Museums and theater have a lot in common

Redlands Daily Facts (Carey C. Smith)

Thanks to Kat for sending this article to me. It mentions the touring Tutankhamun exhibtion, in passing, as an example of the way in which museum exhibitions have taken a lot from theatrical design approaches, and the real interest of this light-hearted piece lies in the exploration of the relationship between the two worlds. The article is not specific to Egyptology but it may be of interest to anyone who is intrigued by the development of blockbuster exhibitions, and how they are evolving.

Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage" and never was there a more apt metaphor when designing exhibits for the San Bernardino County Museum.

In fact, theater and museum design share many common traits. In essence, a museum exhibit is a set for inanimate objects. And let's not forget the root of the word museum, "house or place of the muses," where the works of theater, among other fine arts so highly prized by the ancient Greeks, were stored. Every museum in the world now incorporates some element of theater in its displays and exhibits. Visitors to the recent King Tut exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art were treated to an entryway lined with fiberglass golden lotus pillars, each dramatically lit with brightly colored spotlights. Theater! At the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in San Diego, guests can walk through a cave and an archeologist's desert campsite complete with props, sound effects and atmospheric lighting. Theater!

As in the theater, experiential and environmental exhibit designs are an important aspect of an interactive experience. The contemporary museum visitor expects an engaging experience that seems or is authentic. Large spectacle Broadway musicals, theme parks and Las Vegas casino resorts have contributed greatly to this concept of environments that appear authentic and engage visitors. This interest has led to many theatrically related enhancements to the world of exhibits design, and companies that provided materials and equipment exclusively for performing arts venues now include major museums on their client roster.

See the above page for the full story.