Carnival Studio Theater: rigging, power, haze and technical access

Which room and riser arrangement apply to the event?

CST is inside the Ziff Ballet Opera House building at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132. It is a flexible theater in the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County. Do not use Knight Concert Hall, another room or an outdoor plaza’s specifications to size this setup.

Use the agreed layout and an identified plan revision. The rental page and 2025 brochure advertise a maximum capacity of 200; the technical manual, revision 25/01/2026, describes seating up to 225 depending on configuration. Confirm the contracted layout and occupancy with Production; do not choose the higher figure for ticket sales.

Riser plans show alternatives, not structural or egress authorization for your project. Mark stage, screens, towers, control positions, rows and exits on the same revision. If a change reduces an aisle or blocks a door, correct the plan and obtain the affected acceptance before doors open.

Resolution R-1038-25 identifies the County as owner and Adrienne Arsht Center Trust, Inc. as responsible for management, operations and maintenance.

Can a screen hang from the grid or stand on towers?

The manual places the grid at approximately 21 ft and lists four 1/4 ton motors for rental. Those facts do not establish allowable point or structural loads. Obtain authorized locations and capacities for the design, including complete screen, truss, motor, cabling and accessory weights and calculated reactions.

Compare elevations in a project section: grid access surface, suspension element and equipment bottom are different references. Allow for actual motor, rigging, truss and screen dimensions before proposing a usable height; do not treat 21 ft as clear height for the entire system.

The Ground & Lighting Plan distinguishes 20 ft 3 in clear below the grid from a walking surface at 21 ft. Do not use grid height as available installation clearance: allow for equipment, suspension components and venue-required clearances. Confirm current dimensions before sizing the system.

For towers or supports, check base and wheel loads, protection and route. The described floor uses Masonite over plywood and resilient supports; that construction does not provide an allowable concentrated load. Keep the option pending if floor or point data are missing. Architectural and lighting plans do not replace structural calculations.

What should you check if power or lighting control is missing?

The manual lists a 200 A, 5-wire disconnect. Obtain voltage, phases, connectors, protection and available event distribution capacity from the electrical lead. Do not infer those details from rated current. Submit consumption and load allocation before energizing; connection and operation of house equipment must be assigned to authorized personnel.

For lighting, the manual identifies ETC Net3 gateways as universe 2 outputs. Compare the agreed universe and patch with the control position’s output. A different output universe can distinguish an assignment issue from a power issue. Have the house operator perform the check; do not reconfigure gateways as a test without saving and agreeing the previous state.

House lights, work lights and non-dims use separate ETC Paradigm control. A show console’s inability to operate them does not prove a fault. Identify the correct control for each circuit and maintain required lighting and egress conditions while checking the show system.

What should be prepared for haze, smoke, flame or pyrotechnics?

The manual requires coordinating City of Miami Fire Rescue inspectors for events using open flame, smoke, haze or pyrotechnics. It calls for a Fire Watch request to Production at least 4 weeks ahead and publishes a minimum of 4 hours at USD 70 per hour. These are conditions in the manual revised 25/01/2026: confirm current availability, rate and scope for the event budget.

Submit model, product or fluid, applicable SDS, position, discharge direction, and test and show times. Obtain effects acceptance, inspections and applicable permits separately. Booking Fire Watch does not establish that the effect is already permitted. Neither does machine availability.

Treat changes to the unit, fluid, position or sequence as project changes. For lasers, obtain a specific assessment of equipment, class and beam path; the Fire Watch section does not grant laser authorization. If acceptance is missing, prepare the program without the effect and keep detection operational.

Which truck can enter, and who operates the theater equipment?

Technical access is via NE 14th Street, approached eastbound from NE 2nd Avenue. CST’s direct dock accommodates a truck or trailer up to 20 ft; additional 53 ft bays require reservation and depend on Ziff Ballet Opera House activity. Confirm vehicle and slot before dispatch: a large bay in the building does not establish availability for your load-in.

The manual lists an entry door 11 ft 11 in high and wide. Compare packed dimensions, orientation and handling with the entire route, not just that door. The venue states it owns no forklifts; include equipment, operator, floor and procedure in the technical advance if one is needed. Shared personnel lifts also require advance allocation.

Crew must check in with Security at Stage Door, at NE 2nd Avenue and NE 14th Street, with identification and authorization. The manual specifies IATSE Local 500 crew and reserves house equipment operation for department heads or personnel designated by the Steward. Confirm duties and staffing before quoting; do not budget outside operation of those systems as though it were authorized.

How should approvals, costs and changes preserve the accepted setup?

Separate reservation and contract, technical acceptance and authority permits. The rental page requires liability insurance and states that event staff, production labor and equipment are excluded from base rental rates. Obtain a dated quote separating setup, testing, show, strike, motors, crew, services and Fire Watch; do not treat the technical inventory as an included package.

Identify revision number, date and responsibility for each acceptance. Changes to attendance, risers, heights, weight, points, circuits, access or effects must go to the relevant reviewer. If a change is not approved, return to the previous design only if it remains authorized and matches actual room conditions.

This worksheet prepares a CST setup; it does not establish a reservation, authorized load, occupancy, connection or effects permit for a specific event.