The Theatre Building

Built in 1935 and renovated/expanded in 1984, the Theatre Building houses three theatres, acting and design studios, classrooms, computer facilities, dressing rooms, offices, and shops. Its beautiful glass lobby opens onto the west bank Iowa River and offers students a place to talk, eat, meet, and rehearse.

Mabie Theatre
David Thayer Theatre
Alan MacVey Theatre

Cosmo Catalano Acting Studio
Acting Classrooms

Design Lab
Light Lab
Sound Studio
ABW 360 Sound and Media Classroom

Scene/Paint/Prop Shop
Costume Shop

Theatre Building Facilities Rentals
Frequently Requested Links & Files

Equipment

Since 2016, the Department of Theatre Arts has invested over $250,000 in a multitude of professional grade video production equipment (cameras, lighting, sound, grip, etc.), professional video projection equipment (projectors, screens, media servers), laptops with professional software installed, motion capture equipment (Kinect sensors, portable motion capture suits/systems, etc.), virtual and augmented reality equipment, and other supplemental professional equipment that is available to students for check-out for class projects and experiments, independent project rehearsals, developmental research, and production. This equipment is available for set-up both in classes, lab spaces, and other sites, and also in our theaters.

E. C. Mabie Theatre

Mabie Theatre, the largest venue serving Theatre Arts, was built in the early 1930’s as a state of the art Broadway house. In the early years, many plays premiered here before transferring to New York. Since then, this traditional proscenium theatre has been regularly updated with new lighting, sound, and fly systems to showcase the more innovative mainstage productions. With continental seating, no orchestra pit, and substantial depth, it is at once spacious and intimate.

Theatre Specifications
457 seat proscenium theatre (23’x40’ proscenium) with a full fly house with 48 line sets
Computerized lighting system with 312 ETC Sensor dimmers
Control: ETC EOS or GrandMA2 or ETC Congo
(330) conventional ETC Source 4 Fixtures
(30) ETC Lustr2 Fixtures
(10) ETC ColorSource PAR
(12) Robe DL75 LED Profile (Shared with DPA)
(16) Robe Spider LED Wash (Shared with DPA)
(4) Vari-Lite VL3500Q Spot Fixtures
(8) Color Kinetics ColorBlaze TRX
(2) Color Kinetics ColorBlaze 72
Permanent/flexible sound system with full digital playback (Yamaha M7CL and QLab)
Fully computerized projection system (Coolux Pandoras Box and Dataton Watchout)
(2) EIKI 7000 lumen projectors
28’w x 16’h 30mm  LED Wall
Full inventory of soft goods: blacks, scrims. Cycs and both a full stage white, black, and grey rear projection screen

Sound Inventory
(1) Yamaha M7CL 32 Channel Digital Console
(1) Lab Gruppen C10:4 Amplifier 4 x 250w @ 8Ω  (All dedicated to HF Mains)
(2) Lab Gruppen C88:4 Amplifier 4 x 1250w @ 8Ω  (Three are dedicated to LF Mains)
(4) JBL SRX 715 dedicated main speaker array
(1) EV SX300 dedicated center fill speaker
(1) EV SB2A Powered Subwoofer
(2) JBL SRX 712 monitors
(4) Galaxy Hotspots
(2) JBL LSR 4326P Powered Booth Monitors
(1) iMac with QLab 3 software
(1) MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid Audio Interface
(25) Sennheiser Series 300 and 100 wireless mics
E. C. Mabie Theatre has 5 discrete 1250w amp-speaker options in addition to house mains.

Drawings
Mabie Theatre GP & Section
Mabie Theatre (vwx in zip)

David Thayer Theatre

Thayer Theatre is a venue that is only limited by an artistic team’s collective imagination. It is a vast, flexible theatre with a 36-foot high ceiling, and adjustable seating banks for 144-172. The theatre can accommodate a variety of seating configurations, and catwalks on two levels offer artists the chance to explore every inch of height in this amazing space.

Theatre Specifications
60’x60’ Black Box theatre with catwalks and a tension wire grid at 36’
144-172 seats using flexible seating banks
Computerized lighting system with 384 ETC Sensor dimmers
(260) conventional ETC Source 4 Fixtures
(30) ETC Lustr2 Fixtures
(2) Vari-Lite VL3000Q Spot Fixtures
(3) Vari-Lite VL3000Q Wash Fixtures
(5) Vari-Lite VL2500 Spot Fixtures
(2) Martin MAC700 Profile Fixtures
Control: ETC EOS or GrandMA2 or ETC ION
Flexible sound system with full digital playback (Yamaha M7CL and QLab)
Fully computerized projection system (Coolux Pandoras Box and Dataton Watchout)
(1) Panasonic 6000 lumen projectors

Sound Inventory
(1) Yamaha M7CL 32 Channel Digital Console
(2) Lab Gruppen C88:4 Amplifier 4 x 1250w @ 8Ω
(4) JBL SRX 715 portable speakers with rigging hardware
(4) EV SX300 portable speakers with rigging hardware
(1) EV SB2A Powered Subwoofer
(2) JBL LSR 4326P Powered Booth Monitors
(1) iMac with QLab 3 software
(1) MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid Audio Interface
David Thayer Theatre has 8 discrete 1250w amp-speaker options

Ground Plans & Drawings
David Thayer Theatre (vwx in zip)
Typical Seating Configurations

Alan MacVey Theatre

Nearly every week, the Alan MacVey Theatre (formerly Theatre B) serves as home to student-driven productions with an emphasis on new play development. The venue features fixed seating for 138, a 24” high stage, movable black curtains, a full stage projection screen, and a standard light plot. This space facilitates the needs of inventive production teams and serves as a lab for experimentation.

