ABOUT LYMAN Center

John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts is a multi-use performing arts facility. It consists of two performing spaces and a lobby art gallery. It is also home to the Department of Theatre with its costume and scenery shops.

The Center has many functions and serves the university community as a fine arts performance and education facility. At Lyman Center, you'll find cultural events of all types: music, dance, drama, and sometimes a bit of Broadway. In addition to amateur and professional performances, the Center hosts lectures, academic celebrations, classes, and exams.

The Center facilitates hundreds of events each year. These events are administered and produced by the Lyman Center staff but are often sponsored by university organizations and departments.

ORDERING TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased over the telephone from the Lyman Center box office during box office hours with:

• Visa
• MasterCard
  

Tickets can also be purchased in person at the box office using:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• SCSU HootLoot card
• Check
• Cash

ORDERING TICKETS ON-LINE
Full-price tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day from our On-line Ticketing Home using a Visa or Mastercard. The tickets that are purchased on-line can be printed at the box office and held at will call, mailed to your home, or printed at home on your own printer and scanned in at the theater the night of the show.  Discounted tickets for faculty, staff, and students are subject to ID verification and must be purchased in person at the box office.

STUDENT AND FACULTY DISCOUNTS FOR EVENTS
Many events sponsored by university organizations feature low or discounted ticket prices. Southern students and faculty can take advantage of these discounts by presenting a valid SCSU ID (HootLoot) at the box office. Discounted tickets are usually limited to one or two per student, depending on the presenter. The box office does not always sell tickets for all events held in Lyman Center. Please call the box office for specific ticket and performance information.

PARKING AND HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY
The Center has two large parking lots around the building. See the campus map to locate these parking areas. When classes are not in session, parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  The facility has wheelchair ramps, automatic doors, and an elevator that provide improved access to events held in the Center. There is also hearing augmentation equipment available for use by the hearing impaired.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEATURES OF THE AUDITORIUM?
The most distinctive feature of the auditorium is its three-quarter thrust stage design. The semicircle seating configuration allows seats at the back of the theater to be very close to the stage. The theatrical lighting system of the mainstage is also impressive. A fully computerized system using state-of-the-art technology controls the output of over 500 instruments that are partially hidden in the ceiling behind a tension-wire grid. The stage lighting alone is operated with a power supply of more than 25 times that of typical household electrical service.

WHAT IS THE MAINSTAGE?
The most familiar part of the Center is the mainstage or auditorium. The mainstage is the focal point of many large university events and performances. This auditorium's fixed-seat capacity of l,568 seats makes it similar in size to major area performing arts centers.

WHAT IS THE KENDALL DRAMA LAB?
The Kendall Drama lab is a 50' square black box performance and classroom space used by the Southern Connecticut State University Department of Theatre. In the Drama Lab, students can participate in classes, build sets, and perform in theatrical productions. The seating for Drama Lab performances is flexible and varies depending on set design. The usual format accommodates about 125 people.

WHAT IS THE LOBBY ART GALLERY?
The lobby gallery features a permanent display of sculpture and monthly exhibits of visual art. The art gallery has hosted local artists, arts, organizations, and exhibits of visual art. The art gallery has hosted local artists, arts organizations, and exhibits of notable national and international art collections. There is no charge for visiting the lobby art gallery.

HOW CAN STUDENTS BECOME INVOLVED AT LYMAN CENTER?
The easiest way for students to become involved at Lyman Center is to attend events. The entire university community can enjoy performances by talent of both local and international renown right here on campus. Students interested in cultural events and the performing arts are encouraged to participate in the two organizations at Lyman Center: the Cultural Affairs Club and the Crescent Players.

The CULTURAL AFFAIRS CLUB arranges for the presentation of performances by nationally recognized touring acts in Lyman Center. The club has hosted many activities for close to 20 years including jazz concerts, theatricals, modern dance, and ballet. Upcoming program information, as well as information for students interested in joining the Cultural Affairs Club, is available at the Center box office.

The CRESCENT PLAYERS co-produce plays with the Department of Theatre. Set construction, stage lighting and sound, house management, and acting are all done by students. Under the direction of Theater Department faculty, performances are held in the Kendall Drama Lab on the mainstage, and occasionally at off-campus festivals.

For more information, call the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at (203) 392-6161.