Barbizon Lighting NY was the integrator and supplier for the theatre, working with Milford, Ohio's Beck Studios, which was responsible for the venue's rigging. The Miller Theatre is the latest addition to the Miller Performing Arts Centre, which features the C.D. Smith III Flexible Theatre, a black-box space; The Rod Brown Acting Studio; dance and instrumental music rehearsal halls; a scene shop; and faculty offices.
The new proscenium theatre is a multifunctional venue designed to host larger theatre, dance and music performances. Both the Performing Arts Centre, which opened in 1995, and the new theatre are the gifts of Dr. Marlin Miller, class of 1954 and former chair and current member of the Board of Trustees. The 498-seat Miller Theatre has a stage measuring 3,000sq.ft with a three-section lift at the front of the stage; the area above the stage is 49.5ft high with a series of computer-controlled battens attached to the building's I-beams. Moveable concert shells can be used to change the shape of the space.
The theatre "is a bit of a challenging space since it has to meet different needs, all of which have different lighting requirements," says Zachary Hamm, technical director for the Division of Performing Arts. "We love the Topaze followspots. They are very quiet and don't get as hot as others I've used. Their ease of movement is great, and they work well in a tripod system.
Robert Juliat's Topaze followspots supplement the theatre's inventory of conventional and moving fixtures, an ETC Ion board and 200 dimmers.
(Jim Evans)
