Facilities
Theater and Dance Building Exterior
Fox Dance Studio: Primarily created for movement and dance coursework, the Fox Dance Studio is also appropriate for public events, lectures, demonstrations, and small works in progress. It features a maple sprung floor, ample natural light, acoustic insulation with high quality audio and video systems, and a wall with specialized paint appropriate for video projection.
Berg Dance Studio: The 1,400-square-foot Berg Studio is designed for dance and theater movement classes. It has a sprung wood floor with a marley dance surface appropriate for ballet. The beautiful blue drapery allows students to work with or without mirrors.
Mainstage Black Box Theater: The 3,600-square-foot theater is a flexible performance space. The space features a tension wire grid, state-of-the-art lighting, audio, and video systems, and automated rigging systems. Its flexibility makes it possible for theater productions to be presented in any configuration: proscenium, thrust, in-the-round, and other creative arrangements. The theater serves as a hub not only for faculty-directed dance and theater productions, but also for guest artists and student-originated work. As such, it is more than a place for artistic showings; it is also a classroom where students can explore new performing arts trends and experiment with new works before presenting them to the Macalester and Twin Cities communities.
Mainstage Black Box Theater
Theater Tension Wire Grid: Hanging above the theater space, the tension wire grid is where students learn how to hang, adjust, and wire lighting equipment. Fully walkable and accessible by stairs or elevator, the grid is designed with safety and learning in mind.
Make-up Studio: The make-up studio provides a private, well-lit place for performers to get ready before each show.
James A. Williams Theater: The James Williams Theater is a black box space equipped for dance and theater performances, classes, and rehearsals. It features flexible seating, a lighting grid, and sound and projection systems.
Costume Shop: The costume shop has large windows that provide ample natural light, custom cabinetry for costume materials, and all the necessary equipment to create costumes in a safe and healthy work environment.
Design Studio: The design studio is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that includes a lighting grid for small class projects and 12 computer stations for audio and video design and CAD drafting. There are also multiple printers and scanners, including a 3D printer, as well as drafting tables and flexible work stations for 2D and 3D design development.
Scene Shop: The 3,000-square-foot scene shop allows students to build scenic elements that can be transferred to the theater for productions. Welding curtains allow the safe division of metal and wood work. Adjacent paint and tool rooms support the work done in the larger fabrication area.
Upstairs Hallway: The upstairs hallway hosts brand-new classrooms equipped with white board walls, projectors, natural lighting, and adjustable seating. Booths line the walls where students can collaborate or work solo between classes.
Stairway to Upstairs: The stairway provides easy access to all three sections of the theater wing in one place. An elevator, which can carry both people and heavy scenery, is located just down the hall.
The Macalester Theater and Dance Department is proud to inhabit a brand new building, opened in January 2019.
Each space—whether studio, shop, or classroom—is designed for flexible, creative learning, and will prepare future performance artists to enter a constantly evolving creative field. The building contains three studio spaces, a theater with flexible seating and state-of-the art technology, and a costume shop, scene shop, and design studio outfitted with exciting new tools for the technologies of performance.
This new Theater and Dance Building also completes the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, which houses Macalester’s three arts departments: Theater and Dance, Art and Art History, and Music.
Due to its frequent use by students, staff, and faculty, the Theater is not available for rental at this time.