Technical Specs
CONTACTS
JoLaine Hall (she/they), Production Manager, 617-358-1698, email
Lex K. Laverriere (she/they), Senior Production Specialist, 617-358-5076, email
Swati Agrawal (she/her), Production Specialist, 617-353-7383, email
DOWNLOAD
Tech Specs (PDF)
GETTING HERE / LOADING IN
Driving directions are available on BU Maps, both for directions to our front door and directions to our loading dock doors behind the theater. We strongly recommend that you talk to your Tsai production contact at least one week prior to your event if you will be traveling by truck as Boston can be a tricky place to navigate.
The loading doors lead to a ramp that rises from the parking lot level to an orchestra pit elevator that then lifts to the house and stage levels.
Loading Doors dimensions: 81 ½” H × 60 ¾” W (101 ½” Diagonal)
Orchestra Pit Door dimensions: 78 ½” H × 53 ½” W (95” Diagonal)
STAGE DIMENSIONS
| Proscenium Width | 41′ ½” |
| Proscenium Height | 17′ 9 ½” |
| Plaster Line to Upstage Wall | 30′ 6 3/8“ |
| Plaster Line to Downstage Center | 11′ 9 ¾” |
| Depth of Pit at Center | 10′ 3″ |
| Stage Height | 3′ 7″ |
| Backstage Right Clearance | 8′ 6″ |
| Backstage Left Clearance | N/A |
| Crossover Space | Under stage |
A variety of diagrams with different stage setups, including the repertory light plot, are available here.
| Position | Distance from Plaster | Trim Height | Border Trims |
| Projection Booth | -77′ 7″ | — | — |
| 2nd Catwalk | -33′ 8″ | 23′ 9″ | — |
| 1st Catwalk | -16′ 4 ½” | 23′ 9″ | — |
| Box Boom | -16′ 5/8” (vertical pipe) | 18′, 16′, 14′ | — |
| Downstage Center | -11′ 9 ¾” | — | — |
| DS Pit Line | -1′ 6 ¾” | — | — |
| US Pit Line | -1′ 6 ½” | — | — |
| Plaster Line | 0′ | 17′ 9 ½” | — |
| House Curtain | 0′ 7 ½” | 20′ 8″ | — |
| 1st Electric | 2′ 1″ | 20′ 9 ½” | — |
| 1st Strip | 3′ 3 ½” | 21′ 5″ | — |
| 1st Cloud | 3′ 11″ to 5′ 10″ | 19′ 9″*** | — |
| 1st Border | 6′ 5″ | 22′ 11″ | 18′ 11″ |
| 2nd Electric | 7′ 4 ¾” | 20′ 8 ½” | — |
| Spare Pipe 1 | 8′ 3 ¾” | 22′ 5 ½” | — |
| 2nd Strip | 9′ 9 ½” | 22′ | — |
| Spare Pipe 2 | 10′ 10 ½” | 22′ 11″ | — |
| 2nd Border | 12′ | 22′ 10 ½” | 18′ 10 ½” |
| 2nd Cloud | 12′ 7″ to 14′ 6″ | 19′ 10″*** | — |
| 3rd Border | 15′ 2 ½” | 23′ 7″ | 19′ 7″ |
| 3rd Electric | 16′ 4 ½” | 21′ 8″ | — |
| 4th Electric | 18′ 1 ¾” | 21′ 11″ | — |
| 3rd Strip | 19′ ½” | 22′ 5 ¼” | — |
| 4th Border | 20′ 2 ¼” | 23′ 3 ½” | 19′ 6 ½” |
| 3rd Cloud | 21′ 1 ½” to 23′ ½” | 19′ 9″*** | — |
| 5th Border | 23′ 5 ½” | 22′ | 18′ |
| Traveler | 23′ 11″ | 22′ 7″ | — |
| 4th Strip | 24′ 11 ½” | 21′ 7 ½” | — |
| Spare Pipe 3 | 25′ 10″ | 20′ 10″ | — |
| Cyc Pipe | 27′ 3″ | — | — |
| Upstage Shell Track | 29′ 3″ | 23′ 11″ | — |
***Trim height to bottom of cloud, add 3′ 2″ vertical and 10″ horizontal to pipe trim height
LIGHTING / ELECTRICS
Our system contains 166 dimmer-per-circuit Strand Century CD-80 dimmers with Johnson Systems CD-3000 Rack Processors as well as architectural controls via an ETC Paradigm Processor and Control Stations. Our console is an ETC Element 40.
