Edison Theater Stage Rigging Update

Built in 1972 and located in the Mallinckrodt Center on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, the Edison Theatre is the only fully technically equipped, proscenium thrust theater on campus. Edison serves as a teaching facility for the Washington University Performing Arts Department, which produces three mainstage shows each year and serves as a performance venue for Washington University student organizations. Edison is also one of the few theaters in the St. Louis area to serve as a rental house for locally based presenting arts organizations such as The Black Rep. At its capacity, Edison Theatre seats 656. McClure Engineering was recently engaged to upgrade the theater’s existing and outdated theatrical dimming power distribution system and lighting.

Electrical

The original House Catwalk Theatrical power distribution raceways were substituted with new bespoke 2-cell raceways featuring DMX/RDM control distribution via CAT5E.

Three of the existing counterweight electrical line sets were removed and replaced with four new motorized ETC Prodigy line sets, incorporating cable drop and trolley-based 20A twist lock power distribution raceways and DMX/RDM control, in addition to a new motorized Proscenium electrical batten.

The redesign also included relocating an existing Dimmer Rack positioned over the house to mitigate noise issues and consolidate dimming equipment locations.

Additionally, a new battery backup lighting inverter was installed to provide emergency egress power for the new house lighting system.

Lighting

The main focus for the lighting team was to modernize the existing systems by integrating them with current control protocols and incorporating them into a new, more advanced theatrical lighting setup.

Key objectives included upgrading the house lighting to ensure seamless control and interaction with the new control system from a centralized theatrical lighting mixing board. A major challenge faced in this project was working around the constraints of the existing unique ceiling system, which necessitated utilizing existing power locations and adapting fixture placements to fit within the pre-established framework.

A crucial element of the project was selecting LED fixtures that provided the necessary flexibility, light output, and compatibility with existing junction boxes, while also incorporating the desired warm dimming technology. A few years ago, achieving this was not feasible; LEDs would maintain a constant color temperature when dimmed until switched off. However, advancements in LED technology now allow for warm dimming, which emulates the behavior of halogen lamps by reducing the color temperature from a cooler white or blue light to a warmer orange or red as it dims. This warm dimming capability was specifically requested by the client to recreate the inviting atmosphere created by halogen lamps, shifting the color temperature from bright whites to warm oranges or reds during dimming.

In addition to addressing the house lighting requirements, the project also involved incorporating warm dimming technology into recessed fixtures along the back walls to ensure consistency in lighting ambiance throughout the theater space. Finding a manufacturer capable of meeting these specifications and offering the necessary form factors was a key challenge that required meticulous selection.

Furthermore, the project entailed integrating DMX dimming protocols for seamless control and coordination with the new control system for all theatrical lighting elements. Additionally, the team had to ensure integration with the existing inverter system for emergency lighting and wall-mounted emergency lights within the theater space.

Moreover, improvements were made to existing aisle lighting attached to the seats to allow for dimming capabilities, providing enhanced functionality and better adaptability to different performance atmospheres.

Overall, the project aims to transform the theatrical lighting and rigging systems within the theater space, enhancing control, flexibility, and ambiance to meet the evolving needs of both Washington University and the performances held within the venue.