Southeast Regional Community Theatre

Photos courtesy of Bruce T. Martin Photography

South Easton, MA
DRA Architects

The Southeast Regional Community Theatre at the Southeast Regional Vocational Technical High School is something rarely found in high schools - a thrust theatre that seats 250.

From the beginning of this project Studio T+L was actively engaged, first in the space planning and later in designing the theatre’s production systems. At the request of the faculty, Studio T+L designed a stage rigging system of single-purchase, manually operated counterweight rigging for scenery, drapery, and AV with electrically driven hoists to handle the much heavier loads of stage lighting. To provide plenty of stage lighting options on the thrust, an extensive pipe grid covers the entire house. Stage lighting power and data are generously distributed throughout the stage, overstage rigging, and throughout the lighting grid. Stage draperies include legs, borders, tabs, a cyclorama, and a house curtain.

Studio T+L completed the installation by creating a stage lighting repertory design. We guided the students and faculty through its installation, instructing them on the features and use of the lights and controller, so that they would both understand the lighting system and feel a sense of ownership and mastery of it.