Orpheum Theatre
Technical Specs
This page provides detailed information on the Orpheum Theatre's technical capabilities, and equipment to assist in planning and executing successful performances. It covers stage dimensions, lighting and sound systems, rigging, and other technical resources. Please review the following specifications to facilitate your planning process.
Orpheum Theatre
Expand each section below for full information. Click here to download the full technical specs.
Street Address:
Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Stage Door:
On Beale St. between Front St. and Main St.
Mailing Address:
Orpheum Theatre, P.O. Box 3370, Memphis, TN 38173
| President & CEO | Brett Batterson: 901-529-4224 |
| Executive Vice President & CFO | Paulette Luker: 901-529-4225 |
| Vice President & COO | Dacquiri Baptiste: 901-529-4248 |
| Director of Facilities and Engineering | Richard Reinach: 901-529-4232 |
| Technical Director | Charles “Chuck” Materna: 901-529-4286 |
| Administration | 901-525-7800 |
| Box Office | 901-525-3000 |
| Backstage Security | 901-529-4235 |
| Stagehands | I.A.T.S.E. Local #69: 901-327-4994 Business Agent: Andrea Hoffman President: Allen Byassee |
| Wardrobe and Hair | I.A.T.S.E. Local #825: 901-218-3449 Business Agent: Stacy Caldwell President: Margaret Morgan |
| Main Stage (lighting, color, lamps, tape) | 901-274-4444 |
| Tennessee Concert Sound (audio) | 731-772-2292 |
| Nolan’s (audio, visual, lighting) | 901-527-4313 |
| Keyboards in Black and White (backline) | 901-550-5780 |
| ProShow Systems (Audio and Lighting | 901-327-0550 |
| Pro Audio (audio) | 901-323-1066 |
| Profound Sound (audio) | 901-849-2983 |
| Yarbrough Music (instruments) | 901-761-0414 |
FROM THE NORTH: Take I-55 South to I-40 East. Cross the Mississippi on the Arkansas-Tennessee Bridge. Take exit #1, the Front St. South exit, just before you get off the bridge. Turn right and follow Front St. to Beale St. Cross Beale St. The loading dock is on your left on the corner of Front St. and Beale St.
FROM THE WEST: Take I-40 East. Cross the Mississippi on the Arkansas-Tennessee Bridge. Take exit #1, the Front St. South exit, just before you get off the bridge. Turn right and follow Front St. to Beale St. Cross Beale St. The loading dock is on your left on the corner of Front St. and Beale St.
FROM THE SOUTH: Take I-55 North. Take exit 12-A, Crump St. East. Follow Crump St. East to 3rd St. Turn left. Follow 3rd St. to Linden St. Turn left. Follow Linden St. 3 stoplights to Front St. Turn Right. The loading dock is on your right on the corner of Front St. and Beale St.
FROM THE EAST: Take I-40 West. Take exit 1-C, (Hwy 51 South) Danny Thomas Blvd. south. Follow Danny Thomas Blvd. south to Linden St., turn right. Follow Linden St. west to Front St., turn right. The loading dock is on your right on the corner of Front St. and Beale St.
FROM EAST MEMPHIS: Take I-240 towards Jackson, MS. At the I-240 / I-55 connector, take I-55 towards St, Louis. I-55 North brings you to downtown Memphis. Exit I-55 at Riverside Drive, follow Riverside Drive north. Turn right at the first stoplight. This will be Beale Street. The theatre is located two blocks east on Beale at the corner of Beale and South Main.
FROM THE WEST ON I-55: Cross the Arkansas – Tennessee Bridge. Take the second exit after crossing the bridge. This will be the Riverside Drive exit. Travel Riverside Drive north. Turn right at the first stoplight. This will be Beale Street. The theatre is located two blocks east on Beale at the corner of Beale and South Main.
FROM THE WEST ON I-40: Cross the new Arkansas – Tennessee Bridge. Take the first exit. This will be the Riverside Drive exit. Follow Riverside Drive south, until you reach Beale Street. Turn left onto Beale Street. The theatre is located two blocks east on Beale at the corner of Beale and South Main.
