Orchestra
Shell
An orchestra
shell is part of the theatre's permanent
equipment.
The shell
is made out of 22 gauge sheet metal and
is completely motorized. The shell was designed
by George Izenour and has a total weight
of 26 tons.
In its set
position, the shell measures 64' D.S. and
50' U.S. in width. Depth is 39' from the
lip of stage to shell back wall. An additional
16' of stage depth can be added if the orchestra
pit lifts are at stage level. Height of
shell is 44'.
There are
4 doors located in the shell for access
onto stage. Two are on SR and two on SL.
The doors measure 5' wide by 7' high.
To move the
shell to its stored position: the two side
walls, at the upstage point swing off-stage
and the entire side wall is lifted up toward
the grid. Bottom clearance in its stored
position (that is, stage to bottom of shell
wall) is 41'. The side walls are stored
far enough off stage for all system pipes
to be flown in. The shell ceiling and rear
wall store against the rear wall of the
stage house (see Uihlein Stage side view.)
The shell
ceiling has its own permanently mounted
lighting fixtures. All are dimmable.
Also located
within the shell are four rows of axially
positioned acoustical baffles suspended
from the ceiling.
Orchestra
Pit
Two hydraulic
pit lifts are located in Uihlein Hall. approximate
size for Pit 1 (closest to stage) is 60'
X 9'-6". Pit 2 is 67' X 6' -10".
Each lift
can stop at any distance from stage level.
Distance from stage to orchestra pit level
is 8'-6".
An additional
8' of space under the lip of the stage is
available when the pits are in the down
orchestra pit location.
Pit 1 and
2 or just Pit 1 can be used in the orchestra
pit setting, but not Pit 2 alone. This is
due to Pit 1 having to be down for musician
access.
The pits
can be raised to the stage for additional
stage space, or in the lowered auditorium
setting 2 rows of seats may be added to
each pit.
Access to
the pit in the orchestra pit location is
through the Trap Room, located in the basement.
(Please see drawing marked "Orchestra
Pit".)
NOTE: There
is no direct access from the stage to the
house.
Organ
The Marcus
Center owns a pipe organ, built by the Aeolian
Skinner Organ Company.
The organ
is mounted on an elevator which is located
center of Uihlein Stage. When not in use,
the organ is stored in a specially constructed
pit. The pit is 28' deep, 42' long and 11'
wide.
When used,
traps are removed, and the elevator will
raise the organ to stage level within the
orchestra shell. The console can then be
placed anywhere on stage.
NOTE: The
organ must be used within the orchestra
shell.
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