The new Jenny Boyd Theatre at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is designed as a replacement for the Carousel Theatre and will continue the longstanding legacy of experimental theater at the university, which has hosted drama groups and theater productions for nearly 100 years. Taking inspiration from the original Carousel Theatre, an open-air prefabricated structure which served as the first home to the Theatre Department on campus, the new building offers enhanced capabilities while continuing the innovative and welcoming spirit that has come to define UT’s theater culture.
The design for the new theatre maintains the intimate atmosphere and character of the original Carousel Theatre while incorporating contemporary elements and essential amenities. The new building serves as a teaching tool that provides a versatile space that the Theatre’s departments can seamlessly transition between different theatrical formats and allow students and community members alike to experiment with new dramatic forms and expressions. At the same time, it offers additional space for gathering and community connections in the form of an expanded lobby and patron lounge.
Every element of the performance space was designed to encourage experimentation. To create the most flexible performance space possible, the new Carousel Theatre utilizes a trapped floor system—a series of uniform platforms that allows for various configurations, from end stage or thrust to arena setups which capture the spirit of the original in-the-round theatre. Material selections in the performance space emphasize humble, off-the-shelf materials that can be easily deconstructed and replaced post-production, encouraging an exploratory attitude towards the building that supports creativity and innovation.
Outside, the building’s form is embedded into the landscape takes a similar low profile to the original Carousel Theatre and harmonizes with surrounding campus structures and existing pedestrian circulation patterns. Taking inspiration from the nearby Clarence Brown Theatre, the Jenny Boyd Theatre incorporates a brick façade but with a system of metal reveals that establish horizontal datums tied to the scale of the original Carousel Theatre.
At its core, the Jenny Boyd Theatre functions as an educational tool, both for students and faculty, and for residents for whom the theater has become a beloved community amenity. An inclusive attitude, expressed through the adaptable design and straightforward materials, welcomes a close connection to the theater productions for both audience and performers alike.
