From Construction to Production: A Theatrical Take on Planning Your School Theatre Space

Sign Up for Updates

planning guide article

by Rylee Vogel

Coordinating a theater construction project is an exciting yet unfamiliar challenge for many theater educators. Fortunately, approaching it like a theatrical production can provide structure, clarity, and inspiration. Wenger Corporation’s comprehensive Performance Spaces Planning Guide walks you through this complex process with confidence.

Let’s explore how the construction process aligns with the phases of mounting a show, from concept to opening night, with particular focus on the essential role of rigging and technical infrastructure.

ACT I: THE CONCEPT PHASE (SCHEMATIC DESIGN)

Just like choosing a script, the first step in a theater construction project is defining your vision. What kind of story will your new space tell? Will it serve as a venue for musicals, plays, dance concerts, band performances, lectures, or a combination of all? Understanding your needs informs every decision that follows.

This corresponds to the Schematic Design (SD) phase in construction. Here, big-picture goals take shape:

  • What are the programming requirements?
  • Who will use the space, and how often?
  • What are your school’s technical capabilities and staffing realities?
  • Will your program grow with a new space? (Spoiler: It almost certainly will!)

Like assembling a production team, it’s time to bring together your core collaborators:

  • Architect – Your set designer and general visionary
  • Theatre Consultant – Your technical director who understands the unique requirements of performance spaces
  • Acoustician – Like your sound designer, ensuring the space supports great acoustics
  • Administrator – Your producer, keeping timelines, budgets, and educational goals in mind
  • General Contractor – Your master carpenter

Consider yourself the director: keeping everyone aligned to the creative and educational goals of the project.

Before rehearsals start, a theater director has already chosen the team, developed a concept, and worked through the show logistics. Similarly, in construction, the SD phase sets the tone and direction for your entire project.

ACT II: BLOCKING AND TECHNICAL DESIGN (DESIGN DEVELOPMENT)

Once you know what kind of production you’re mounting, you begin blocking and tech planning. In construction, this is the Design Development (DD) phase. It’s time to make big decisions about systems and infrastructure.

This phase is crucial for choosing the right rigging system — the backbone of any technical theater. Will your school need dead-hung pipes, manual counterweight systems, or motorized rigging? Each has advantages depending on your needs:

  • Dead-Hung Rigging – Fixed, non-movable. Affordable and simple but lacks flexibility. Best for small spaces with limited height.
  • Manual Counterweight Rigging – Traditional and cost-effective. Offers flexibility but requires trained operators and backstage space.
  • Counterweight-Assisted Rigging – A hybrid option with powered hoists for select line sets. A great choice for retrofits or programs easing into automation.
  • Motorized Rigging – High-tech, space-saving, and easy to operate. Ideal for schools without dedicated tech staff.

Download Wenger’s Rigging Planning Guide to explore these options in depth.

Also, during DD, consider design elements that dramatically affect performance:

Like finalizing set, lighting, and costume designs before rehearsals, this is when you commit to the elements that will shape your stage.

ACT III: REHEARSALS & BUILDING THE SET (CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS & ADMINISTRATION)

After planning comes building. This is your rehearsal and scene shop phase. Construction begins, based on the finalized Construction Documents (CD) and under the guidance of Construction Administration (CA).

Your technical systems — rigging, lighting, audio, curtains — are installed, tested, and integrated. Contractors work from the CD set just like a crew builds a set from a ground plan.

As the “director” of the project, you should:

  • Stay in communication with your project team
  • Attend construction meetings or site visits
  • Confirm that installed systems match specifications
  • Note any deviations or surprises early

Like a rehearsal process, flexibility helps. However, major changes in this phase are difficult and costly. That’s why the earlier design and planning phases are so critical.

ACT IV: TECH WEEK (INSPECTION, TESTING & TRAINING)

As in a theatrical production, tech week ensures everything works safely and smoothly before opening night.

After construction, systems must be tested and inspected. This includes:

  • Rigging systems – ANSI and local code compliance
  • Lighting circuits and controls
  • Audio equipment and networking
  • Fire curtains and safety egress

Every system should be thoroughly reviewed by professionals. Don’t skip this! Safety depends on rigorous inspection.

Training is also essential. Just as your student crew needs orientation on new equipment, your staff should receive professional instruction. Options include:

Set up a plan for future training, especially if your program experiences regular staff or student turnover.

ACT V: OPENING NIGHT AND THE LONG RUN (OCCUPANCY & OPERATION)

Once the curtain rises, the real work begins.

In the Occupancy phase, your space is operational. This is not the end of your involvement — it’s the start of a new chapter. Your role shifts from director to steward, maintaining the quality, safety, and educational value of your new theater.

Key ongoing responsibilities include:

  • Annual inspections of rigging and safety systems
  • Regular maintenance of equipment
  • Continued training for staff and students
  • Budget planning for upgrades or replacements over time

Plan for a long run. A well-maintained theater should serve generations of students. Make maintenance part of your program culture.

Celebrate your opening night, but remember great productions sustain their energy beyond the premiere. Your new space can do the same.

CURTAIN CALL: WHY USE THE PERFORMANCE SPACES PLANNING GUIDE?

Wenger’s Performance Spaces Planning Guide helps you play your role with confidence. It outlines each project phase, explains your responsibilities, and introduces the vocabulary and tools you’ll need.

For theater educators who feel like they’ve been cast in a new and unfamiliar production — project planner, facilities liaison, or technical advocate — this guide is your script. It helps you communicate effectively with architects and consultants and ensures that student learning and program needs are always center stage.

Here are just a few of the highlights from the Planning Guide:

  • Phase-by-phase breakdown of project timelines
  • Roles and responsibilities of project stakeholders
  • Infrastructure checklists
  • Tips for communicating with non-theater professionals
  • Considerations for accessibility, code compliance, and sustainability

FINAL BOW: YOU'VE GOT THIS

Creating a performance space is one of the most impactful legacies a theater educator can leave. The process is long, but it follows a rhythm familiar to anyone who’s ever staged a production: concept, design, rehearsal, tech, and performance.

You already know how to build something beautiful out of an empty space. With the right planning, team, and tools — including Wenger’s Performance Spaces Planning Guide — you can turn your dream theater into a reality.

Bravo on taking the stage for this once-in-a-career production. Now let the show begin!

Comments are closed.

More Posts