FROM THE AIRPORT: Leaving the Airport, turn west onto Winchester. Follow Winchester to the I-55 interchange. Enter I-55 north. I-55 north brings you to downtown Memphis. Exit I-55 at Riverside Drive, follow Riverside Drive north. Turn right at the first stoplight. This will be Beale Street. The theatre is located two blocks east on Beale at the corner of Beale and South Main.
ONCE YOU HAVE ARRIVED: There is no free parking. Parking is available at several public lots surrounding the theatre. Parking may be a problem. There are many facilities that utilize the public lots. We recommend that you arrive at least 30 - 45 minutes before curtain to take advantage of parking in this immediate area.
Additional direction and parking information is available here.
| Proscenium Opening | 30’ – 0” x 54’- 0” |
| Grid | Grid Height: 65’ – 3” Pipe Travel: 59’ - 0” (House Electrics 58’ – 2”) NOTE: Grid limit – 60 #PSF |
| Stage Depth | Stage lip: 4’ – 4” at center, 2’8” at SR & SL edges Downstage edge /orchestra pit: 14’ – 7” Last line set: 49’ – 10" Upstage Columns: 50’ – 0” Back wall: 51' – 4” NOTE: sprung floor rated to 375 # PSI, 300# PSF |
| Stage Width | Wall to wall: 106’ – 1” Ctr to SL wall: 55’ – 7” Ctr to SL column: 47’ – 11” Ctr to SR lock rail: 50’ – 6” Ctr to SR column: 47’ – 11” |
| Plaster Line at Center Stage To | Balcony rail: 65’ – 0” Box Booms: 60’ – 0” Cove: 125’ – 0” Spot Booth: 120’ – 0” Mix Position (sound and light board) 88’ – 0” 1st row of seats: 18’ – 0” |
| Curtain Line To | Stage lip: 7’ – 0” Downstage edge of orchestra pit: 17’ – 3” |
| Loading Dock | 3 Doors @ 11’ – 4” x 9’ – 4” Located at rear of theatre on Front St. |
| Beale Street Door | 8’ X 8’ Door, 1’-6” down from street to stage level |
| Freight Elevator | Loading dock to Wardrobe room-2nd floor Door size: 7’ – 0”h x 8’ – 0” w Compartment size: 7’ – 9” w x 9’ – 4” d |
| Orchestra Pit | Moving section: 10’ – 2” d @ center x 35’ – 6” w Fixed section: 11’ – 0” d x 32’ – 1” w Organ pit: 11’ – 4” w x 9’ – 4” d |
90-single purchase line sets
6-hoist lines each
Wells are 14’ apart and split center (Also well at center)
1 1/2” pipe @73’ – 0” long
7’ – 0” arbors rated @ 1100#
Locking rail at stage level SR and +32’- 0” SR
Pin rails located SL & SR. elev. +32’ – 0”
SL 40 pins
SR 40 pins (2nd lock rail)
Rope: 5000’ of 5/8” hemp
Spot line sheaves – 40
NOTE: Sheaves on line set #44 can move DS only. Sheaves on line set #53 ,#54 & #55 cannot be moved. Sheaves on line set #62 can move DS only. Sheaves on line set #63 can move US only.
Line set #61 useable but very tight. #62, #63, #64, and #65 are pulled behind a column and very tight.
