2220 WEST INNES STREET
This structure is a unique and highly-used facility for both the College and the Salisbury-Rowan County community and was named in 1987 in honor of Blanche S. and Julian H. Robertson of Salisbury, long-time supporters of the College, its programs and activities, and in recognition of the Robertson family's generous support of Catawba. The Center contains the 1449-seat Keppel Auditorium; the 238-seat Hedrick Little Theater; the Peeler Crystal Lounge, a spacious glass-walled room for seminars, banquets, conferences, and dances; and the Brady Courtyard, an area between the Peeler Crystal Lounge and Hedrick Little Theatre used for receptions and various types of socials.
The Center is also home for the Adrian L. and Dorothy L. Shuford, Jr. School of Performing Arts. Designed as a facility for the display of performing arts, the Center contains a common stage area for the main auditorium and little theatre. This feature allows wide flexibility in staging various events. There is an extensive rigging and fly-storage area backstage along with facilities for scenery preparation and costume design and production.
The Center was built in 1964 with contributions from the citizens of the Salisbury and Rowan County community. The auditorium is named in memory of Dr. A.R. Keppel, fourteenth president of Catawba College (1942-63); the Hedrick Little Theatre is named in memory of Mr. and Mrs. B.V. Hedrick of Salisbury, benefactors of the College; the Peeler Crystal Lounge is named in honor of the late Mr. Clifford A. Peeler of Salisbury, trustee emeritus of the College, and the courtyard is named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Brady of Salisbury, N.C. Mr. Brady is a member of the Class of 1930. The School of Performing Arts is named in honor of Adrian L. and Dorothy L. Shuford, Jr. of Conover, N.C. The late Mr. Shuford was a trustee emeritus and served as chairman of the Board of Trustees 1951-77; Mrs. Shuford is a professional concert pianist and serves as an adjunct member of the Department of Music faculty.
SCENE SHOP
Located on the stage level of the Robertson College-Community Center, Catawba's well-equipped Scene Shop has many of the tools and capabilities used by professional theatres across the country. Woodworking tools include two radial-arm saws, table saw, bandsaw, power miter box, belt sander, lathe, drill press, pneumatics, and hand held power tools. The shop is also equipped with conventional hand tools and safety gear. In addition the shop is equipped for metal working with three different types of welders.
The student shop staff is made up of theatre students who qualify for the work-study program. Students are often given a chance to serve in leadership capacities in the scene shop. Past productions have seen students as set designers. Through working in such high-ranking positions, students are better prepared to pursue professional employment or graduate school upon graduation.
THEATRE ANNEX
The Theatre Annex, located beside the Florence-Busby-Corriher Theatre, houses the Dance Studio and Theatre Lab spaces.
The Dance Studio provides space for classes, rehearsals, and studio performances. All dance classes take place in the studio, preparing students to perform jazz, modern, ballet, tap, character, ballroom, and folk techniques. Specialty classes in musical theatre, stage combat, stage speech and movement, creative conditioning, as well as student practica are also taught here. The dance ensemble class, which performs locally and competes regionally, also meets and rehearses in this space.
Rehearsals for musical theatre and dance productions occur nightly in this space. Pre-screenings for professional theatre and dance auditions are also rehearsed and held on a regular basis in this space.
Students may take advantage of this mirrored space with piano and electronic capability by scheduling available time for audition and class preparation as needed.
The facility includes a sprung floor, mirrors on two sides for optimum movement technique assessment and correction, a sound system, safety mats, and informal audience seating.
The Theatre Lab provides space for classes and studio performances, in addition to functioning as the primary rehearsal hall space. The majority of the acting and directing classes are scheduled here during the day, with rehearsals for mainstage productions occurring nightly. Productions scheduled for either Hedrick or Keppel stages will rehearse in the Lab until approximately 14 days prior to opening.
COSTUME SHOP
The Costume Shop and Costume Storage are located in the basement of the Robertson College-Community Center. The Theatre Department has an unusually large collection, numbering in the hundreds of costumes built or purchased for Catawba productions, as well as "attic contributions" of authentic garments from the early twentieth century on. The earliest item dates from the 1880's. The collection also includes armor, masks, millinery, footgear, etc., most built in the costume shop itself.
The Costume Workroom is well equipped for the construction and maintenance of four to six productions per year by beginning stitchers and wardrobe workers. While sophisticated machinery and techniques are left for graduate school training and professional experience, students leave the costume shop well grounded in costume construction techniques. The shop can accommodate up to eight stitchers at a time with ancillary spaces used for maché work and other non-sewing techniques.
Although Catawba has rarely rented costumes for its own productions, many high schools, colleges, community theatres and church groups in central North Carolina take advantage of the large collection through the rental service maintained by the costumer.
RELATED INFO:
Most design classes use the Art Studio, Graphic Design Studio, and the Media Presentation Classroom located on the third floor of the Hedrick Administration Building. These classrooms are equipped with wet and dry media work areas, drafting/drawing tables, graphic presentation areas, and basic graphic presentation equipment.
RELATED LINKS:
Theatre Arts
Music