Facilities crew bring life to theater broadcasts
Bringing London’s National Theatre Live broadcasts to UCC required a complex coordination between faculty, administrators and the UCC facilities crew.
Stephanie Newman, Theatre Studies director pitched the idea for the live broadcasts to Jason Aase, dean of Arts & Sciences. Aase then brought the plan to Vice President of Instruction, Roxanne Kelly, who according to Aase was “excited” to bring this opportunity to campus.
The next step was to purchase new equipment to make the broadcasts possible.
“I can’t speak highly enough of everyone involved who made this happen.”
—Jason Aase
Dean of Arts & Sciences
Aase and Kelly approved funding to purchase a new high definition projector for the Centerstage theatre from funds already available.
Newman then applied for a zero percent educational loan available from London’s National Theatre to purchase the satellite equipment, receiver and matrix switchers used to receive the broadcasts.
This loan is paid in installments through ticket sales whenever National Theatre broadcasts are shown. Newman is optimistic that the loan will be paid off in 18 months.
Once the equipment was acquired, it was up to Jess Miller, Larry Wright and the facilities crew to position the satellite receivers at the correct zenith and thread hundreds of feet of cables and cords through the Whipple Fine Arts building. The work was completed just moments before the first live showing of “Othello.”
“Without the skill and patience of Larry and Jess these broadcasts would have never been possible” says Newman.
The facilities crew efforts will benefit UCC’s campus in other ways. Current students enrolled in “The History of American Film” class are able to see films on the new high-definition projector.
UCC is also exploring additional ways this technology can be used in the future for new entertainment and educational opportunities.