Technical Specifications

General Information

The National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
202-628-6161 - Management           202-638-4830 - FAX
202-783-6854 - Executive Offices    202-628-3209 - FAX

The National is the only traditional Broadway-style house in Washington, D.C. The Balcony and Mezzanine are close to the stage, with seats sharply raked to produce excellent sight lines.

The stage house and foundations date to 1835, and the theatre has been in operation since that year. The auditorium configuration probably dates to the 1920's. Dressing rooms and a small rehearsal hall are in a building dating to 1984.

Load-ins are made through an interior dock accessed from 14th Street as well as through the font of the house.

Auditorium Seating and Amenities

820	Orchestra	Additional seating can be gained by covering the orchestra pit.
466	Mezzanine
346	Balcony
44	Boxes	Boxes are at the Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony Level
1,676	Total Seats

The theatre is carpeted throughout, with upholstered seats, and aisle lights. State-of-the-art communications systems link stage, dressing rooms and front of the house.

An infrared hearing assistance system, and a booth for radio-signal audio narration for the visually impaired, are available.

35mm Projection

Two 35-mm projectors and a stage-width screen in the theatre are available for rental.

Stage Measurements

* --- There are pin-rails on fly-floors on either side of the stage.
* --- House curtain is operated manually from stage left.

* --- Stage deck is topped with Masonite. The floor can be trapped.
* --- Sets of lines (hemp): 66

Available for rental from the National Theatre: Full-stage blacks: legs, borders, back-drop

Electrics

Electrical service: 3-phase, 1200 amps per phase; 18 legs.
Power located stage right fly-floor.

	Auditorium rails:	40 circuits
	Mezzanine rail	40 circuits
	Balcony rail	39 circuits
	Circuit capacity	20 amps

Box Booms - 12 circuits each - Circuit capacity: 20 amps.
2 stage right - 2 stage left

House lights work from downstage left.
Plugs: three-pin.

Available for rental from National Theatre:
About 50 lighting instruments (mostly lekos), dimmers, control board.
Basic public address sound system, speakers, microphones.

Dressing Rooms

Two carpeted Star dressing rooms are located at stage level, as is a smaller quick-change room (or stage manager/company manager office).

20 Dressing rooms, mostly double-size or larger, are on the two floors above the stage. All rooms have wash basins. Toilets and showers are shared by each pair of rooms.

Backstage Rehearsal Room

Located on the 4th Floor is a practice space measuring approx. 37 ft. by 17 ft., with a sprung wood dance floor, mirrors and piano. This space has served also for the orchestra (CATS), percussion (RAGTIME), or as a schoolroom (various shows).

Wardrobe

Located on basement level, with washer and dryer.

Company Manager/Stage Manager

Office space available backstage.

Load-in

Trucks enter a service drive off 14th Street, NW, between F Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Two trucks may be parked in the dock at one time (theoretically).

Orchestra Pit

The pit is 38’-9” wide and 7 ft. deep. The distance from the curved front wall of the pit to its straight back wall varies from 10' at center-stage to 3' at the sides. The rear of the pit is recessed slightly under the stage. The pit can be covered over to provide two additional rows of seating (Rows AA & BB). Entrance to the pit from under the stage is at stage center.

Disabled Services

Automatic entrance doors, elevators, box office window level, drinking fountains and rest rooms at all levels, and wheelchair locations in the Orchestra, Orchestra Box, Mezzanine and Balcony are available.

Hearing impaired patrons may secure infra-red listening headsets in the lobby.

Sight impaired patrons may hear a live description of the show during selected performances. This service is possible through a grant from Information for the Partially Sighted. Narration provided by The Washington Ear Radio Reading Service.

Read more about Accessibility for Disabled Persons at the National Theatre...

Read more about the History of The National Theatre...

I.A.T.S.E.

IATSE - is The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC.  Click the logo to the left for the Local 22 website.

The National Theatre is proud to be a supporter of the Training/Education project of Local 22, which teaches classes and produces digital training materials including CD-Roms and videos. Developing training aids and offering classes for young people interested in pursuing careers in technical theatre is invaluable for developing their job skills, and also for contributing to safe practices backstage in all union theatres.

IATSE Local   22 is located at : 11247-B Lockwood Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 301-593-4650.

Community Outreach and Public Service Programs

Monday Night at the National, a showcase for outstanding theatre groups, new works, musicians, dancers and other performers, offers two free performances at 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery of the National Theatre.

Saturday Morning at the National presents two free shows for children of all ages at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery of the National Theatre.

Saturday Morning at the National, and Monday Night at the National are offered from September through April.

National Theatre Summer Cinema presents a free, midsummer eight-week program of classic films on Monday Evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery, June through August.

National Theatre Community Vaudeville sends performers out to entertain seniors, children, and other groups at not-for-profit venues throughout the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area.

Special Patron Tickets are available at reduced rates for some performances for members of the following groups: students, military personnel, senior citizens, visually impaired and hearing impaired patrons. Identification requirements apply, and a limited number of tickets are available.