Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 10/26/2008

Question
My little community theater group is remodeling a building that was filled with offices into a black box style theater. There is a loft area that we can't agree on , keep part of it (it would need to be cut back)for lights and sound, or tear it down and build a new light and sound booth. The building is 4O' wide. We would have to put in a steel beam or build a wall to support the loft. There are pictures of the building on our web site www.pendoreilleplayers.org just click on blog. We are using all volunteer help and I personally feel we need to tear out the loft because we have no volunteer with  experience in this sort of project. This is a tiny project compared to your work, the building is 114 by 40, but this is a poverty level community and we are very excited about having our own theater building.

Answer
Hi Donna, I went to your website and looked at your photos.  It was kind of hard to envision the volume of the building.  I am going to venture a guess though that the loft needs to come completely out.  You can suspend your lighting from Pipe rigging and you need the height over the stage area.  Building a small sound booth at ground level is much easier than trying to suspend a loft with a 40 foot beam unless there is some reason you need the loft.  I don't know how high the building is but the more open space you have above the stage the better.  I admire the community theater attitude and wish I could be there to help you all out.  But since we are at opposite ends of the country the best I can do is give minimal advice.  I have built several (5) performing arts venues over the years so I do have quite a bit of experience in this area.  So please feel free to write again if I can help you further.  Sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com..ps