Theatre Facilities

Ohio State’s theatre facilities include three theatres, three acting studios, a design studio, a new works lab, and scenery, lighting, and costume laboratories. Thurber Theatre, a proscenium-style theatre, seats 600 people. The Roy Bowen Theatre is an intimate thrust-style space seating 250 people, and Studio Theatre is a small “black box” seating 75. We also boast a lighting laboratory and inventory featuring the latest in moving lights technology, and a video laboratory equipped for editing and production. And, we are affiliated with OSU’s Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) with which we collaborate on multimedia and new media projects. The department also houses the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, one of the premiere theatre collections in the country.

The New Works Lab

The New Works Lab—a laboratory space for new and experimental works—had its inaugural year during the 2001 season. Its purpose is to be an incubator for the creation of new and experimental theatre in traditional and non-traditional forms. The Lab is equipped with a control booth, teleconferencing and broadcasting equipment, as well as lighting and sound equipment. In this intimate space, students are encouraged to workshop and produce independent projects, performances, and presentations. The Lab rivals many experimental spaces in New York for its flexibility, equipment, seating capacity, and hours of operation. Take advantage of this opportunity to become a producer of theatre!

The Theatre Research Institute

The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute (TRI) collects, preserves, maintains, and makes accessible research materials pertaining to performing arts, with a primary emphasis upon live performance. Serving as an archive for performers, playwrights, designers, producing organizations, and theatre companies — among others — the TRI participates in national and international organizations, prepares exhibitions of research materials, and regularly sponsors conference, symposia, and colloquia.