Adams Memorial Opera House
 Technical Package

The Adams Memorial Building was constructed in 1904, and substantially re-constructed after a major fire in 1914. This facility contains a classic New England small town Opera House, i.e. a Vaudeville-era theater, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Opera House contains a medium size stage, and a horseshoe-shaped balcony. The current legal audience limit of the Opera House is 350, plus a limit of 65 for your staff, cast and crew.

The facility is fully air conditioned. The electric service is adequate for even large scale productions. The facility is handicapped accessible via an elevator, and is located on the second floor. There are handicap accessible bathroom facilities located on the first floor and lower level. In addition, there is a cast and crew only bathroom accessed from back stage. There is an enclosed  back-stair for access from the first floor green room to the stage area. There two good size dressing rooms, adjacent to the green room, on the first floor. There is not a sunken orchestra pit.

The facility is recently painted in a fashionable Edwardian color scheme, with a newly refinished maple floor. Flexible seating accommodates a wide variety of events. The acoustics are outstanding, by the way. Ample, free, municipal parking is available within a short walk. The Opera House is easily accessible from Exit 4 of I-93.

Drawings:  (Subject to change without prior notification)

An AutoCAD format drawing (DXF format) of the stage area is available for download, but it needs some updates for circuiting information.  Only the repertory lighting plot instruments are shown.  Please note that this file will only be useful if you have a computer CAD program (or CAD viewer) that reads AutoCAD compatible files. You may want to "right-click" this link and "Save Link As" a file on your computer.  A JPEG graphics format drawing of the entire Opera House level is also available for viewing.  This version does not have inherent scale, as does the CAD drawing.  Both of these drawings are subject to ongoing update and improvements, so check back here periodically.

Specifications: (Subject to change without prior notification.) 

Stage dimensions: 46' wide x 18'-6" to 21' deep (curved apron)  Has a functional trap door. There is no second access to the trap space, which is limited to the height of the stage from the house floor.

Wing space: approximately 10' x 18' (each side)

Proscenium arch opening: 26' wide

Green Room dimensions:  18' x 32'

Dressing room dimensions:  9' x 20' and 6'-6" x 18'-6", both connected to the green room

House dimensions: 48' x 46'

Occupancy capacity:  265 maximum on the main floor, 85 maximum in the balcony (62 permanent seats, 23 bench seating), 65 maximum on the stage.  The total audience limit is 375.  The practical limit for main floor seating with a full orchestra on the floor in front of the stage is about 250. 

Upstairs lobby dimensions: 14'-6" x 13'-6" (adjacent to the concession area)

Downstairs lobby dimensions: 16' x 12' (adjacent to new elevator lobby)

Electric service: 600 A, 3-phase, 120/208 V. 

Outlets for rental dimmer systems:
(2) NEMA 14-50, 50 A 120/208 V, each will accommodate (6) 2.4 KW dimmers,
 (8) NEMA 5-20 @) A 120 V, each will accommodate (1) 2.4KW dimmer.

House lights: auto-transformer dimmers, remotely controllable

Stage work lights: florescent, non-dim

Seating:  (265) upholstered, padded chairs, with inter-lock (per fire code) for the house floor.  These are individual chairs and can be reconfigured , as needed.  (62) upholstered, padded theatre seats, bolted to the floor, in the balcony.  Additional bench seating is permitted in the balcony, up to a total balcony occupancy of 85.

Stage lighting equipment:

Instruments:

Hanging positions:
    (4) booms, front of house balcony;
    (2) battens above stage, 31' 6 " long, 15 ' 8" above the deck
Control:
    (36) 2.4KW dimmers (DMX512);
    (1) 48-ch, multi-mode, computer-assisted light control board, with CRT display, disk storage, 8 pages of 34 sub-masters (DMX512)
    (1) back-up control board (2-sc x 8-ch / 1-sc x 16-ch) (DMX512)
Cable:
    (5) multi-circuit stage pin cables (to permanent hanging positions); various lengths of single-circuit stage-pin cable; various Edison-to-Stage-Pin and Stage-Pin-to-Edison adapters.

