It’s that time of year, time to make the wish lists for what you want to get. When you’re a kid, it’s usually toys, games, and the like. Nothing too practical. When you get older, you start thinking about practical gifts; things that you need to make your life easier, items for your job, etc. Recently, Stage Directions reached out to a range of theatrical Technical Directors and Production Managers working at universities, regional theaters, road houses, and festivals about what theatrical tools and products were on their wish lists for the upcoming season as well as what was on their capital expenditures (CapEx) wish list for their theater spaces. Here is an overview of some of the responses we got. We here at Stage Directions in PLSN would like to hear from you. What are some theatrical products, tools, or CapEx items that you would like to get for your own theaters?
Robert Salm, Technical Director and Freelance Production Manager
As a TD at a HBCU [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] we face the normal challenges of every theater company with not enough money to go around but after being here I have noticed that it is more difficult since we have to be a self-income producing department. My plans to purchase within the next year are just some basic shop supplies. I submitted a supplies budget and was only given 1/5th of what was requested. That includes basic shop tools such as drills and drivers. When I started I was given the task of creating a list of tools that I thought the shop needed and that total was well over $10,000. A capital expense that I would like to see the theater buy for the position of TD in the next few years is a SawStop table saw.
Brian Smallwood, Production Manager,
School of Theatre & Dance, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
My big space asks are: Wireless Clear-Com; Capstan winch; Creative Connors turntable, new sound board—Yamaha M7, ETC Source Four Series 3 LED system, Cat 7 infrastructure overhaul, and fall arrest system and rescue kit for the loading rail and various spots across the set. As a TD, I’m hoping for a CS-275EU circular manual cold saw machine from Baileigh Industrial. A Piranha CNC 4×8 Plasma cutting table to easily cut intricate shapes. I also would really like a Nicopress® battery-powered 5606 compression & swaging tools for use with Nicopress sleeves and dies, with 1/8” and 1/4” dies. The compact size permits use in confined areas where traditional compression tools cannot be used. I’d also like a 1-ton Dillon dynamometer. Lastly, I’d like the Ron StageMaster™ 6000 G4 Wireless Shackle Pin Load Cell kit, from Eilon Engineering. It offers real-time load monitoring and overload detection in a compact installation.
Brian S. Newman, Production Manager and Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA
Here are my wish list items, but we’ll be unlikely to purchase them due to budget constraints this year. Laser projectors—I like that they are lampless and have a MUCH quieter noise presence which really helps in smaller venues. We’re specifically looking at the Panasonic PT-RZ line. If we do acquire some of those projectors, we will want to acquire a couple of lenses for them as well. We are also looking at LED color changing PARs. Currently, we do not have a specific brand/model in mind, but as PAR64 lamps are becoming harder to find, the need to shift to a reliable and up-to-date piece of equipment is becoming more pressing.
What are some capital expenditures that you would like to make to your theater in the next few years?
I’d like to upgrade our dimmer rack. We have old [Strand] CD-80 racks that are located backstage. I’d also like to move them to another part of the venue for noise reasons. I would like to start cycling out our old chain motors just because they are fairly old. I’d also like to have some data patch bays installed in the theater to expedite projector set ups, etc.
Becky Caspersen, Production Manager, Opera Memphis, Memphis, TN
This is continuing to be a year of transition, and as Opera Memphis does not have it’s own theater, but instead mounts productions at five different indoor and outdoor venues in Memphis as well as standalone performances in numerous non-traditional spaces such as parks, universities, and even in the the yards and homes of our sponsors; we have to be super organized as we are always on the go. So I like things that keep us organized, and are on wheels. Last season, just prior to the shut down, I purchased two of the Pro Desk case units from OSP Cases as stage manger workstations. Since then, one has been appropriated by lighting as a lighting workstation, so I intend to purchase an additional two to three of these in the next few months, for stage management, audio and video. They are multifunctional because: you can connect them to make larger workstations; you can choose a sitting desk or a standing counter, and there is no need to lug around tables anymore, not to mention storing all the small items that are so easily lost in a bigger road case. We save so much time and resources by having these units fully stocked and ready to roll on a moments notice.