Questions? Contact JoLaine Hall, Production Manager, lainhall@bu.edu, 617-358-1698
Inventory
| Unit Type | Wattage | In Rep Plot | In Storage | Total |
| ETC Source4 body | 750 | 109 | 61 | 170 |
| —19° Barrel | 25 | 5 | 30 | |
| —26° Barrel | 36 | 14 | 50 | |
| —36° Barrel | 43 | 27 | 70 | |
| —50° Barrel | 5 | 30 | 35 | |
| ETC Source4 PAR EA | 750 | 24 | 18 | 42 |
| ETC Source4 PARNel* | 750 | 10 | 0 | 10* |
| 10″ Fresnel | 2000 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 8’3″ 4 circ 75w Mini-Strip | 750 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Strand Orion 3circ Cyc Light | 1000 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
*Units are for pit top light only & may not be refocused.
Lighting Accessories
| 10′ Boom Pipes | 14 |
| Boom Bases | 8 |
| Wooden Floor Bases | 9 |
| Short sidearms | 32 |
| Long sidearms | 8 |
| Sidearm Tees | 46 |
| C-clamps | assorted |
| Rota-Locks | 40 |
| Rigid Cheseboroughs | 2 |
| Swivel Cheseboroughs | 2 |
| Source4 Drop-In Irises | 8 (2 dedicated; 6 spare) |
| “A” size template holders | 20 |
| “B” size template holders | 20 |
| 6.25″ Donuts | 40 |
| 6.25″ Top Hats | 12 |
| 6.25″ Half Top Hats | 24 |
| 6.25″ Color Extenders, 3″ long | 20 |
| 6.25″ Color Extenders, 5″ long | 20 |
| 7.5″ Top Hats | 38 (4 dedicated, 34 spare) |
| 7.5″ 4-way Barn Doors | 20 |
| 4-way Barn Doors for 2K Fresnels | 12 |
Circuit Locations
| Circuit | Location |
| 1-20 | 2nd catwalk |
| 21-24 | SL Box Boom |
| 25-44 | 1st Catwalk |
| 45-48 | SR Box Boom |
| 49-72 | 1st Electric |
| 73-96 | 2nd Electric |
| 97-120 | 3rd Electric |
| 121-130 | 4th Strip |
| 131-134 | DSL |
| 135-138 | MSR1 |
| 139-142 | MSL1 |
| 143-146 | MSR2 |
| 147-150 | MSL2 |
| 151-154 | MSR3 |
| 155-158 | USL |
| 159-162 | USR |
| 163-166 | DSL, USL, USR Far Wall, & DSR Far Wall |
| 165-166 | Pit (USR Wall) |
SOFT GOODS / RIGGING
The Tsai Center is a no-fly-facility. Soft goods may be dead hung onstage from several points. The cyclorama pipe can be lowered in upstage by winch. Additional rigging may require consultation.
8 Black Velour Legs
2 Black Velour Tabs
(Legs & tabs are custom-sized for specific hang positions)
1 41’ 6” × 22’ 6” Black Scrim
1 40’ × 20’ 6” White Cyclorama
1 Black Velour Full Drop (center opening)
1 38’ 6” × 22’ 6” Black Velour Traveler (center opening)
1 Venetian Main Curtain (peacock green). Flies in on winches & cannot be passed through when in.
SOUND / COMMUNICATIONS
EAW Anya speaker system consisting of 3 flown stereo powered adaptive technology speaker boxes per side and an EAW QX326 center speaker, powered by a Lab Gruppen D80 amplifier using EAW Greybox technology. System is fully networked via Dante.
