Texas Scenic Company (TSC) has completed installation of stage equipment for the renovation of the Fort Sam Houston Theatre in San Antonio, Texas.
Working with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers the design-build team included architect Killis Almond and Associates, Inc. and theatre consultants Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams, Inc. (WJHW), both of San Antonio. As a starting point, the team was provided a narrative and schematic design from Schuler Shook Theatre Planners of Dallas, Texas.
The renovation required that the entire stage be demolished from the proscenium to the back of the theatre, while retaining the original 1935 Spanish Revival style white stucco exterior and arched entryways. The renovation added a total of 26,000 square feet to the existing structure and provides for seating for about 600 patrons.
TSC supplied the stage equipment for the renovation of the theatre including Inline® counterweight and motorized rigging with Deck Boss® Motor Control. ETC lighting, dimming and controls were installed including full network dimming and control and Source Four® fixtures. A Road Hog control console was also supplied. TSC also manufactured and installed a full stage curtain package.
Architect Killis Almond reports that the facility was originally a movie house and had been unused for many years. The restoration lasted two years and cost $18.8 million. All interior frescos, murals and furnishings have been restored to their original grandeur.
“The renovation resulted in a facility that still looks like an historic theatre with a tremendous amount of technology built into it,” Almond says. “The first production in the space was a television show which resulted in very intense utilization of the building and it all worked perfectly.”
The Army has relocated their “Entertainment Services” from the Washington, D.C. area to the newly renovated theatre. The theatre will also host the Army's version of “American Idol” called “Operation Rising Star”, a touring road show with the main performances taped in San Antonio. The facility also houses a dance studio, recording studio and offices.