Another Item I have a lot of love for, and will be purchasing at least one more of this season, is our all terrain Multi-Cart from Rock-N-Roller® Multi-Cart®. We currently have two, which we’ve named Pat Benecart and Cart Garfunkle. These fold up really small for storing and transport, weigh between 32 and 37 lbs. and they also have accessories like a shelf that turns the cart into a workstation. Which has been a game changer for our smaller outdoor events. I currently have two of the R16RT models, but I’m looking at the slightly beefier R18RT for our spring educational tour. This item, which I JUST bought, is for communication for our outdoor and non traditional venue gigs. Lugging our old Clear-Com system around isn’t always a viable option. The Hub from Eartec just arrived this week and I haven’t even opened the box yet, but having used these at another facility in town I thought it was perfect for our outdoor/non-traditional communication needs. 8 headsets, batteries, base, and chargers in a bag smaller than an attaché case and costs less than $2,000. Its maiden voyage will be very soon.
Amy M. Smith, Director of Production,
Fox Theatre, Atlanta GA
In terms of some theatrical equipment that we’re considering getting in the next year includes some items at the operations level. These include: hand lines and lift lines for the rails; we need to update some of our production radios; and a new supply of stage brooms. For lighting, we need to get standard replacement parts and lamps. We just increased our house hard hat inventory as well as we bought new radio harnesses for the riggers.
What are some capital expenditures that you would like to make to your theater in the next few years?
In Fiscal Year 2022 ending June 30, 2022 we are doing the following: hydraulic loading dock replacement. These are specific to our venue because our docks use lifts and the current system is 20-years+ old and hydraulics are failing and lifts are warping. We need a new design of motors, safeties, and controls for our original 1929 orchestra pit lift. Drawings are being developed to be bid out for electrical for installation in a future year. As noted, the system is original; we are not having issues but an upgrade is needed. We also need to address wireless mic replacements; mics, hardware, wireless receivers, and the install of a new system as our mics are no longer software-supported and need to be upgraded. In the following years we need to: Replace our ETC Ion lighting console; it’s old and not supported any longer. We want to invest in some LED striplights and units; we only have a conventional package and we need more diversity. We are going to replace our dimmer racks, which are old and need to be updated; replace our video patch bay system, which is very old and needs to be updated. It could fail at any minute. We are looking to purchase a cable pick truss and motors for stage left, which would be handy. We did some restorations and our CEO would like them lit, so we are looking to install some architectural lighting in the auditorium and lobbies.
Richard Girtain, Production Manager, Utah Shakespeare Festival
We have taken the opportunity afforded by Covid delays and shutdowns to try and evaluate our systems for where they are in their lifespan. We categorized items as “in need of replacement” (failed), “in maintenance” (greater than two-years of expected life-span), “requiring repair or upgrade”, and desires for new systems not yet a part of our overall operations. No matter where an item is in its lifespan we are trying to identify its total cost of ownership. Not just the cost to buy or fix it now, but what the long-term costs of any given systems or equipment. It’s a sobering experience to know that, as soon as you get a new system, you better be thinking of how and when you will need to replace it.
Here is a list of some of the systems we are working toward immediate replacement or are new to us. They range anywhere from single pieces of equipment to large scale systems. Upgrading our outdoor venue sound system to support musicals; Replace fall-arrest systems; Replace and upgrade counterweight rigging systems; Replace aging communication systems like backstage communications and two-way radios; Replace and upgrade automated lighting equipment; Repair and replace many large tools such as band saws, serger sewing machines, and table saws; Upgrade our storage; Replace vehicles; Add additional stage automation systems; Add additional projection equipment and upgrade support systems; and Upgrade desktop computer systems. Beyond acquiring the equipment, evaluating if we are staffed to maintain them is essential. That may be the greater challenge. Fortunately, our administration is supportive of capital replacement, adequate staffing for system maintenance, and long term capital funding. For sustainable success, we need all three.
Michael Broh, Production Manager, American Players Theatre, Spring Green, WI
In addition to replacing some aging items for our shops, we plan to purchase a 3D printer for our Prop Shop, which is a reaction to a trend we have been seeing for several years, where we have seen increasing need to job-out certain projects we will now be able to do in house. We’re also going to purchase a digital wireless intercom for our outdoor stage. Our outdoor stage provides many challenges due to great distances between coms, which has been exacerbated by some repercussions from updated HVAC systems (due to Covid). The digital system allows us more antenna locations to address these challenges. We are also continuing to grow our inventory of color changing lights as we look toward retiring an aging collection of scrollers.
What are some capital expenditures that you would like to make to your theater in the next few years?
Our biggest capital expenditure coming up is the construction of two apartment buildings, to address a growing company mixed with shrinking housing inventory in our small town. Beyond that, our capital purchases are focused on a planned replacement schedule.