Mixing Console: Yamaha QL1 on Dante network (quantity: 2)
Mix Positions: Production booth (behind balcony); center house position; backstage right
Sound monitors: QSC K10 powered monitors (2)
Assorted microphone stands (booms and stick)
Microphone Inventory*
| Type | Description | Quantity |
| Condenser Mics | ||
| AKG C 414 B-ULS | 2 | |
| AKG C 451 EB | 1 | |
| AKG C 460 B | 1 | |
| AKG C 535 EB | 2 | |
| Beyer Dynamic Classis GM303 tabletop mic | 8 | |
| Shure SM 81 | 6 | |
| Audio-Technica Pro 37 | 4 | |
| Sennheiser MZH3042 with ME34 (podium mics) | 2 | |
| Dynamic Mics | ||
| Beyer Dynamic M 69 N | 3 | |
| Sennheiser MD 421-U-5 | 1 | |
| Shure SM57 | 5 | |
| Shure Beta 58 | 4 | |
| Wireless Mics | ||
| ULXD4D Dual-Channel Wireless Receiver | 4 | |
| Maximum # of wireless channels | 8 | |
| –Shure QLXD2 handheld transmitter (SM58) | 6 | |
| –Shure ULXD1 digital bodypack transmitter (lavalier) | 6 | |
| –Shure ULXD8 15″ cardioid gooseneck tabletop mic | 4 | |
*Note: Check with Tsai staff to confirm which mics will be available for your event.
Acoustic Alteration
10 Wenger acoustic sound-reflecting panels. Half stage and full stage orchestra shell configurations are possible depending on the needs of your event.
Sound-deadening shades in the house can be flown out to make the room more live for acoustic events.
Communications
8 Clear-Com belt packs and 8 Clear-Com headsets (wired)
MEDIA / PROJECTION
Projector: Sony VPLFHZ120L/B 3LCD laser projector with VPLLZ4025 lens (10K lumens) Note: Presentations with a 16:9 aspect ratio generally works best with our stage setups.
Projection Inputs: HDMI inputs backstage right, house left auditorium, & booth wall.
Screen: Stewart film screen, 16’6”’ high by 24’8” wide (viewable area). Note: Film screen is downstage of main curtain and can only be lowered when the curtain is in.
PIANO / DANCE FLOOR / ADDITIONAL INVENTORY
Pianos
• 9’ Steinway Concert Grand Model D (American)
• 9′ Steinway Concert Grand Model D (German)
• Baldwin Upright (used for warm-up in dressing room area only)
• Piano tuning is an additional cost and needs to be prearranged.
Dance Floor
• American Harlequin Studio Dance Floor, black (covers stage, including apron)
Additional Inventory
| Type | Item | Quantity |
| For Orchestra | ||
| Orchestra chairs, grey | 80 | |
| Cello chairs, grey | 10 | |
| Bass stools, wooden | 4 | |
| Music stands, black | 68 | |
| Music stand lights | 25 | |
| Conductor’s stand | 2 | |
| Conductor’s podium | 1 | |
| For Lectures | ||
| Lectern for speaker, walnut | 1 | |
| Captain’s chairs | 6 | |
| Lifts and Ladders | ||
| Genie personnel lift | 2 | |
| 8′ stepladder | 2 | |
| 4′ stepladder | 2 | |
| Tables | ||
| 6ft x 30in tables, black | 4 | |
| 8ft x 30in tables, black | 4 | |
| 5ft x 18in (skinny) tables, black | 2 | |
| Front-of-house | ||
| Easels | 4 | |
| Rope & stanchions | 6 | |
*Note: Please talk to Tsai staff about what equipment is available for your event.
DRESSING ROOMS
Chorus size dressing rooms: 2 (capable of seating 9 people each)
Individual size dressing rooms: 2 (capable of seating 2 people each)
—Each room features makeup lighting, overhead storage shelves, and multiple electrical outlets.
Restrooms: Separate men’s and women’s restrooms with showers
Additional: Warm-up piano room with upright Baldwin piano
All dressing rooms are located under the stage with direct access to both stage left and stage right. The downstairs hallway also serves as the only crossover from SL to SR. These areas are equipped with sound monitors. Please note that due to security and safety concerns, only staff, performers, and technicians are allowed backstage or downstairs into the dressing room area.