Rigging Guide
We are happy to share one of our best educational resources, the Rigging Guide for Performance Spaces. This free, comprehensive 32-page guide will help enhance the knowledge and skills of individuals involved in theatre rigging projects, from beginners to advanced professionals.
The guide is organized to cater to readers with varying levels of rigging experience, with information easily accessible:
- Introductory overview of the planning process for a new theatre, describing the typical project timeline and planning team members.
- Beginner section summarizing six common theatre types, typical line set breakouts and an overview of rigging’s uses.
- Advanced information outlines the four basic types of rigging – with comparison chart – and includes instructive photos and illustrations. Different hoist types are described, along with rigging control systems and safety guidelines, including fire safety curtains.
- Appendix includes a glossary of key terms with detailed illustrations and photos, along with recommended mounting dimensions.
“Our J.R. Clancy brand has been a pioneer in theatre rigging since 1885,” said Dave Thomas, President and CEO of Wenger Corporation. “Our Rigging Guide can assist design professionals and end users by providing foundational knowledge and a common vocabulary, enabling all team members to collaborate more effectively. With our extensive experience and dedication to advancing the industry, we are excited to offer this updated resource.”
View and download this rigging resource here: https://www.jrclancy.com/rigging-guide.php
Rigging Article in Protocol Magazine
In addition to the Rigging Guide, you can find more information in this helpful article by Wenger employee, Eric Huss. The article, “From Construction to Production: Coordinating Rigging in School Theatre Products” discusses the building or upgrading a theatre facility. These projects often involve multiple phases, planning, teamwork, and careful execution. Learn more in the article, here: protocol.esta.org/spring-2025/page-22
Other Design Resources
Along with this new Rigging Guide, Wenger | J.R. Clancy produces a number of other free educational resources for planning school music facilities, performance spaces and athletic storage facilities. On the topic of acoustics, Wenger also offers its Acoustics Primer for Music Spaces and Acoustics Problems and Solutions guides. To download any of these resources, please visit: https://www.wengercorp.com/specifications/index.php.
