The new Prior Performing Arts Center is the primary performance venue for the Department of Theatre and Dance. The annual musical and the dance concert are performed in the Luth Concert Hall; bi-annual theatrical productions and Gamelan Gita Sari concerts are offered in the Boroughs Theatre; and classroom space, the costume shop and the scene shop are located there.
A number of other Department of Theatre facilities are located in O’Kane Hall. A range of workshops and classes take place in the Studio 481, The Pit, and the Dance Studio. In addition, Alternate College Theatre presents two student-directed productions in The Pit.
Luth Concert Hall, Boroughs Theatre, and The Pit are handicapped accessible. For further information, call 508-793-3490. On performance evenings, contact Public Safety for assistance at 508-793-2224.
The Luth Concert Hall
Prior Performing Arts Center
The 400-seat multipurpose proscenium theater is the College’s principal venue for music, musical theater and dance performances. Its unique design creates an intimate dynamic between audience and performer, even as performers enjoy an unusually expansive stage. In concert configuration, the stage is framed by a shell of sustainably sourced Makore wood; in theatrical configuration, the shell can be removed, theatrical drapes hung and additional flooring surfaces laid as necessary.
Boroughs Theatre
Prior Performing Arts Center
The 200-seat studio theater is a fully flexible performance space, inviting artistic experimentation by students, faculty, and visiting artists alike. Configurations include a 80- or 160-seat proscenium option, a three-quarter thrust, or seats in the round. The “Skywall” separating the Boroughs from the Beehive can be raised to create another entrance to the theater or to allow for continuous playing space or audience seating to flow out into the atrium.
Alden Trust Performance Studio
Prior Performing Arts Center
With sweeping views of Worcester and the Blackstone Valley, the Performance Studio is used for dance and music classes, rehearsals, and performance and special events.
Scene Shop
Prior Performing Arts Center
The Foley Scene Shop and the Costume Shop are visible to visitors, showcasing traditionally behind-the-scenes labor and expertise. They serve not only as working laboratories but also as classrooms where students can learn the latest technologies in myriad fields.
Costume Shop
Prior Performing Arts Center
Costumes for productions are designed and built in our costume shop.
The Pit (O’Kane Hall 37)
The Pit has an open floor area roughly 32 feet by 35 feet. A lighting grid with a 96 dimmer computer lighting system and an ETC Express control board gives us a very flexible class and performance venue.
The Pit is used for acting and directing classes, Alternate College Theatre performances, and guest artists.
Dance Studio (O’Kane Hall 28)
The Dance Studio has a sprung floor, providing dancers with a safe surface that eases wear and tear on the body. The subfloor is covered by a gray Harlequin Tempo vinyl dance floor covering.
Studio (O’Kane Hall 481)
Studio 481 is used as a secondary dance studio and a large rehearsal hall, and for a variety of classes.