WIP : Muppet Theatre

[Mercuralis]

Not insane. It's an ambitious project, and very, very cool. Have you thought about using something like Google Sketchup to actually build and render the theater when you're done?

As to thoughts regarding your floorplan and layouts... from what I remember it looks pretty close to right. The only things that seem missing are the parts of the theater we never really got to see. The fly system (somewhere off in the wing area on at least one side of the stage), a lighting booth, somewhere for the spotlights, and various workshop or storage areas (a set shop, costume shop and storage, etc.) Perhaps that large unlabeled area you've got blocked off on house right? Restrooms are generally closer to the lobby, in older theaters sometimes tucked under the stairs. Then there are usually at least a couple of offices, usually upstairs or near the ticket booth, for the theater manager. During muppet occupation I could see those easily being turned into anything from chicken coops to Gonzo's explosive storage area.

Is your commissary the equivilant of the usual Green Room?

[DaleKaleD]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I definitely have to go back in and add in details, there are things that are just missing, but I wanted to get something together to work from. Eventually I do intend to play with taking it into 3d, whether Google SketchUp is the right path, or another more complex package. My modeling skills are decent, but I am leaning more to the gross arctechture of it, and having some of my friends who are better than me at moddeling having a go at some of the detail work.

The Commissary is the cafeteria area, with what seems like it's own server and when he isn't on stage, the Swedish Chef in the kitchen. I have already adjusted that however, as I continued to watch episodes and saw a few with it in use. It is actually downstairs, so I have pulled it down, and adjusted around it. I think I will add in a few more corridors/tunnels under the theatre with some more rooms, for set design workings.

The directly under the stage area, was where I had thought most of the set storage would be, and from onscreen evidence allot of the props and odds & ends are held in the prop room & also in the "attic" which I have put off to stage right. which is also where the rigging would be, but I was more concerned with rough geometry rather then all that detail work.

There really doesn't seem to be any real front of house "Theatre Manager" at this place, if its an example of the chaos of the Muppet's or just something else I am not sure. Kermit is pretty much in charge, and is the one to deal with the property owner, and yet he is pretty much always backstage, with a desk/tabletop that he seems at home at. So I will maby add an extra office that isnt being used.

The rest rooms I will shift slightly I think, but as they are they are pretty close to front of house, they are right down the hall from the consesions and adjacent to a side entry of the theatre, so that feels right, but I do need to do something else to break them off from back of house, the need to be able to be accessed, but not quite as directly.

[Mercuralis]

Set storage and workshops for sets are usually on the same level as the stage (also true if there is a back alley loading dock) for the simple reason that trying to manuever lots of wood or set pieces up and down stairs is hard work. If there were a ramp of some sort, it could be on the lower level. The direct understage area is usually used for trap doors (which I can definitely see the Muppets needing), which often have small stairs or lifts to achieve different effects. There might be a waiting area down there for characters waiting to appear using trapdoors, or who've just finished their exits. Maybe a downstairs restroom as well. Muppets might use the lower level for the monsters dressing rooms or GreenRoom, too. Props and costumes could be stored down there, too... but in my experience most theaters stick costumes in upper level storage rooms above the stage, but not to hard to access from the dressing rooms.) If you look at the back of the theater, behind the house seats, it looks like there might be a lighting booth of some sort behind the theater. Lighting booths need places to store additional lamps and equipment, as well as gels, lenses, bulbs, etc.

(I used to work in theatre--assistant technical director, set construction, etc.--, so I'm pulling from that).

[DaleKaleD]

Sigh, as the guy who used to sit in the light booth, and either run that or the sound equipment, I know feel incredibly stupid for forgetting that basic aspect.

Time to go back and see what can be tweaked, though I must say I am loving all the suggestions, It's one of those things, that I start sketching and get a little tunnel vision, so the more thoughts that come in, the better the eventual product.

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