I am working with a local civic group to build a 50-seat theater / presentation room attached to a local museum. It will have stadium style seating and an 18' projection screen. For right now, we are in fact-finding mode.

What is the first step?

Do we need to talk to people in acoustic design and then take those ideas to an architect?

Are there firms who specialize in theater design?
(This project is near Evansville, Indiana)

I want to make sure that we get pointed in the right direction and this room has the best acoustics and sound possible.

Thanks,
Rob

only 50 seat with an 18' projection screen? That seems a little overkill for that. Most 500 seat theaters only have about a 30' screen. 50 people is just 4 rows of 12 people or maybe 7 rows of 7. Unless you're putting the screen 25' or so from the first row, that screen would be pretty big. For 50 people, you don't have to worry as much about acoustic/audio design as you would in a 500 person theater. But it would still be a really good idea.

Steve Haas has a lot of experience in that type of field, they are also great for estate homes multiroom muliti venue soundproofing etc. as well as flexible to work with controversial components(Torus screens and MBL speakers).

They are currently doing THE MUSEUM in Washington DC.

you want to find a local pro av contractor in your area. SPL, AVI, or whomever.