Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the application tendency of the western classical style which appears in contemporary performing arts centers. The types of space in performing arts centers were investigated according to the times. There were somewhat fixed stage and auditorium types for each period ; the ancient times had the arena stage and round auditorium, the Renaissance the proscenium stage and the U-shaped auditorium, the Elizabethan period the thrust stage and polygonal auditorium, and the modern times the proscenium and apron stage, the horseshoe and fan type auditorium. Today since the purposes of performance are multiple, a variety of stage types are applied to each performing arts center. They use various spaces and performances of multiple purposes by moving and transforming the stage and auditorium according to the kinds of performance as a variation of the arena and proscenium stage. Recently there appear complex performing arts centers that can plan performing spaces of diverse sizes and forms to fit the functions of a performance in a large building. Since they put on performances in a large space according to the characteristics of the kind of performance, the intentions and goals of the performance are well delivered to the audience.