Backstage Pass: The Makeover
Summer renovations are now underway at Colonial Players! After much anticipation and a very successful fundraising event (we raised over $10,000! - THANK YOU EVERYONE!), demolition and construction have commenced backstage. Much work is planned for a very short timeframe this summer. Architect (and Colonial Players president) Terry Averill, helped us design a vastly improved backstage layout. The design and 3D views are included below in this article. For those interested in the plan for the summer, the construction schedule devised by our Project Manager, Robert Browning with Robert Browning Construction, is available online by clicking here.
At the start of the effort is demolition in which all walls, carpet, wiring, and plumbing in the backstage area are being removed by Irwin Raimond Building Contractor. New underground plumbing will be installed by Gene’s Plumbing to start off the construction phase. The plumbing will enable us to add powder rooms attached to both dressing rooms, as well as new sinks backstage and in the dressing rooms. During the initial demolition, the opening between the shop and E4 will be heightened by Norman R. Bell and Sons allowing for fewer head bumps and additional options for exiting from E4 during a production.
Following plumbing rough-in and masonry work, Irwin Raimond will be framing out the new dressing rooms, janitorial closet, and shop tool storage closet. Chuck Ledley with Electrical and Heating Services will follow by replacing the very aged subpanel near the kitchenette and then roughing in the new electrical backstage. Overhead lighting will be vastly improved during this renovation and included will be integrated “Prop Alley Reds” that will be controlled from backstage rather than from the Tech Booth. In the dressing rooms, we will be utilizing LED globe-style mirror lighting to eliminate the heat generating bulbs that are there now and provide a softer light. Additional receptacle capacity will also be added to the dressing stations to allow for all of our modern conveniences.
During the same time, D. O. Zindorff HVAC will be making modifications to the backstage HVAC ducting to allow for the addition of a drop ceiling to the dressing rooms and Prop Alley. Irwin Raymond will be back to install the drywall and suspended ceiling, followed by sprinkler system upgrades to be completed by Absolute Fire Protection. The new ceilings will serve several purposes including reducing the noise levels backstage, reducing dust spillover from the shop area, and improving the overall aesthetics of the dressing rooms and Prop Alley. The antiquated fire system controller will be replaced as part of this renovation to bring our fire monitoring system up to date. The renovated backstage will be painted by Theresa Boswell who will also be touching up paint in the areas of the lobby that are showing signs of wear and tear from the past two seasons. Carpeting in the dressing rooms and new tile floors in Prop Alley and all bathrooms will be installed by Ray Jordan. The tile floors backstage should, in addition to improving the overall appearance of Prop Alley, provide a more pleasant surface for those actors who find themselves running around barefoot!
New custom built dressing station cabinets built by Chuck Bedsworth will be installed and will support the new dressing station countertops. The dressing station cabinets will include several low drawers as well as overhead shelving for hats, shoes, and other items. This should allow for plenty of storage for personal items. In Prop Alley, a window will be opened into the Theatre so that Stage Managers can have a direct view of the stage for improved awareness of the action on stage and preparation for upcoming cues.
A new workbench, custom built by Dick Whaley and Company, will be installed where the existing sink is in the workshop, complete with overhead lighting. A new shop sink and smaller workbench will be installed where the current parts shelving exists in the shop. New shelving will be installed on the back wall of the shop allowing for improved parts storage and organization. The existing sink room in the shop will be converted to a locked tool closet to store our more expensive tools, as well as a rolling tool cabinet. Overall, Colonial Players is anticipating a very busy summer backstage. We are very excited to be finally completing this project after several years of talking about moving forward with it. Check out our Renovation Photos page regularly for updated pictures of the project’s progress!
