Technical Film Information
The Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center is a 'full service' performing arts center that features all forms of stage shows and concerts - music, ballets, operas and, of course, movies. Performances have included 10,000 Maniacs, Great Big Sea and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, with its 65 musicians and singers. The Performing Arts Center shows mainly cultural and foreign films but has, in the past, shown a Hitchcock Double Feature and arranged a Halloween showing of "Phantom of the Opera" with a live orchestra playing the score.
Because of the wide variety of programming in the center, flexibility is a must. The screen and speakers are portable enough to be moved at a moment's notice, and the screen and masking, both attached to "fly" ropes, can be raised and lowered as needed. The speakers are all on rollaway carts with everything marked so that it can be put back into place precisely as needed.
The sound system is run through a Peavey Media Matrix Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The film sound processor (Smart Mod II-B) decodes the soundtrack as normal then feeds it out to the DSP for distribution to the amplifiers and speakers.
A view from the back of the house. The balcony ceiling above the seating area has concealed speakers for sound reinforcement.
The view looking down to the screen and stage from one of the six box seats that are reserved for VIPs and benefactors of the college.
Affectionately dubbed the "Met" of Erie, the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center boasts of superb acoustics and striking interior design in the main hall, which was dedicated in 1996. The hall has 825 Seats. It has a geoexchange heating and cooling system for absolute quiet environmental control.
When entering the balcony, the control booth is located at the top of the hall, used for both movies and stage productions.
The center uses Simplex XL Projector and Potts-Alpha Platter.
The view inside the booth, which has two doors, one on either side. The platter was installed on the right to provide better access to the booth and maintain flexibility.
There are two sound racks used in the Performing Arts Center. The Peavy Media Matrix DSP receives the signal from the sound racks and then routes it where it is needed. The unique feature of the system is that it can send input to the backstage speakers or to the auditorium's main speakers at the flip of a switch.
JBL Cinema speakers are placed on roll away carts for more flexibility. The Hurley Super-Glo Screen (13' X 31') is mounted to the theatre's 'fly' system which means it can be raised and lowered by one person. The Performing Arts Center can host a ballet performance on one night and show a movie the next.