Institute of Outdoor Theatre Publishes OUTDOOR THEATRE FACILITIES: A GUIDE TO PLANNING AND BUILDING OUTDOOR THEATRES

The Institute of Outdoor Theatre has announced the publication of Outdoor Theatre Facilities: A Guide to Planning and Building Outdoor Theatres. From the initial concept to opening night, the book covers all aspects of planning, equipping, designing and constructing outdoor performance facilities. In addition to the text, its 137 pages include a graphically rich selection of architectural drawings and photographs of outstanding outdoor theatres around the world. Written by a team of six specialists in architecture, landscape architecture, and theatre design, production and management, the book is available through the Drama Book Shop in New York, William Stout Architectural Books and the Institute's website.

The book will be useful to organizations planning to build or renovate outdoor performance facilities as well as the architects, consultants, builders and funders who are involved in those projects.

"Theatre has been performed outdoors for thousands of years, since the dawn of history," said Michael Hardy, Director of the Institute. "The number of outdoor performances around the world has probably never been higher than today. We hope that this publication will help theatres and their communities by sharing information about some of the most outstanding examples of existing theatres and the range and variety of options for new or renovated spaces."

The Institute of Outdoor Theatre has worked with theatres for the past fifty years, conducting over 60 feasibility studies for new facilities during that time. The team of writers and researchers for this work consisted of Dr. Michael Hardy, Director of the Institute; Dr. David Weiss, Professor Emeritus University of Virginia-Charlottesville; Robert Long, Principal, Theatre Consultants Collaborative; Barry Moore, Architect, Gensler; Christopher Hardy, Landscape Architect, SWA Group; and Scott Parker, Director Emeritus of the Institute.

The Institute of Outdoor Drama was founded in 1963 and is located at East Carolina University in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. Since its inception, the Institute's scope has grown to include a wide variety of theatrical organizations around the world who perform in outdoor settings including Shakespeare festivals, historical dramas, religious dramas, renaissance festivals, dramatic and musical theatre.