1 valance @ 16’ x 60’ – Rust color
1 main curtain, 2@ 31’ x 32’ (travel or guillotine from SR) 2 people to operate
5 sets black legs (flat) @ 31’ – 0” x 16’ – 0”
2 black borders @ 12’ x 60’
6 black borders @ 8’ – 0” x 60’ – 0”
2 full black out drops @ 31’ – 0” x 60’ – 0”
1 black sharkestooth scrim @ 31’ – 0” x 64’ – 0”
1 white sharkestooth scrim @ 29’ – 0” x 64’ – 0”
1 white “leno” filled scrim cyc @ 29’ – 0” x 64’ – 0”
Fiber Optic Star Drop 30’ X 60’ (6 light emitters)
1 Harkness Matt Plus movie screen 54’ x 30’
| Lighting Desk | ETC Element 60
|
| Dimming and Circuits | 192 @ 2.4kw ETC Sensor + 9 @ 6kw ETC Sensor + 48 @ 2.4kw ETC sensor rack (SL & SR) (ETC Dimmers are driven by DMX-B) 285 dimmers available |
| Instrumentation Over Stage | 6 @ ETC Source Four 50° (575-X) 48 @ ETC Source Four 36° (575-X) 33 @ ETC Source Four 26° (575-X) 38 @ ETC Source Four 19° (575-X) 9 @ ETC Source Four 10° (575-X) 95 @ ETC Source Four PAR (575-X) 12 @ 8” Fresnel (2kw) 12 @ 2 cell cyc lights (1kw) 10 @ chroma Qs spec for high CYC use only |
Front of House (standard house hang) | Cove: 24 @ 5° ETC Source Four / 24 @ 2.4kw circuits 125’ to stage Box Booms (per side): 10 @ 19° ETC Source Four / 12 @ 2.4kw circuits 60’ to stage Balcony Rail: 30 @ 2.4kw circuits |
| Follow Spots | 4 @ 3kw Xenon Lycian 1293’s |
| Road Power | Front of house patch (transfer) located DSR 87 FOH circuits DSR 3 @ 400A / 120 / 208 volt / 3 phase USR 2 @ 400A / 120 / 208 volt / 3 phase USL 1 @ 400A / 120 / 208 volt / 3 phase MSL 1 @ 200A / 120 / 208 volt / 3 phase isolated ground |
| Miscellaneous | side arms, roto-locks, cheeseboros 8 @ 50# boom bases, pipe: 10’, 15’, & 21’ lengths |
| Sound Desk | Yamaha QL5-32 Digital Mixing Console Yamaha LS9-32 digital mixing console |
| Speakers | Meyer Line Array system Delay fills Wedges |
| System Power | Self powered Meyer speakers. Crown com-tech (70-volt, Backstage Program) |
| Microphones | 7@ Shure SM 58 6 @ Shure SM 57 6 @ Shure Beta 56A 2 @ Shure Beta 52 2 @ AKG SR 450 Wireless (handheld & belt pack) 3 @ AKG 452 3 @ Crown PCC 160 4 @ EV RE16-4 7 @ Whirlwind passive DI 2 @ EV Polar Choice Podium Mics |
| Playback | CD player available |
| Intercom | Clear-com CS 200 14 @ Headsets & belt packs 3 @ biscuits with handsets |
| Sound Reinforcement Consists of | Left / Right Array & Center Array Front Fills Under balcony fills |
| Mix Position | Located house left of center aisle on orchestra level Size: 19’ – 7” x 9’ – 0” (shared with light board) 88’ – 0” from down stage center |
| On Stage Monitor System | None available |
| Program and Page | In all support areas |
From stage floor to plaster line
| Height | 3' | 15' | 24' | 48' |
| Distance Front Flat | 0' | 76' | 57' | 94' |
| Distance Front With Angle | 0' | 78' | 62' | 105' |
| Distance Flat Back | 94' | 94' | 94' | 108' |
| Distance Back With Angle | 94' | 95' | 101' | 122' |
| Angle | 0° | 12° | 22° | 27° |
Eiki LC-S6, 5.8K digital projector
Barco RLM-W8 (8000 Lumens)
Both projectors share switcher rack.
Switcher rack w/ 3 Blu-Ray players, VHS, and serial inputs
2 @ 35mm film projectors
Front Projection Screen – 10.5’ x 14’
Harkness Matt Plus Cinemiracle Screen – 54’ x 30’
| Stage Level | 1 Star Dressing Room |
| Above Stage | 2 @ 2 person (star) stations 2 @ 8 person stations 4 @ 17 person stations (chorus rooms) |
| Below Stage | 3 @ 6 person stations 1 @ Production office / Orchestra room |
| Note | 12 total. All dressing rooms have rest rooms with showers, make-up counters, Broadway style make-up lights, individual climate control, program and paging. Most dressing rooms have phone lines and high speed internet hook-ups available. |