The need for a performing arts center at Wawasee has been brought to the school board’s attention. The current auditorium is extremely limited. Among the issues are walk-in closet sized dressing, no space is available to build sets, no orchestra pit and the auditorium has 58 broken seats.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — “It’s always been my vision, but it’s not for me. It’s for the community,” explained Kristin Bonner, a language arts teacher at Wawasee High School.

That vision is to have a performing arts center for the Wawasee School Corporation. “The possibilities are endless,” she said.

At the school board meeting, held Tuesday, Feb. 14, Bonner gave a 20-minute presentation on why the school corporation needs a PAC. She also included a information packet which included approximately 12 letters from alumni and their parents supporting the need, a wish list for a PAC and potential rental revenue.

While Bonner has wanted a PAC for years, she believes now is the time to make that dream a reality. She credited Geoff Walmer, Wawasee High School principal, with doing “an amazing job finding employees who give their all to the arts.”

That includes Ben Essick, the “new guy in the tech department who has a degree in music technology” and the new art teachers who would love a facility to do art shows.

Jeremy VanLue works closely with the fine and performing arts department, helping with sound and promotion. Students often do promos in the radio studio. Dan Wray has been teaching students how to build sets. And there are several other teachers involved.

“We literally have all the right people (to do this),” Bonner said.

“If we had a performing arts center we would have a place for the theater kids and tech kids and a place to teach people how to sew (costumes),” Bonner said. It would also provide a larger space for the band, which is also growing.

It starts with having a location and she believes there is space on the high school property where a facility with 1,000 seats and a balcony could be built.

The current auditorium is extremely limited. Both the boys’ and girls’ dressing rooms are the size of a large walk-in closet, able to accommodate about four students, although the mirrors are not outfitted to do theater makeup. There are over 50 involved in this year’s spring musical.

There is no space to build sets except on the stage. And even if sets could be built off-site and brought to the school, the doors leading to the stage area aren’t wide enough to accommodate them.

Due to the school’s flat roof, there are height restrictions when it comes to raising and lowering the curtain, meaning it is often damaged. Props and costumes are stored in closets throughout the school, not together where they are easily accessible.

There is also no orchestra pit, so musicians have to set up in the space between the stage and first row of seats to perform during shows.

The auditorium has 58 broken seats and not enough slope to allow everyone to see the performance. The tech booth is not enclosed, so those sitting near it hear the kids working.

Bonner’s dream of a PAC would address those issues.

“In the summer, our town doubles in size. We could offer concerts,” Bonner said. The PAC would also offer opportunities for dance and theater classes.

Bonner hopes the school board reviews her information and visits schools such as Warsaw and Concord High Schools that have PACs to see the benefits they bring to the community.

“It’s time to invest in academics,” Bonner said, noting classes would be held during the school day.

A PAC would also allow for potential partnerships within the community for a variety of events, from concerts and art shows to dinner theater and more.