Communication Studies and Theatre Arts Center (CSTAC) located on the south end of Longwood University’s campus, next to the Bedford building.
The Main Stage Theatre, home to Longwood University Theatre productions is a fully flexible 110 seat Black Box Theatre.
The flexible space allows for stage and audience configurations to change based on the needs of the production.
The Main Stage has three levels:
The stage floor
A mezzanine level
A fully stocked catwalk with lighting equipment
Students get hands-on experience utilizing lighting, sound, and projections equipment.
There is also a dimmer room with over 130 ETC Sensor+ 2.4kw dimmers.
The Main Stage Catwalk, where the magic of theatrical lighting happens, includes lighting and gel storage, a dedicated electrics area, and the lighting control area.
Students learn both the art and craft of theatrical lighting design and technology using both an ETC Ion lighting console and GrandMA2 Ultra-light console, a variety of lighting instruments including:
The catwalk also has a number of NEC and short-throw projectors, and an ImageCue, in addition to the Hippotizer Boreal for use with projections design.
There is a large makeup area and two dressing rooms, complete with lockers and showers.
The Fitzhugh Samuel Lab Theatre is a fully functioning classroom and lab theatre space for student productions.
In addition to the teaching station, projector, and screen, the Lab has
The equipment in the Lab allows for student productions, classes, directing scenes, and acting scenes to have lighting and sound elements integrated into them.
On the back wall of the Lab is a 12ft x 13ft landscape drop, painted in the style of Bob Ross by Longwood University Theatre alumna, Mary Jo Corely in her Advanced Scene Painting Independent Study class.
The scene shop is the place where much of the magic happens.
At 2000 sq ft, the Scene Shop has a large collection of tools, a dedicated and fully stocked Paint Shop with all Rosco Off-Broadway and SuperSat scenic paints, a dedicated Props Shop, and 2 Ender-3 3D Printers and 2 Longer Orange 30 SLA 3D Resin Printers for use on productions and in class.
Longwood University Theatre also has 2200 sq ft of props and furniture storage in the university’s warehouse.
Our Costume facilities boast a separate Costume Shop and Craft room, each equipped with top of the line Bernina sewing machines and sergers, as well as a dye room which includes a full-sized industrial dye vat. The Makeup room is used for both classes and shows, and for the construction and maintenance of prosthetics, wigs, and hand-tied or ventilated facial hair including use of the professional-grade wig dryer cabinet. There are three costume storage rooms for hats and bags, shoes, and general costume stock which includes a fully-automated and barcoded system for our more than 5000 items.
The Design/ Drafting Studio is a working studio space for Theatre Design & Technology students. The space has a number of drafting tables, each with a 42" Alvin Para-Liner Parallel Straightedge, an iMac connected to a Makerbot Replicator (Fifth Generation) 3D Printer, and a functioning light lab using an ETC Express 48/96 console for teaching and design projects.
The Theatre Library/ Conference Room boasts a variety of theatre texts and plays for student research and projects. T
he Theatre Library, with an amazing view of Brock Commons is also used as a seminar classroom, and for production meetings.
On the second floor of CSTAC is a computer lab with iMac computers and the professional software students will use both academically and professionally – Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere), Vectorworks, Davinci Resolve 16, Sketchup, Audacity, and more.
The rehearsal studio, set up for acting and movement classes and rehearsals has a sprung marley dance floor.
Longwood University Theatre stages large scale plays and musicals every other year in Jarman Auditorium on the north end of campus. Jarman Auditorium is an 1100 seat proscenium theatre with a motorized fly system, Yamaha sound mixer, ETC Ion lighting console, PixelFLEX LED Video Wall, and a large inventory of lighting, sound, and video equipment.
Longwood University Theatre students get the experience of working in both the flexible Main Stage Black Box and Jarman Auditorium, the large proscenium space during their course of study.
Jarman Auditorium is also the performance venue for Choir Concerts, the Longwood Company of Dancers shows, Children’s Theatre, and other events.
2 chorus-styled dressing rooms, as well as 2 diva-styled dressing rooms with adjoining restrooms and showers, are available on the lower level, as well as a green room located on the stage level.
New sound and lighting systems will provide needs for almost any event. Stage dimensions of approximately 40’x30’, plus a variety of staging platforms, a floating Harlequin dance floor, and Wenger Forte acoustical shell.