Equipment and Facilities

Each of our current performance space offers different challenges and rewards. Our students benefit from exposure to the unique properties of each space. In August 1998, the university broke ground for a new, 19 million dollar Fine Arts Facility. Phase one of the new Fine Arts facility, the art wing, opened for students use in the Fall of 2000. Located in the Ophelia Parrish building, it contains classrooms and facilities for fiber arts, pottery, studio arts and graphic arts. The music and theatre sections opened in the summer of 2002. Music students enjoy a larger recital hall, separated rehearsal spaces for band and chorus and several practice rooms with pianos.

The new theatre area includes a state-of-the art courtyard theater, which was recently named the James G. Severns, allowing the stage and seating to be moved in and out of the area, thrust or proscenium style settings. Located directly behind the theatre is the new scene shop, allowing for easy movement of large set pieces directly onto the main stage. A blackbox theater is located on the second floor, and is fully equipped with a lighting grid and booth. The costume shop is located above the theatre, next to the faculty offices and a large elevator, which allows for the easy transport of costumes to the basement where the dressing rooms, makeup areas and green room are located. The basement contains a prop storage for the departments costume collection. The acting studio is also located in the basement, serving as a classroom and additional rehearsal space. Several shared classrooms contain computerized projectors and overheads.