new eSports gaming arena, and a black-box theater, according to a news release. The school partnered with PureTek Group to install the Pliant Technologies CrewCom professional wireless intercom system.

Wenger Corporation Publishes Theater Rigging Guide

Wenger Corporation, which provides solutions for performing arts and music education spaces, recently launched a free educational resource guide, “Rigging Guide for Performance Spaces.” The 32-page e-book is available on the company website and provides a background in the technical knowledge required to help administrators and educators make decisions in the planning process.

Harvard University Breaks Ground on New Performance Venue

Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction has begun on a new performing arts center for the campus, according to a news release. The David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance will serve as the new home for the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), as well as a wide variety of performances, public gatherings, teaching opportunities, and international research.

California Private High School Completes New Community Performing Arts Center

Sonoma Academy—a private, co-ed college preparatory school in Santa Rosa, Calif.—recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 350-seat Community Performing Arts Center, according to a news release. The facility will play home to the school’s music, theater, and film productions and host various types of programming for the community at large.

Harvard University Breaks Ground on New Performance Center

Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently broke ground on a new performance center that will play home to the American Repertory Theater, according to a news release. The university is partnering with architect and design lead Haworth Tompkins, architect of record ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, and construction manager Shawmut Design and Construction for the David E. and Stacy L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance.

Hogg Memorial Auditorium

Hogg Memorial Auditorium

Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Hogg Memorial Auditorium at the University of Texas at Austin has been recognized with an EDS 2024 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

N.C. Community College Installs New Security Screening Solution

Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C., recently announced a partnership with security technology company Evolv Technology to install a new weapons detection system on campus, according to a news release. The college’s performing arts venue, Wilson Center, now makes use of the Evolv Express system at its main entrance to screen guests entering the building.

Colburn School in Los Angeles Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

The Colburn School in Los Angeles, Calif., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a 100,000-square-foot expansion designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, according to a news release. The Colburn School is a music and dance education and performance institute that offers services to people of all ages, from 7-month-olds to adults.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi to Build New Arts and Media Building

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) recently announced that construction will soon begin on a new Arts and Media Building, according to university news. The facility will stand two stories, cover 85,000 square feet, and was designed by BGK Architects and Bora Architects.

Designing for Theatrical and Performing Arts Curriculum in Schools

Getting a student out from behind a desk; having them work with others in a self-directed way; allowing them to explore and express themselves and make things; having them learn skills that can be applied in life and in possible career paths—those are goals behind today’s push to change how students learn, to get them to want to come to school every day. Education in the theatrical and performing arts promises much of these.

Novara LED Fixture

Wenger Launches LED Light Fixture

Music and theater education solutions company Wenger Corporation recently announced the launch of the Novara LED light fixture, according to a news release.

Clemson University to Renovate Auditorium

Local news reports that the Board of Trustees at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., recently approved renovations to Tillman Hall Auditorium which will begin later this year.

Allan Hancock College Fine Arts Complex

Allan Hancock College Debuts Completed Fine Arts Complex

Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif., recently opened its new Fine Arts Complex to the campus community, according to a news release.

Pomfret School Adds Metinteractive AV Technology into Auditorium Renovations

Pomfret School, a college preparatory boarding and day school that serves students in grades 9–12 in Pomfret, Conn., recently completed renovations to one of its two auditoriums on campus, according to a news release.

NYU to Open New Academic Center in Greenwich Village

New York University in New York City is getting ready to open its newest academic building, the John A. Paulson Center.

California College Breaks Ground on Creative Arts Facility

College of the Redwoods, a community college in Eureka, Calif., recently broke ground on a new creative arts building. The new facility will measure in at 29,888 square feet and will replace the former creative arts building, which was built in 1974.

University of Manitoba Begins Concert Hall Construction

The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, recently announced that construction has begun on a new performance venue. The 409-seat theater is scheduled to open its doors to the public by fall 2023.

Ohio University Plans $8M Theatre Renovation

Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, announced this week that it is planning an $8-million theatre renovation project.

College of Charleston to Update Arts Center

The College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., has announced a renovation project for its Albert Simons Center for the Arts. The facility originally opened in 1979 for about 800 students. Today, it serves about 4,000, according to a press release, and officials are moving forward with plans to update its classrooms, performances spaces, technology and infrastructure.

Loyola Academy Center for the Performing Arts

Chicago Private School Breaks Ground on $25.7M Performing Arts Center

Loyola Academy, a private Jesuit college preparatory school in Wilmette, Ill., recently broke ground on a brand-new, 29,000-square-foot performing arts center. The Loyola Academy Center for the Performing Arts comes with a $25.76-million price tag and will feature flexible indoor and outdoor performance spaces.

Perkins&Will Melissa High School

Texas High School Debuts Arts Program Expansion

Melissa High School in Melissa, Texas, recently completed a 65,000-square-foot expansion in conjunction with the Perkins&Will Dallas studio. The new space includes a new practice gymnasium, an extension of the student union, a new performance theater, and an addition to the fine arts program.

High School Breaks Ground on New Academic Building for $66.8M Construction Project

School and public officials celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony this week on a new academic building for Clinton High School in Clinton, Iowa. The groundbreaking marks the start of a campus overhaul that will occur in phases, and the full scope of the $66.8-million project is scheduled to be complete by fall 2025.

Missouri State University Breaks Ground on Amphitheater, Arts Park

Missouri State University broke ground recently on a new, $6.4-million amphitheater and arts park. The open-air John Goodman Amphitheatre, named after the St. Louis alum and famous comedian, will feature a permanent stage and 350 removeable seats.

NY School Sees AV Equipment Overhaul

An upstate New York public school recently saw a major upgrade to its AV capabilities through a partnership with Ashly Audio and Advance Sound Company. Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School of the Pine Plains Central School District in Pine Plains, N.Y., updated its suite of audio amplification and control solutions to serve not just the school’s students and faculty, but the wider community.

NJ County Prep High School Recording Equipment

NJ High School Adds New Recording Studio to Learning Spaces

A career and technical high school in New Jersey has added new professional recording gear to one of its teaching spaces. County Prep High School, part of Hudson County Schools of Technology, added hardware from Solid State Logic (SSL), a UK-based company that manufactures analog and digital audio consoles for music and audio production. Students in the music and audio technology program learn how to write their own songs and produce their own music.

Michigan Regional Theater to Renovate Historic School Building

The Encore Theatre Company, a nonprofit theater group in Dexter, Mich., is raising money to renovate its new performance space—a historic school building downtown.

The university reported that stage lighting will resemble that of a café. Photo by David Kadlubowski, GCU News Bureau

Grand Canyon U Students Help Build COVID-safe Outdoor Theatre

Faculty, staff and students at Grand Canyon University's College of Fine Arts and Production have constructed an outdoor theatre for use this play season, which addresses COVID-19 restrictions while still allowing students (and their audiences) to enjoy live productions.

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