Shell (theater)
Structural element of a theatre
In theatre, a shell (also known as an acoustical shell, choral shell or bandshell) is a curved, hard surface designed to reflect sound towards an audience.
Often shells are designed to be removable, either rolling away on wheels or lifting into a flyspace. Shells are most commonly used for orchestras, bands and choirs, although they can also be used in any application that requires passive sound amplification. Shells are generally made of hard materials, because they are designed to absorb as little sound as possible.
01History
Acoustical shells were developed to reflect sound outward, focused in one direction as opposed to the ″sound in the round″ diffused from all sides of the open gazebo bandstand. In the United States they were built in large city parks and amusement parks as bands increased in size.
Free−standing outdoor shells in a variety of styles were built starting in the 1890s. Professional architects were often employed to design them with varying degrees of acoustical success. The Hollywood Bowl shell, based on a 1928 prototype by Lloyd Wright, has been rebuilt several times with the present structure being the fifth on that site.
Rectangular pavilions with enclosed shell and stage, similar to one in Boise, Idaho (pictured), were being built after 1900. These proved very effective as outdoor performing venues, and many are still in use.
02Rotorua Soundshell
The Rotorua Soundshell was an outdoor shell theatre in the Rotorua CBD on the shore of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand. Built in 1947, it was the locale for the Rotorua Soundshell Talent Quest, won in 1956 by the original Howard Morrison Quartet, thereby launching the career of Sir Howard Morrison. The shell building was replaced in 1958 by a modern structure that thrived until its demolition in 2019, retaining its original name despite no longer being an acoustic shell.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Shell (theater)”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Julia Davis Bandshell.JPG by Karakorum90, Public domain
- Lake Braddock Symphony Orchestra.JPG by The original uploader was Compuguy1088 at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5
- Concha acústica del antiguo cine Avenida.jpg by Codina, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