Stage Lighting Repertory Plot

A standard repertory lighting plot is maintained for the convenience of production companies. Refer to the repertory lighting plot CAD drawing for details and current circuit and dimmer assignments.  In general terms, the "rep" plot consists of nine acting areas, three down-stage, three mid-stage and three up-stage.  The down-stage areas are lit from FOH box booms in the balcony, and have four instruments per area, to provide color control (warm/cool). All other areas have two instruments per area.  High side lights, in amber, are provided at the ends of the on-stage electric battens.  A down-light wash in primary blue is provided on each of the battens.

Stage Lighting Notes

Note: If you are not familiar with handling precautions for compact filament lamps (ETC SourceFour style, ANSI codes FLK, GLA), please ask for additional instruction.  These filaments in these lamps are very fragile when lit.  Any abnormal lamp failures will be billed to the renter.

Please contact the Technical Director to ascertain the status of the lighting equipment inventory prior to completing your design.  Some equipment may be out-of-service for repair at various times.

Additional lighting equipment may be available for loan from the Technical Director - please inquire. (Follow the hyperlink for a list.)

Sound system:
 
Control Room:
    (1) Peavey Unity 1002 8-ch audio control board
    (1) Gemini Dual-well CD Player,
    (1) Dual-well Cassette Player,
    (1) Lexicon MPX 500 Reverb/Effects,
    (2) Ashly 2-ch Copressor/Limiter,
    (2) dbx PB48 audio patch bays
FOH Speaker System:
    (6) FBT Maxx2 FOH speakers (fixed locations),
    (3) QSC Audio Model RMX 1450 2-ch x 280 W amplifier,
    (1) dbx DriveRack 240 Speaker Processor
Monitor Speaker System:
    (2) JBL SF12M monitor speakers for the Stage;
    (2) "no-name" monitor cabs for the Dressing Rooms;
    (1) QSC Audio Model 41 2-ch x 350 W amplifier; 
    (1) QSC Audio Model 21 2-ch x 120 W amplifier,
Other Equipment:
    (1) permanently installed 24-ch x 4-ch audio "snake",
    (3) Shure SM58 microphones,
    (3) microphone floor stands,
    (1) lectern.  

Additional sound equipment may be available for loan from the Technical Director - please inquire. (follow the hyperlink for a list.)

Clear-Com compatible Intercom System:
    (4) belt-pack headset stations,
    (1) in-wall headset station (down stage left wing),
    (1) handset station in the box office (to be installed)
    (5) headsets.

Ring-Down Intercom System

A ring-down telephone intercom system is provided, with two groups of extensions.  Ring-down may be initiated between groups.  One group consists of Light Control Room, Sound Control Room and Stage Manager (back stage, SL). The other group consists of Green Room, Dressing Room1 and Dressing Room 2.

Fly space: 22' from the stage floor to the roof rafters. The three drop battens will accommodate a 21' high drop. The battens are 30' long (width). There is not sufficient height to fly out a full-size drop.

Fly rigging: (2) electric battens, dead hung, (3) drop battens, manual hemp system with a pin rail (up stage right wing)

Curtains: Main curtain, and valence.  Center parting style.

Piano: Upright piano, on the house floor level.

Facility Use Procedures:

Your Technical Director, Certified Production Staff, and Responsible Contact Person are responsible for proactively ensuring proper care and use of the facilities, as per your rental lease agreement.  You are required to retain the services of Certified Production Staff whenever your production or event entails usage of any of the production and technical disciplines covered by our Certified Production Staff program.  Operating staff members, suitably trained and supervised by Certified Production Staff, may be utilized for positions such as Light Board Operator, Sound Board Operator, Stage Hand, Fly Operator and Usher.  The respective Certified Production Staff are ultimately responsible for the activates of operating staff under their supervision.  Operating staff should be properly trained to handled routine problem resolution, such as changing blown lamps, if the Certified Production Staff is not present for the entire production run.

Stage Usage:

1. The facility MUST at all times remain in compliance with accepted safety practices.
   
   
2. The stage area MUST at all times remain in compliance with good theatrical practices.
   
   
3. Any use of open flame, pyrotechnics, fog or any special effects that will trigger the smoke detectors MUST have the advance permission of the Arts Council and the Derry Fire Department.
   
