When most of us in Charleston go to the theatre we think of it as if we are in the audience looking at a picture frame stage— we sit on one side and the performers act on the other. At the newly renovated Memminger Auditorium audiences will view performances from an all new perspective. For the first time, audiences in Charleston will be able to see a show from a new point of view, for at Memminger, the audience will sit on three sides of the action, placing them closer than ever to the action. Some audience members will be only a few feet from the performers. Seating at Memminger is also stadium seating which means you will easily be able to see over those in front of you. Along with this new performance environment comes new challenges as well. Actors are now performing not just for patrons on one side of them, but on all sides. It’s been very exciting for me as a director and for our great company of actors as we began to explore this new arena. FYI, have no doubt that audiences will find performances on Memminger’s thrust stage to be much more realistic. It’s as if the audience and the performers are in the same room. No longer are the actors ” up on stage”. Now, they’re right in the middle of the very same room with the audience. This perspective and its new intimacy should make the thrills and chills of Frankenstein, even more chilling.
