SUNY Geneseo — Venue specifications, stage dimensions, load-in procedures, and facility guidelines for production teams and visiting artists.
Welcome to the Wadsworth Auditorium technical overview page.
Use the navigation list below to jump directly to specific venue dimensions, rigging limits, or venue rules.
Venue & Seating Summary
- Total Seating Capacity: 938 (Orchestra: 687 | Balcony: 256)
- Box Office Phone:
585-245-5873 or 1-800-525-2070
- Stage Surface: Suspended edge-grain pine (painted black)
- Communications: Production Intercom main-station (SR); up to 7 comm stations available (FOH, SR, SL, Fly Rail)
Load-In & Access
- Location: Southwest corner of the auditorium (viewed from Visitors Circle).
- Loading Dock: No loading dock available.
- Door Dimensions:
4' 6" W × 6' 9" H
- Path to Stage: Equipment must be ramped or carried up a short incline, through house aisles (
2' 9" narrowest width), and lifted 3' 6" onto the stage.
- Available Equipment: One ramp (
12' L × 28" W).
- Accessibility: Wheelchair elevator available (accommodates cases up to
5' in length).
Stage & Proscenium Dimensions
Proscenium Width & Height: 32' 8" W × 20' 2" H
Stage Width (Wall-to-Wall): 46' 0"
Stage Height Above House Floor: 3' 7"
Grid Height: 29' 0"
Plaster Line to Back Wall: 30' 0" (22' 0" usable depth when Orchestra Shell is stored)
Plaster Line to Stage Edge: 10' 0" (15' 6" to pit cover edge)
Removable Pit Cover Depth: 5' 6"
Wing Clearance:
SR: 10' 0" wide (9' 0" overhead clearance)
SL: 9' 0" wide (7' 4" overhead clearance)
Orchestra Pit: 13' 0" × 35' 0" (Stage overhangs pit by 7' 6". Cover stores in 5' x 5' sections)
Fly System, Rigging & Soft Goods
- Fly System: 25 double-purchase counterweight lines (16 currently available).
- Weight Capacity:
- Electrics: 400 lbs max limit.
- Regular Battens: 500 lbs max limit (due to arbor capacity).
- Available Counterweights: 5,625 lbs total (225 weights available).
- Battens: Average length of
40' 0".
- House Curtain: Red velour traveler (manually operated from Stage Right).
- Masking: 2 sets of black velour legs, 4 black velour borders.
Acoustic Shell & Backstage Facilities
Acoustic Shell
Custom shell with 7 tower sections (occupies 12' 6" × 10' 0" floor area). When not in use, towers store against the upstage wall (reduces stage depth by approx. 6'). Includes 4 overhead ceiling "clouds" hung from battens that fold vertically and fly to the grid.
Dressing Rooms
- Stage Left: 2 rooms (Capacity: 2 people each).
- Downstairs: 2 rooms (Capacity: 8–10 people each).
- Amenities: All rooms feature makeup lights, mirrors, sinks, and lavatories. (Coin-operated laundromat located 1 block from the auditorium).
Critical Venue Policies
🚫 Pyrotechnics Prohibited: The use of any pyrotechnics is strictly prohibited inside Wadsworth Auditorium.
⚠️ Smoke Detector Sensitivity: The house is equipped with an extremely sensitive smoke detection system. Coordinate all fog or haze machine usage with technical staff well in advance.