As the curtain went down on the final performance of "The Pajama Game," Spencerport High School's spring musical, Meghan McGuire knew that all of the hard work was worth it. The Spencerport senior has been involved in the school's musical theatre program all four years through good times and in bad. She was proud to be on stage as a freshman in "Little Shop of Horrors" and as a sophomore in "Singing in the Rain." She also experienced a theatrical low last year when the musical was canceled before opening night. However, in the theatre world, emotional roller coaster rides are endured in the hopes of grand finale. That's what Spencerport's actors and actresses got performing the first-ever student musical in their new auditorium. "Our final night was the largest turnout I have ever seen at a show," said McGuire, who had the lead role of Gladys in this year's production. "There were a lot more people involved in this year's musical and definitely a lot more people in the audience." Sophomore Rachel Lauber shared the spotlight with McGuire in this year's production. She said the new auditorium, and a solid first musical on its stage, will go a long way toward shaping the school's future. "It proves that Spencerport drama is back, and we're here to stay," said Lauber. Sit in any of the 1,000 cushy seats, or get bold enough to hop up on stage when no one else is looking, and it becomes clear to even the theatre novice that the new facility is one of the jewels in the school district's $47 million capital project. Bret Miller, director/producer of "The Pajama Game," has worked in several auditoriums across Monroe County, giving him an educated appreciation for Spencerport's new facility. Miller said the auditorium is excellently crafted for top-notch lighting and sound, while being versatile for performers and aesthetically pleasing for audience members. "The new Spencerport Performing Arts Center is exceptional. I have been saying that this theater is going to be the envy of the county for some time," said Miller. "It was a pleasure working there. Now that I really know what can be done, I am excited to be able to utilize the space even better in the future." The auditorium is equipped with an orchestra pit as well as a 55-foot wide proscenium and stage. There are 25 fly-ins for stage rigging and scenery. There are also acoustic shells, which project vocal and instrumental sound into the auditorium. Stage lighting is controlled by a digital control board located in the projection booth, and fixtures are mounted on a ceiling walkway in the auditorium ceiling. It is also equipped with a digital projector, housed in the projection booth. The sound system includes a digitally mixed 32-channel system with wireless microphones, wired microphones, and CD and tape inputs and outputs. The auditorium has convertible seating spaces, which can accommodate standard seats or wheelchairs. Also in the auditorium space, there are four peripheral platforms, which can be used for theatre-in-the-round type presentations, or for additional stage lighting locations. The auditorium complex also has a stagecraft room and a green room, used for performers to dress and apply makeup. The gathering space outside the auditorium doors is contiguous with the high school cafeteria. John Britton, Spencerport's director of facilities, said the unique setting was developed with faculty and staff input "The building placement and orientation was arrived at after an architectural and administration study of three to four alternatives," said Britton. "The interior design went through quite a number of alterations as well to balance the needs outlined by the music and drama faculty, sound and sight considerations, costs considerations, and building and fire code requirements." The auditorium, which from concept to completion took about two-and-a-half years, was one piece of a total capital project that included: land purchase, one new school, massive expansions to the high school and middle school, a new football/track stadium, upgraded utility services, and heating updates at five existing schools. While the auditorium should rocket Spencerport's arts program into the future, it will also benefit the general school community by allowing for student assemblies. Some upcoming uses of the new facility include: Academic Awards Ceremony, Athletic Awards Ceremony, Justo Lamas Concert (an Argentinean teen idol whose concert is being sponsored by the Spanish program at the middle school), High School instrumental music program, Totally TCP concert, Expressions of Dance performance recital. Michelle Kellaway, musical director for the Junior High production of "Fiddler on the Roof," shared her high school counterparts' enthusiasm for the new auditorium. "It is like buying a new car for the first time, after always driving used ones," said Kellaway. |
