Forest Robert Theatre
The Forest Roberts Theatre is one of the finest university theaters in the nation. The performance space boasts computerized lighting control and sound systems maintained from both an overhead and ground-floor booth, a full-size orchestra pit, and seats for 508 patrons.
Backstage, one can find a massive fly space, four props and scenery decks, two 25-mirror dressing rooms, a green room, an electrics shop, and costume storage. A box office is located in the lobby where tickets are sold prior to the shows. Classes are sometimes taught in the FRT as well. Theatre and Dance majors put what they learn in performance and technical theatre classes into practice onstage and backstage in up to ten major productions per year.
The building's namesake, Forest Roberts, was hired at NMU as head of the English Department in 1928. In 1955, he also established what is now Communication and Performance Studies, for which he also served as department head. He also was the director of college and U.P. debate leagues and the faculty chair of the Alumni Relations Committee.