A Historic Cinema becomes a Contemporary Stage

The Strand Theater, American Conservatory Theater
San Francisco, CA

American Conservatory Theatre’s second theatre: The Strand is an adaptation of an old movie house shell with a mid-town location to make a 280-seat playhouse, a rehearsal room with a view, an exceptional lobby and back of house support. It is a home for ACT’s edgier work and their MFA program, and thus is a tool to develop new audiences.

In terms of innovations and problem solving, we proposed to ACT that a new audience would appreciate an escape from rigid rows of seats; but in terms of ease of use, we promised and understood that minimization of effort is the only way to consider seating changeovers. With a slight modification to the concrete and a very small amount of platform movement, The Strand can quickly change to cabaret seating on the orchestra level.

Completion: 2015
Architect: SOM
Scope: Theatre & AV Consulting
Photo Credit: Bruce Damonte
See What’s Playing: The Strand Theater