Theatre Specifications
138 seat end stage theatre (38’x20’x2’ stage area) with catwalks at 17’
Computerized lighting system with 192 ETC Sensor dimmers    
Control: ETC ION
(96) conventional ETC Source 4 Fixtures
(10) ETC ColorSource PAR
(5) Color Kinetics ColorBlaze TRX
(4) Chauvet ColoRado 2 Fixtures
Flexible sound system with QLab playback
Fully computerized projection system (Dataton Watchout)
(2) Sanyo 4000 lumen projectors

Sound Inventory
(1) Allen+Heath ML4000 32 Channel Analog Console
(1) Yamaha SPX2000 Processor
(2) Lab Gruppen C88:4 Amplifier 4 x 1250w @ 8Ω
(4) JBL SRX 715 portable speakers with rigging hardware
(2) JBL LSR 4326P Powered Booth Monitors
(1) iMac with QLab 3 software
(1) MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid Audio Interface
Theatre B has 8 discrete 1250w amp-speaker options

Ground Plans & Drawings
Alan MacVey Theatre
Alan MacVey Theatre (vwx in zip)
Rep Lighting Plot
Rep Plot Magic Sheet
Lighting Inventory

Cosmo Catalano Acting Studio

The Cosmo Catalano Acting Studio is a large, beautiful space used for acting, movement and voice classes. It also serves as an intimate theatre for readings.

Specifications
New sprung floor
Mirrors and bars
Overhead grid with permanent lighting instruments
Observers’ platform

Acting Classrooms

Five large spaces, including the Catalano Studio, are used for acting classes. One has a sprung floor, two are carpeted, and two have carpeted walls. All have rehearsal furniture to use for scenes.

Design Lab

650 sq. ft. classroom space with 12 drafting tables
12 computer workstations with a variety of drafting and image editing software
Large format plotters, laser printer, and scanners

Lighting Lab

600 sq. ft. studio space with 14’0” grid
Computerized lighting system with 24 dimmers and 25 S4 fixtures
Control: ETC ION
(2) Robe T1 LED  fixtures
(2) Vari-Lite VL2500 fixtures
(2) Martin MAC Aura LED Fixtures
(1) High End Studio Spot CMY fixtures
(5) ETC Lustr2 LED Fixtures
(4) Color Kinetics ColorBlaze 72
(3) Chauvet ColoRado 2
Full complement of conventional ETC fixtures

ABW 360 Sound and Media Classroom

(18) iMac computer workstations with Focusrite Clarett sound interface
Full complement of digital media software including ProTools, QLab 4, Isadora, and Adobe CC

Costume Shop

The Costume Shop is a 5000 sq. ft area (storage and workroom)  housed at the Old Museum of Art, adjacent to the Theatre Building. The workroom has available home and industrial sewing machines, a blind hemmer, sergers, steamers, industrial irons, plus assorted crafting and wig tools. Laundry and dyeing facilities as well as open shelves for shoes and pipe storage for hanging stock are also on site. 

Specifications
5000 sq. ft. shop
Industrial sewing machines, blind hemmers, sergers, steamers, industrial irons, assorted craft tools
Laundry and dyeing facilities
Large inventory of contemporary and period costumes

Scene Shop

The Scene Shop includes areas for painting, props construction, welding, and carpentry. Small props are stored onsite while large props are stored offsite.

Specifications
4800 sq. ft shop housed within the theatre building
Four primary areas—metal shop (500 sq. ft.), woodworking area (2000 sq. ft.), props area (1000 sq. ft.), and painting area with paint frame (1500 sq. ft.)
Selection of stock scenic elements (platforms, flats, stair units).
Selection of properties (hand props, furniture, fine furniture, soft goods)
Logic control
CNC Router with autoamtic tool change
Computer controlled turntable

Theatre Building Facilities Rentals

When we are not hosting our own productions, we may rent our facilities to outside parties for weddings, receptions, and other events.

Our lobby is one of the loveliest locations in Iowa City. Fully carpeted, with glass walls that open onto the Iowa River, it is the perfect location for wedding receptions, dinners, and celebrations.

For more information about renting our lobby and to obtain a quote, contact:

Katie McClellen
319-335-0078

Frequently Requested Links & Files

Request a Room
Gallery Guidelines
Gallery, Workshop, Reading Applications
Checkout Guidelines for Properties
Checkout Guidelines for Electrics