Students walk into 12th Street Auditorium and witness a depressing sight. Chipped paint, stained floors, cracked walls and dim lighting surrounds them.
Musical and Spring Play are both rehearsed and performed at 12th Street Auditorium, which is located half-way across town from the school. Due to rehearsals scheduled after school, students have to race from the parking so they can get to rehearsal at the scheduled time. Often, rehearsal is cut into, due to students inability to get to rehearsal.
The auditorium is not equipped with a costume shop or any storage. All excess wood and props are stored in a downstairs hallway that is used to get from one side of the stage to the other. Today, little room is left in that hallway.
In addition, there is no parking lot at the auditorium. During rehearsals, students park on the street. However, come performance time, there is not enough room for the audience to park close to the building. Cars line up around the block and on the residential streets around the auditorium.
Hays High also hosts annual music competitions and events, such as the Hays City Music Festival as well as the junior high district band and the high school district jazz band. For these events, large ensembles must perform in the gym. This location makes the sound seem muffled and spread out, affecting the overall performance.
With a new auditorium on school grounds, these conflicts could be avoided. In addition, we could hold more drama classes, as well as put on more performances during the school year.
14awalters@usd489.com
