The Shakespeare Theatre Company in downtown Washington, DC, has added a second theatre to create the Sidney Harman Center for the Arts. The new 776-seat theatre, designed to address the Shakespeare Theatre’s expanded programming mission, makes possible a wide variety of staging configurations as well as presentation of dance and music events. The space is easily adapted for chamber music as well as live, amplified or recorded sound.

The theatre occupies the first five and a half floors of an 11-story office tower. A variety of stage configurations – proscenium, end-stage, and three-quarter thrust stage – give the Company a totally flexible space. Simple technically advanced stagecraft include: a retractable proscenium that can be stored in the fly space; a series of seating units on movable wagons for three-quarter or “in-the-round” viewing; and a series of movable acoustical wall panels, arranged in a semi-circle in front of the proscenium for chamber music or solo recital concerts. This new theatre joins the Shakespeare’s existing 451-seat Lansburgh Theatre to make up the enlarged Harman Center.

After five years in the new space, The Shakespeare Theatre Company won the 2012 Tony Award for Regional Theatre.

In October 2009, the Old Globe Theatre’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center opened the doors to its latest addition. The new Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, with 250 seats in the round, was designed by LMN Architects with FDA as a much-needed replacement for the Cassius Carter Centre Stage.

One of the most unusual and exciting features of the space is its intimacy, especially for an arena-style theatre. There is “no seat more than 12 feet from the stage,” says Lou Spisto, the Old Globe’s CEO and executive producer. FDA designed crisscrossing catwalks for swift and flexible changes to lighting positions, as well as a deep trap space, one of the missing pieces the staff and crew found most frustrating about the old space.

FDA worked with Mr. Spisto to study the theatre center’s campus and determine the best options for replacing the Carter Centre Stage. While the new space sits on the former Carter site, it greatly expands on the old building’s capabilities. There is now a 6,200 square-foot education center, event space, and an extraordinary amount of storage room. The new support spaces can be shared by the Main Stage via a walkway between the two buildings.

Reopened in February, 2009 after an 18-month renovation, Washington D.C.’s historic Ford’s Theatre now has comfortable new seats and brighter interior lighting systems.

The goal of the restoration by the National Parks Service, with architect Robert Pruitt of ADS in Falls Church, VA, and with FDA’s participation, was to preserve the intimate feel of the Civil War-era theater along with physical features such as the wallpapered box where Lincoln was seated. ADA accessibility was another key objective, and a new heating and air conditioning system was installed for audience comfort.

Paul Tetrault, Director, commented, “Forty years had passed since the last major restoration. The theater was looking haggard. We needed to upgrade the building systems and interior so we could attract first-class talent and present the best American work.”

FDA was instrumental in replacing the original wooden gridiron and rope rigging with a steel grid and motorized, computer-controlled rigging. As part of our design for a new stage lighting system, the top balcony now supports expanded and enhanced stage lighting positions and a new control and followspot booth. And finally, uncomfortable wooden chairs have been replaced with fully upholstered seats. These new seats are self-rising for easier access to the rows.