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Maedgen Theatre Update 3/27/07
It has been a while since my last update regarding the Maedgen but I wanted to wait until
there was more certainty regarding future plans. Since those seem to be more definite I
will take this opportunity to bring you all out there up to speed.
Since my last posting the administrative offices, most TA/GPTIs, and all faculty and
staff are back in the Maedgen or the annex in one space or another. The box office is
up and running, although you have to go outside and around the building to get to the
main offices, but that’s better than across campus. The costume shop has moved over in
to the Greenroom from the Boston Ave. Playhouse; thanks go out to Jim Bush, Jay Brown,
and Lubbock Community Theatre for their help with a temporary shop. The scene shop
remains in the basement of the Architecture building and will until we move back into
the theatre. All the phone numbers and extensions remain the same as well. We deeply
appreciate the hospitality offered to us from our temporary landlords in the College
of Visual and Performing Arts and most especially Kay Dowdy who continues to help us
find a place for our classes and meetings.
We are within one production of finishing our spring season; a major feat I think given
our situation and plans continue for summer rep (although we yet to have a home for the
Lubbock productions).
Unless there is a major problem we are unaware of, President Whitmore has ok’d 1-million
dollars to repair the Maedgen and get it back up and running by the fall. This will not
address our lack of shop and classroom space but will help us fix some long-standing
problems with the theatre, especially the stage. The highlights of the plan are as
follows:
- Replace all stage rigging.
- Replace the Mainstage dimming system.
- Repair and/or replace damaged lighting and sound equipment, and peripherals.
- Replace all Mainstage drapes and the destroyed scrims.
- Repair the stage floor and replace the existing stage traps.
- Replace all sewing machines and other equipment destroyed in the basement.
- Replace all prop equipment destroyed in the basement.
- Replace the dance floor.
- New carpet in the Lab and Mainstage Theatre.
- New seats in the Lab Theatre.
- Smoke/odor removal throughout the building including the Mainstage seats.
- Upgrade electrical power as needed.
Things we wanted to do but do not have the funding for as of yet:
- Motorize ALL line sets on the Mainstage.
- Rebuild and lower the orchestra pit and motorize the pit.
- Integrated dust collection and ventilation system.
- ADA upgrades.
- Addition of a costume/prop shop.
- Expansion of the scene shop.
- Addition of dance studios, rehearsal and performance spaces, classrooms, and offices to the theatre annex.
The Board of Regents must approve the 1-mill in their meeting on Friday, 3/30/07 and
assuming that goes smoothly, we plan to start the bid process in mid-April with
construction beginning in mid-May and be back performing in the Maedgen by the fall.
It would make sense that we would motorize the rigging (an additional $360,000) or
motorize the pit (an additional $175,000) while this other work is being done but if the
funds cannot be found then they will have to wait.
Thank you all for your continued support and as plans progress I will keep you informed.
Fred
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Maedgen Theatre Update 2/2/07
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As you are aware by now the Mainstage of the Maedgen Theatre sustained major
damage early in the morning on January 17, 2007.
Since then all the faculty, staff, and teaching assistants have been relocated in the
Administration building. The classes that were located in the Maedgen have been
relocated and the department’s spring productions have found alternative venues
(some with different dates).
We are grateful to our fellow artists in Lubbock for their generosity with their
most precious resource, their space and the time in that space.
The question you are all asking is what now?
Here is what I know-
In a meeting on Friday January 26, 2007 a meeting was called to discuss the scope
of the project and the timetable for renovations. Any renovations discussed or
proposed have to do with the current structure and not the much needed additional
space the department requires to meet minimum standards as set forth by the National
Association of Schools of Theatre.
The following is a list of items identified in the meeting that must be repaired and/or
replaced, as well as upgrades to current systems to make for a safer working environment
for the students, staff, and faculty and the proposed timeline for any renovations-
MUST REPAIR/REPLACE ITEMS:
Structural Analysis of Building Components/Structure
Smoke/Odor Removal
Replace all Rigging, Blocks, Cables
Replace Dimming System
Repair/Replace Fixtures and Wiring
Replace Burned Curtains
Commercially Clean Remaining Curtains
Replace Stage Floor
Structural Repair
Evaluate Electrical Power Req’ts & Upgrade as Necessary
Repair/Replace Audio Equipment/System
Repair/Replace Damaged Lighting Controls/System
Replace Carpet
Replace Sewing Machines/Fabric/Props/Equip
Replace HVAC Insulation
Replace Dance Floors
DESIRED UPGRADE ITEMS
Motorized Rigging System
Motorized Orchestra Pit
Ventilation/Dust Removal in Set Shop
Seating in Lab Theater
Carpet in Lab Theater
ADA Upgrades
Upgrade Audio System
ANTICIPATED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE
| Smoke Removal and Area Clean Up |
4 weeks |
| Cost Estimates Complete |
March 5, 2007 |
| Construction Complete |
Sept. 1, 2007 |
I will say, it was reassuring that all in the meeting were in agreement that the worst
thing we could do is to try to place a Band Aid on this problem, but rather do it right
the first time.
There are many people for me to thank; of course the faculty and staff of the department
who went above and beyond their job descriptions and most of all our students who have
proven once again that students in the Department of Theatre and Dance are tough,
resourceful, and hard working.
In addition the following folks deserve our special thanks:
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At this time the Fire Marshall’s report is not in, but it appears that faulty wiring in the
up stage left corner of the theatre is the likely culprit. Below are a few pictures from
that night of the damage. (Click on the image to enlarge.)
New IFR Stage Drapes
Melted instead of burned
Electricians Work Area U/S/L
Suspected source of the fire
Ladder to Fly Loft
The steel deck above kept the fire from spreading vertical worse than it did
Our New Indoor Pool a.k.a. The Basement
At one point the water was up to the 3rd step; in this picture just to the first step
The original wooden doors on to the stage saved the fire from spreading to the Greenroom and beyond
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Staff of The College of Visual and Performing Arts
Communications and Marketing
Department of Psychology
Facilities Planning and Construction
Office of the Provost
Jim Brink
William Marcy
Tom Anderes
School of Art
Tina Fuentes
School of Music
Bill Ballenger
Gerald Dolter
Eric Fried
Women’s Studies Program
Kay Dowdy
Martha Hise
Janessa Leisy
Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts
Lubbock Community Theatre
Student Union/Allen Theatre
Kevin Ten Eyck
Roy Harline and Texas Scenic Company
TTU Physical Plant
Don Williams, Laurie Doyle and Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Fire Department
I will keep you updated as more information becomes available on this site.
You might be asking what you can do to help; good question. For now stay informed,
come see shows, and be sure to let everyone out there know we are alive and well and
producing.
Fred Christoffel,
Chair & Director of Theatre
Department of Theatre and Dance
Texas Tech University
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