High School Auditorium
Construction of the Ballard Auditorium began in the Fall of 2009. The auditorium, located just south of the high school gymnasium, opened its doors in the Fall of 2011 as one of the finest performing art facilities in the state of Iowa. The state of the art venue serves as a host to the exceptional entertainment provided by all Ballard Performing Arts including instrumental music, vocal music, and drama.
Seating capacity at the auditorium is 760 patrons. Seating is all in the lower house level. Tiered seating provides every patron with a spectacular view of the stage performance. The auditorium stage is composed of professional grade theatre flooring and measures LENGTH by WIDTH with a LENGTH by WIDTH proscenium centered on the stage.
The auditorium features a full functioning fly system and state of the art lighting and sound, both operated in the upper level control room. Other amenities include a scene shop, dressing areas, and a spacious lobby complete with a ticket booth and rest rooms.
Directions
From the north: Traveling south on Highway 69 from Ames, turn right onto North Main Avenue. Take the immediate next right on to Lynwood Avenue. The high school is straight ahead. The auditorium is located through the main doors in the front of the school.
From the south: Traveling north on Highway 69 from Ankeny, turn left onto North Main Avenue. Take the immediate next right on to Lynwood Avenue. The high school is straight ahead. The auditorium is located through the main doors in the front of the school.
Additional Auditorium Information
Stage
The overall width of the stage floor measures LENGTH while the depth is NUMBER. The proscenium opening is NUMBER wide and NUMBER tall and is centered on the overall width of the stage. The stage surface is composed of TYPE OF MATERIAL providing excellent traction and stability. The stage also features a 50’ high, full-functioning fly-loft with catwalk access to theatrical controls. The fly system itself is composed of a total of 32 tracks with 9 different curtains, 4 separate electric sets, and 4 separate leg curtains.
Seating
The auditorium seating capacity is 760 which is all located in the lower level. There are eight handicap accessible seats spread throughout three different seating areas to provide different viewing experience levels. There are two aisles dividing the house seating and side aisles providing easy seating access.
Sloped and tiered seating are provided to minimize sightline obstructions making every seat the best seat in the house. A stairway within the auditorium lobby provides access to the upper level control room.
Control Room
The control room is located above the auditorium, centered on the stage. The control room serves as the main operation center for the lighting and sound systems.
Lighting
The theater lighting is served through two 96 circuit ETC dimmer racks. Installed theatrical instruments include (24) 26 degree, (8) 19 degree, (12) 36 degree, (5) 50 degree ellipsoidal 575W spots. Also included are (24) 575W PAR EA stage fill lights, (14) PARNel stage fill lights, (6) Altman SKY CYC lights, and (6) 12 cell 150W border lights. The stage includes 4 flown electrics each equipped with a DMX outlet for moving lights or specialty fixtures.
Sound
Sound controls are located in the control room above the auditorium. The main sound control audio mixer is a Soundcraft model GB-4, 32 channel mixer which feeds a Biamp Audia digital signal processor and QSC remote amplifiers with remote power sequencing. Additional features include audio recording and playback capabilities, portable floor monitors and a multi-channel Clear-Com intercom system. The auditorium has a variety of wired and wireless professional microphones for instrument, vocal, and choir reinforcement.
The speaker system consists of Community I-Box Series loudspeakers in a central cluster arrangement with delayed satellite speakers. Upper balcony sound is provided Community Cloud Series recessed speakers while under balcony seating sound is provided with ceiling mounted mini-monitors by EAW. Sound system speakers can also be found in the sound locks and backstage areas.
Scene Shop, Practice, and Dressing Areas
The scene shop is located directly behind the stage and is used to store props, flys, and backdrops. The scene shop area provides direct access to the stage, instrumental, vocal, practice and dressing areas minimizing cross over between patrons and performers. Dressing areas are located across from the scene shop and are directly accessible from the stage. A two-sided make up room divides the men’s and women’s dressing rooms.
Lobby
An expansive lobby is adjacent to the auditorium main entrance. The lobby houses the ticket booth and restrooms. All entry areas into the auditorium are defined by two sets of doors to create a sound lock and to minimize sound disruption from adjacent areas.