Western theaters need makeovers
Sarah Zavala
Issue date: 10/21/09 Section: Opinion
At one point in most college students' lives, seeing a show put on by the theater department, whether required for class or for the simple love of theater, attending a play is more common than not.
Western Illinois currently has five places to perform: the Simpkins Theater, Hainline Theater, Horrabin Theater, Sandburg Theater in the Union and College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC). With five places to perform on campus and the largest capacity being COFAC, holding 498, this limits the theater department in more ways than one.
"Time of My Life," was one of the more recent shows put on by the theater department. The show was performed in Horrabin Theater, with a capacity of about 160 people.
The theater department usually saves extra tickets for those who choose to take the chance and buy the ticket the night of the show, which is what I did.
"Time of My Life" opened on Wednesday, Sept. 30. I took my chances and attempted to buy my ticket at the door. I was able to get two tickets before the show was sold out of extra seats.
Walking into the Horrabin Theater I asked the usher where my seat was, she pointed to the last row of folding chairs. Finding the last two opened seats I rushed over and went to sit down before they were taken.
Once I got close to the actual seats, I realized why they were the only two left. The two seats were directly behind the last row of actual seats. When using the word directly, I literally mean just that. There was no room to put your legs down.
As I sat there watching the room fill up, I looked for possible openings around the theater but just my luck every seat in the entire theater was occupied. Sitting cross-legged through the entire show, I thought about how the theater department desperately needs a new facility.
President Goldfarb received much criticism for putting his efforts into a new Performing Arts Center. Since Goldfarb is also a theater professor and has a strong passion for the arts, many assumed he was giving more attention to the theater department than to other parts of the university.
However, this is not the case.The fact is that the theater department needs a new facility. Goldfarb should not be criticized but complimented for helping out a program in need.
According to the Western Illinois University Web site, "A new Performing Arts Center will include a 1,400-seat proscenium theater auditorium with two balconies, a 250-seat thrust stage and a 150-seat studio theater." This new facility would bring in larger audiences, generate more capital and allow the theater department to explore more ways of putting on a show. Being confined to a small workspace affects the way a show can be put on.
Sitting through an entire show the way I did made me realize that space is a greater issue than most people think, and the new Performing Arts Center is a much-needed asset to our university.
Western Illinois currently has five places to perform: the Simpkins Theater, Hainline Theater, Horrabin Theater, Sandburg Theater in the Union and College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC). With five places to perform on campus and the largest capacity being COFAC, holding 498, this limits the theater department in more ways than one.
"Time of My Life," was one of the more recent shows put on by the theater department. The show was performed in Horrabin Theater, with a capacity of about 160 people.
The theater department usually saves extra tickets for those who choose to take the chance and buy the ticket the night of the show, which is what I did.
"Time of My Life" opened on Wednesday, Sept. 30. I took my chances and attempted to buy my ticket at the door. I was able to get two tickets before the show was sold out of extra seats.
Walking into the Horrabin Theater I asked the usher where my seat was, she pointed to the last row of folding chairs. Finding the last two opened seats I rushed over and went to sit down before they were taken.
Once I got close to the actual seats, I realized why they were the only two left. The two seats were directly behind the last row of actual seats. When using the word directly, I literally mean just that. There was no room to put your legs down.
As I sat there watching the room fill up, I looked for possible openings around the theater but just my luck every seat in the entire theater was occupied. Sitting cross-legged through the entire show, I thought about how the theater department desperately needs a new facility.
President Goldfarb received much criticism for putting his efforts into a new Performing Arts Center. Since Goldfarb is also a theater professor and has a strong passion for the arts, many assumed he was giving more attention to the theater department than to other parts of the university.
However, this is not the case.The fact is that the theater department needs a new facility. Goldfarb should not be criticized but complimented for helping out a program in need.
According to the Western Illinois University Web site, "A new Performing Arts Center will include a 1,400-seat proscenium theater auditorium with two balconies, a 250-seat thrust stage and a 150-seat studio theater." This new facility would bring in larger audiences, generate more capital and allow the theater department to explore more ways of putting on a show. Being confined to a small workspace affects the way a show can be put on.
Sitting through an entire show the way I did made me realize that space is a greater issue than most people think, and the new Performing Arts Center is a much-needed asset to our university.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Theatre Fan
posted 10/22/09 @ 11:27 AM CST
The Horrabin Hall theatre is actually a wonderful venue. With seating on three sides of the stage, the audience is very close.
But the seating capacity is limited there. (Continued…)
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