   
4. Limited quantities of drywall screws MAY be driven into the stage floor. Other types of fasteners MUST NOT be used. Stage weights or sandbags SHOULD be used. The stage MUST NOT be painted.
   
   
5. The backstage walls are plastered brick, and you MUST NOT attach stage equipment or scenery to the plaster surfaces.  Existing wood batten strips on the back wall MAY be used to anchor scenery.
   
   
6. Exit lights MUST remain on when the Opera House is occupied. Fire exits MUST NOT be blocked or obstructed. The sliding door at the back of the house MUST NOT be closed.
   
   
7. Two (2) battens for lighting and three (3) battens for drops are in place on stage. Four (4) booms for 'front-of-house' lighting are in place in the balcony. Additional portable booms with bases, for lighting, MAY be placed in the balcony. Booms or battens MUST NOT be placed in the house.  Anyone operating the pin-rail hemp fly system MUST have received specific safety training in its proper operation.
   
   
8. You MUST NOT clean up paint, makeup, props, etc. in any of the bathrooms. There is a deep custodian's sink in the Opera House Custodian's Closet  that you SHOULD use for cleaning up painting materials.  You MUST NOT pour coffee grounds or other non-soluble materials down the drain.
   
   
9. Carpentry, painting or similar operations MUST NOT be performed anywhere except on the stage floor itself. This specifically excludes performing such operations on the hardwood or carpeted floors of the house and lobby. Please be aware there is no scene shop in the facility, and that the house and lobby areas are not to be used as one.
   
   
10. Storage of props, costumes, musical instruments, etc. is limited to the Dressing Rooms.  Space for storage of sets and other bulky items is not currently available in the Adams Memorial Building. Keep this in mind when planning load-in and load-out schedules.
     
11. We endeavor to maintain a standard "repertory light plot" for the convenience of all renters.  In addition to the "rep plot", an inventory of instruments for use as "specials" is available.  If you modify the "rep plot" (hang, focus or gels), then you MUST restore it during your strike and load-out.  Otherwise your Cleaning and Damage Deposit will be debited for the cost of restoring the "rep plot". 

House Usage:

1. Materials, decorations, posters, fixtures or cables MUST NOT be attached to the walls or painted woodwork of the Opera House, in any fashion. The painted surfaces of the Opera House are fragile and peel easily. This prohibition includes all forms of tapes and adhesives. There are poster boards in the facility which MAY be used for posting posters and notices.  You MAY use low-residue tape to affix signs or posters to the varnished wooden doors.
   
   
2. Fasteners (nails, screws, etc.) of any kind MUST NOT be used on the walls, woodwork or floors of the Opera House, for any purpose. Cables may be taped to the floor, for safety reasons, using a quality, low-residue tape such as Gaffer's tape.
   
   
3. Production equipment, displays, tables, props, scenery or other such materials MUST NOT block the required fire aisles or exits at any time.  Such material SHOULD NOT block sight lines of the audience, or be placed on the balcony rail.
    
4. Special care MUST be exercised when laying any cables (or other potential trip hazards) in the audience seating areas. Avoid placing production equipment in the house, whenever possible.  Otherwise, route cables outside of the normal aisles.  Where appropriate, tape cables to the floor using Gaffer's tape.  Do not tape to any painted surfaces (except the balcony floor).  When control boards (e.g. sound, lights) absolutely have to be located in the house, use the house left-rear corner, and run all cables along the house-left (west) wall.
   
   
5. The Opera House and any other area you are using in the Adams Memorial Building MUST be left in a clean condition after each use. The bathrooms MUST be basically neat, clean and sanitary. All trash and debris MUST be picked up and removed from the building.  Refer to the Renters Cleaning Checklist, for additional details.
    
6. We expect that you will find the facility in clean condition upon your load-in.  If you don't find it so, please let us know, but your cleaning requirements will still apply. The facility SHOULD also be kept in a clean condition during your rental period, especially for performances and public events.
    
7. During normal weekday business hours, the Opera House main floor SHOULD be kept clear of production materials or any other items that would preclude our contract cleaning service from cleaning the facility on their regular schedule.  Please contact us to determine if the cleaning service schedule overlaps with your production schedule.
   
