Spring Break
Conservatory, Theatre Department fight for space
Maria Iliakova
Issue date: 10/24/05 Section: News
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Due to acoustical leakage problems, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) has rescheduled times when University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music students can use practice rooms.
"It was really annoying. They need to build another building. The school is not big enough for the amount of students. There are not enough small ensemble rooms available," said Libby Hanssen, graduate student, trombone performance.
Department of Theatre Chair Tom Madikes said, "Any performance has always taken precedence over other space uses, such as recording sessions or practice."
Mardikes recalled "one-and-a-half years ago, theatre had to move rehearsals for 'Henry V' out of 119 PAC over to 306 Grant Hall because at points, the cast would get so loud that it interfered with performances in 116 PAC of 'Crumbs from the Table of Joy.'"
Mardikes, who has worked in the PAC since its opening in 1979, was formerly a staff recording engineer for the Conservatory. He pointed out it is not only the PAC that has the acoustical problems but Grant Hall as well.
The Conservatory and practice rooms are open before 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. During performance days, certain practice rooms may be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.-depending on the number of performance days of each production.
Productions for not run seven days a week. Mondays have no performances, while Tuesdays and Thursdays vary on shows.
"It is not a matter of rescheduling. It is a matter of practicing at different times, which means not during the performance, or about two to three hours of a performance day," said Mardikes.
In order to prohibit usage of practice rooms on performance days, the Theatre Department must consult the faculty and administration of the Conservatory.
"It is a request when a performance is disturbed by outside noise. We ask the Conservatory to close a room during our performances. Theatre does not do that itself. If it isn't a problem, it is never brought up," Mardikes said.
