The Theatre Department is located in the Arts and Humanities building. The building also houses the department's two spaces, the Hugo Young Theatre and the StudioTheatre. Hugo Young Theatre is a Proscenium House that seats 730 and is used for many of the department's Main Stage and student productions, aswell as the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and other campus activities. The proscenium opening is 66' wide by 20' high and the distance from the back wall of the stage to the orchestra pit opening is approximately 30'. The theatre is equipped with a new, easily removable pit cover, and numerous electric winch battens over the stage. The control booth is located at the back of the house, and can be used to access the lighting catwalks over the audience. The lighting system includes a Strand Mini-Light Palette 520 Lighting Control Board, 133 dimmers, and over 200 lighting instruments, and several Follow Spots. The Sound System was upgraded in 2002, and includes a 32 channel Mackie Mixer, Bose Speaker System, Wireless Microphones, and Digital Sound Computer utilizing industry standard playback and editing software and Telex Headset Communication System.

The fully equipped scene shop with wood and metal working facilities is directly behind the theatre. The theatre also has easy access to the well-stocked costume shop with five sewing machines, serger, professional mannequins, laundryand dyeing facilities. Extensive scenery, costume and properties storage areas are located on site; in addition, the department utilizes an off campus storage area for furniture.

Across the hall from HugoYoung is the hexagonal Studio Theatre, a Black Box space which seats about 75 in a semi-permanent thrust configuration. Mainstage, experimental, and student productions are produced in this theatre, including productions of our bi-annual One-Act Play Festival which is produced, directed and designed by our theatre students. It is 48' at its widest point, and has a permanent lighting grid at 17' above the stage floor. There is a small backstage area, and entrances and exits can be made from several directions. The control booth is located above the back row of seating and is accessed via catwalk. The space has its own ETC Horizon lightingcontrol board, 36 dimmers, and sound system.

Both theatres are available for rental. Please contact Michelle Williams at 419-289-5950 or mwillia7@ashland.edu for more information.