End Hits Comments

Is the performance space the gym? The theater? Some other space?

The gym is usually the big space in a high school that could host performances, and they are, without fail, the worst acoustic environments in the world. High school theaters, on the other hand, can have decent acoustics, but are handicapped by stage and seating configurations hospitable basically only to plays.

And then, yes, there's the issue of Washington being in a residential neighborhood, which one would think would make hosting events there year-round - or even regularly if they went past 10pm, or possibly midnight on weekends - a problem.

I'm interested to hear more about which spaces were used and how they were augmented in terms of staging and acoustic treatments.

As far as I can tell, it was by design an auditorium from the time the school was built--definitely not a converted gymnasium or anything. The entire school is centered around the space; it's literally a cavity in the middle of the building, surrounded on all sides by classrooms. Acoustics were very good, even been a bit raw and rumbling, perfect for a rock show. There was seating on both the floor and the balcony, with a substantially sized, open pit in front of the stage. I'd say it's a cross between the Aladdin and a smaller version of the Roseland, but more hospitable than either. The stage was enormous, and very deep. A highly complicated theatrical production wouldn't be compromised or confined.

Visiting the Works on the heels of last week's well-meaning but hopelessly muddled-sounding show by Akron/Family at the Bagdad (such a beautiful theater, but sight lines and acoustics were fucking dismal) made me wish I could see more shows there.