The main construction of the junior high has been completed, and it looks almost exactly like the high school: big windows, big stairs, and big everything. The fine arts center, though, is not yet finished, with all of its new additions and changes.
Though the stage is usable, the surrounding areas aren’t fully completed. Events like the WHS choir concert and the NHS induction ceremony took place in the auditorium this spring, though the audience and performers did not utilize the areas still under construction.
This round of construction has made huge changes to the FAC. Actors now have access to much more space with the addition of a room solely for wigs and makeup, along with many more bathrooms unavailable to the cast in the previous version. The new costume room is full of lots of new space to allow the theater company to fully organize and label the clothes. The lobby where many audience members will lounge before and after shows is much larger, unallowing for the crowding present before. As for the stage itself, we acquired new seats, new paint, and new soundproofing, along with lots of new technological and lighting adjustments for better quality performances.
So far, though, not all of these have reached the point of completion. The costume room still needs new shelving, while the cabinets need new paint. The set and prop room that was promised has not been worked on in the slightest so far, leaving the theater company in a tough spot when it comes to moving props around for organization and preparing for the next year.
For those who remember, the band room was huge. That huge room now temporarily holds all of the theater props, costumes, accessories, fabric, doors, and everything in between. The theater company must have this room cleaned out and organized before the next performance in the fall. It’s a big task, and plans have been made for the summer where all will have the time to complete the mountainous project. After the band room is finished, there are plans to convert the area into a black box theater. A black box theater is when the audience is on the stage with the actors as they perform, creating an inviting and exciting atmosphere. Previous shows the theater company has done utilizing this stage technique are all renditions of No Need for Improv-ment and Old Time Radio Show.
A lot of work is needed to get this area to its finished state, but the theater company is willing to put in the work to make the place the best it can be.