February 2011

Courtesy of Architectural Record

Performance theatres are fascinating to me. From ancient Greece’s simplistic open-air configurations to Baroque-inspired, elaborately embellished structures to clean-lined contemporary facilities, the idea of a space for storytelling that encourages it to become art is ageless and culturally important.

A Dallas theatre, completed in late 2009 has revolutionized the way theatres look and function. The most innovative theatre to date, the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre is a 12-level building that features a "stacked," vertically organized construction with ancillary facilities above- and below-house. Designed by REX/OMA (Joshua Prince-Ramus and Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rem Koolhaas) the building’s mechanized "superfly" system can pull up both scenery and seating, accommodating a complete reconfiguration of the space. The adaptable edifice allows the Wyly Theatre to host a wide range of performances from classic shows to experimental musical and dance productions.

The theatre also boasts an acoustic glass facade which allows directors to incorporate the Dallas skyline and streetscape into productions. The façade panels can open up to permit performers and theatre-goers to enter onto the stage or into the auditorium directly from outside, bypassing the lobby entirely. This is truly a modern masterpiece, and perhaps even the future of performance structures.

Courtesy of Rogue Machine Theatre

But it’s not just the architecture of a theatre that is so interesting to me: it’s the idea of storytelling, whether that’s two actors bantering in front of a small audience or a grand performance of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Theatre is a timeless way for our society to communicate and delve deeper into the creative realm through spoken word and theory.

I enjoy the beauty of theatre so much that recently I became a board member of a new Los Angeles theatre company, Rogue Machine. Established in 2008, Rogue Machine seeks to be a theatre of ideas and imagination, and intends to serve as a mirror to examine contemporary culture. Rogue Machine’s strength is that it produces and nurtures new, creative and provocative works that resonate with an audience after the curtain closes.

Courtesy of Architectural Record

Courtesy of Architectural Record

Despite operating on a low budget and taking some major risks with its material, Rogue Machine has captured the attention of, and been the recipient of immense praise, from the Los Angeles arts community. The theatre is currently looking for a new space in which to propel the arts and push societal boundaries; however it continues to deliver awe-inspiring and thought-provoking productions almost nightly. It is institutions like Rogue Machine that make the art world so diverse and progressive and that are so valuable to our community.

Please go to the Rogue Machine website for more information:

www.roguemachine.com