The theatre takes shape

We've been very busy this week. Our temporary structure is almost complete and our crew is constructing the stage floor right now. First though, did everyone see this article in the Statesman on our temporary theatre? Huge thanks to Jeanne Claire van Ryzin who came out on Thursday to inspect our building progress. On Saturday we were out at Mueller again to put the cover on our tent!

Our volunteers unfurled the huge tent covering. The tension fabric cover is very big and very heavy.




Then we let the actors loose to carry cables across the structure so the covering could be hauled over it. Here we have Don Toner and David Stokey practicing their circus skills.



Lara Toner carried another cable across the top of the building.

Once the cables were across the heavy lifting started!

Huck Huckaby and Don Toner adjusted the tent cover.

David Stokey gave his approval on the cover placement.

At the end of the day Saturday we had our cover in place. The crew then began to prep the front and back sides for their panels.

Weekend Building Progress

The building crew started early Saturday morning. We had several members of our Acting Company as well as our architect and a few professional builders. Huge thanks to everyone who came out and made Saturday so successful!

Getting the first arch into the air took our entire crew of sixteen workers!

It was pretty awesome when the arch made it into place. Each arch is 55' long and 21' high.

The building has four arches each spaced twenty feet apart that form a 60' frame.

The arches are connected by a series of steel beams.



Acting company members Brian Coughlin, Ben Wolfe, Barry Miller, and Rick Roemer, along with our architect Scott Ginder line up the third arch.





 

At the end of the day, we put up the Austin Playhouse sign. We will finish up the building next Saturday and start installing the seats and risers on Sunday. It was a gorgeous and productive day out at Mueller, we look forward to many more!

Our new (temporary) theatre arrives!



On Tuesday, October 18th our temporary theatre rolled into town on the back of this truck. Our crew quickly unloaded the materials and laid them out in the field.

  

After we assessed the materials, Don discovered that they were different than the ones we were expecting. As it turns out, we'd been sent instructions for another building. 
After several phone calls and more assessing, we determined that the building we received is fine and may even be a little easier to assemble! (We'll find out soon...)



Here's David Weaver trying to wrap his head around the new building instructions!

 

David was an expert forklift operator!


 

On Wednesday our crew was back at Mueller and started connecting the trusses.




Stay tuned for more progress reports as our temporary building takes shape!