Bloomington, IA
In 1978 the Illinois Shakespeare Festival presented its first season in a temporary wooden structure with folding chairs on risers. More than 20 years later, the size of the audience, as well as the size and quality of the productions had increased so much that the festival needed a new home. The theater department envisioned an open-air theater whose appearance complimented the appearance of the adjacent 75-year-old Ewing Manor, yet had the working environment of a modern theater.
Design elements from the windows of the French chateau-style mansion were used on the entrances and ashlar-patterned stone was selected to match the look of the manor. The new theater boasts an improved stage area, 436 seats on concrete tiers in a Roman-style semi-circular arena and improved sightlines for patrons. A catwalk that goes 360 degrees around the theater provides flexible lighting. Crawl spaces and tunnels enable the actors to enter through trap doors and to move throughout the theater without attracting the attention of the audience.
There is flexible seating that is accessible on different levels to persons with disabilities and a lift provides access to the lower levels. Public restrooms are available in the new theater. Backstage there are areas for a scene shop, lighting storage, laundry, dressing rooms and restrooms. There are also climate-controlled areas for costume storage, wig preparation and the actors' Green Room.
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tags: auditorium, theater