   
8. Smoking MUST NOT occur anywhere in the building at any time. Smoking MAY occur outside, with the provision of proper ash trays or waste receptacles.
   
   
9. The hardwood floor of the Opera House has been refinished. We are concerned about food or drink staining, and additional cleaning work.  Spills MUST be promptly mopped up.
    
10. With the acquisition of new (and expensive) theatre seating, we request that patrons NOT take food or drink into any of the seating areas of the Opera House (orchestra or balcony).  An exception will be made, by pre-arrangement, for dinner theatre (or similar) events that provide a sufficient number tables and chairs for seating of all patrons at a table.  Please request your patrons to consume any refreshments in the upstairs or downstairs lobbies, or outside (during clement weather).
     
11. The upholstered wooden chairs provided for audience seating MAY be use for orchestra seating (in the "pit") or by classical music ensembles on stage, but MUST NOT be used for any other purpose, including any other use on stage, in the concession or ticket sales areas, in the Green Room or Dressing Rooms, etc.  Plastic stacking chairs are provided for general usage.
    
    
12. The Opera House Box Office is equipped with a telephone line that serves as the Box Office number as well as the Arts Council number. This phone MAY be used for incoming calls for on-site ticket reservations.  The phone number is (603) 437-0505.

Green Room and Dressing Room Usage:

1. All costumes, makeup, props and personal belongings MUST be stored in the Dressing Rooms at the end of each day of use, as the Green Room may be rented for other functions during the day time.
   
   
2. Food and beverages are allowed in these areas, but crumbs and spills MUST be cleaned up immediately.  Please be especially careful of the hardwood floor in the Green Room.
   
   
3. Responsible, adult monitors MUST supervise these areas at all times, whenever you are using them.
   
   
4. You SHOULD ensure that the Green Room is secured if you are not using it but wish to leave the rear exterior door to the building (the Stage Door) unlocked. You and the Arts Council are jointly and severally responsible for the security of the entire building.

Control Room Usage:
 

1. Only authorized technical staff are allowed in the Lighting and/or Sound Control Rooms, at the rear of the balcony.  This includes the Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, Board Operators, Stage Manager (and Assistant SM), Technical Director (and Assistant TD) and Director (and Assistant Director).
    
2. No food is allowed in the control rooms.
    
3. The only beverage allowed in the control rooms is plain water in capped bottles, and these MUST be kept away from the equipment and control boards.

General Usage:

1. You are bound by the terms of your Rental Agreement, and that document takes precedence whenever there is a conflict or confusion with any other documents.
   
   
2. Your production or event MUST NOT be obscene.
   
   
3. You MUST comply with all state and local laws and regulations.
   
   
4. The entire building MUST always be fully secured after each use. You MUST NOT obtain, or have in your possession, keys for the building, without the express permission of the Arts Council.
   
   
5. You MUST NOT sell, serve, or allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages at your production or event (including rehearsals and work sessions) without the express written consent of the Arts Council and the Town of Derry. An alcoholic beverages permit form is available from the Arts Council, and MUST be completed and approved before you sell, serve, or allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages at your production or event. The Town has an Ordinance prohibiting consumption of alcohol and open containers of alcoholic beverages on Town property. You MUST also comply with all state regulations (e.g. State Liquor Commission) and MUST obtain specific liquor liability insurance coverage, in the amount of $1,000.000.00, with the Arts Council and Town of Derry as additional insured, before serving or permitting the consumption of alcohol.
   
   
6. You MUST make reasonable accommodation of other tenants in the building, who may be open for business during normal or extended business hours, possibly at the same time as your rehearsals, shows or events.
   
   
7. You MUST remove all trash, debris and recyclables from the building.  Normal household trash is to be placed in the dumpster, on the concrete pad immediately next to the Green Room exterior wall.  There is a separate container for recyclables.  Mandatory recycling is the law in Derry. Certain items such as wood and other construction materials, empty paint cans, furniture, appliances, carpets and large objects must be removed from the property and disposed of by your staff.  Our trash hauler will not accept these items.  If in doubt, check with the Derry Transfer Station personnel for guidance.

This document was last updated on:
Sunday November 04, 2007