Project Details
[Return to Previous Page]Modular Set Design for Opera Productions in a Recital Hall
Company: Penn State University Opera Theatre
Major(s):
Primary: ME
Secondary: IE
Optional: BME, CMPSC, ESC
Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO
Intellectual Property: NO
Project Description: This project aims to develop a long-term, sustainable, and modular set design that transforms a traditional recital hall into a versatile space suitable for staged opera productions. This specific design would serve the beautiful Penn State University School of Music Recital Hall. Due to the recital hall’s excellent acoustics for unamplified music, it is an ideal venue for opera, which traditionally does not utilize amplification. However, the hall lacks key features of a typical opera theater, such as a pit and wings. This project will address these limitations by designing a modular set that allows for flexible staging while supporting operatic acoustics and stage dynamics. Project Objectives: 1. Modular Flexibility: Design a modular set that can be reconfigured to support a variety of opera layouts each year, adding versatility and visual interest with levels and angles for dynamic staging. 2. Acoustic Consideration: Ensure that the design enhances the hall’s natural acoustics for both vocal projection and orchestral balance. The modular elements should support singer audibility over the orchestra without amplification. 3. Safe and Accessible Design: Incorporate connections between the upper and lower levels of the hall, expanding staging possibilities. The set must be safe, with easy assembly, disassembly, and storage options. 4. Orchestral Integration: Plan the set layout to accommodate up to a 25-piece chamber orchestra or a grand piano with up to 10 instrumentalists, considering their spatial and acoustic relationship to the singers. 5. Sustainability and Storage: Design lightweight, durable modules that can fit through a 36-inch wide and 8’ tall door and be stored in the designated area (Music Building I, Room 3). All pieces should be on brake hydraulic rubber casters to protect the hall’s wood floor and allow easy movement. Technical Analysis and Design Considerations: The project will involve: • Analyzing the recital hall's acoustic characteristics to inform design elements that support unamplified vocal and orchestral sound. • Creating CAD models for various configurations of the modular set, including specifications for lightweight materials that meet weight restrictions (approximately 800 lbs per foot on contact points). • Engineering a connection system for upper and lower level integration that ensures performer safety and ease of use. • Testing the viability of rubber caster wheels and modular finishes for mobility without damaging the hall floor. • Considering aesthetic finishes that align with operatic staging requirements while maintaining durability and ease of reconfiguration. • Justification: This project would provide an affordable initial investment to develop a reusable, sustainable solution for opera staging, with potential applicability in other recital halls facing similar limitations. Conclusion: The project will provide a meaningful and achievable challenge for a student team, allowing them to apply design and engineering skills to create a unique, reusable solution for opera staging in a recital hall. It will benefit the Penn State community by enhancing operatic productions and serve as a potential model for similar performance spaces elsewhere.
