Auditorium
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2016) |
Anauditoriumis a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances. Formovie theatres,the number of auditoria (or auditoriums) is expressed as the number ofscreens.Auditoria can be found in entertainment venues, community halls, and theaters, and may be used for rehearsal, presentation, performing arts productions, or as alearning space.
Etymology
[edit]The term is taken fromLatin(fromaudītōrium,fromaudītōrius( "pertaining to hearing" )); the concept is taken from the Greek auditorium, which had a series of semi-circular seating shelves in thetheatre,divided by broad 'belts', calleddiazomata,with eleven rows of seats between each.
Auditorium structure
[edit]The audience in a modern theatre are usually separated from the performers by theproscenium arch,although othertypes of stageare common.
The price charged for seats in each part of the auditorium (known in the industry as thehouse) usually varies according to the quality of the view of the stage. The seating areas can include some or all of the following:
- Stalls, orchestra or arena: the lower flat area, usually below or at the same level as the stage.
- Balconiesor galleries: one or more raised seating platforms towards the rear of the auditorium. In larger theatres, multiple levels are stacked vertically above or behind the stalls. The first level is usually called thedress circleorgrand circle.The highest platform, or upper circle is sometimes known as"the gods",especially in largeopera houses,where the seats can be very high and a long distance from the stage.
- Boxes:generally placed immediately to the front, side and above the level of the stage. They are often separate rooms with an open viewing area which generally seat only a handful of people. These seats are generally considered the most prestigious of the house. A state box or royal box is sometimes provided for dignitaries.
- Seating arrangement:Seating arrangements in an auditorium seating layout (or assembly space) will either be identified as "multiple-aisle" or "continental".[1]These terms are commonly found in design standards manuals, building codes, and similar architectural reference documents. Each size is unique, with specific guidelines governing row size, row spacing, and exit ways. Basically, a multiple-aisle arrangement will have a maximum of 14–16 chairs per row with access to an aisle-way at both ends. In a continental arrangement, all seats are located in a central section. Here the maximum quantity of chairs per row can greatly exceed the limits established in a multiple-aisle arrangement. In order to compensate for the greater length of rows allowed, building codes will require wider row spacing, wider aisles, and strategically located exit doors. Although it would seem like more space is called for, acontinental seatingplan is often not any less efficient than a multiple-aisle arrangement. In fact, if it is carefully planned, a continental arrangement can frequently accommodate more seating within the same space.
Similar structures at other venues
[edit]Sports venues such asstadiumsandracetracksalso have royal boxes or enclosures, for example at theAll England ClubandAscot Racecourse,where access is limited toroyal familiesor other distinguished personalities. In other countries, sports venues haveluxury boxes,where access is open to anyone who can afford tickets. Additionally, some sports venues were themselves called auditoria, such as the formerBuffalo Memorial Auditorium.
See also
[edit]- Auditorium Building (Chicago)
- List of concert halls
- Music venue
- Noise control
- Performing arts center
References
[edit]- ^"Auditorium Seating Layout Complete Guide".theatresolutions.net.Theatre Solutions. 2016-10-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-21.Retrieved2016-10-21.
External links
[edit]
Media related toAuditoriaat Wikimedia Commons- Concert hall acoustics on-line exhibitionArchived2007-04-23 at theWayback Machine
