If you thought you heard a great cry resounding through the Force last week (apologies to George Lucas), it was probably the over two-decades worth of former Morgantown High theater kids shouting, “Finally!”
Because the MHS Foundation announced it will be turning its fundraising efforts to renovating the high school’s auditorium.
The grand entryway at street level, with its glittering chandeliers, greeted thousands of parents, extended family, friends and community members to see what magic the spirited, dedicated students could create. The well-trod boards held sure and strong beneath the feet of hundreds of young thespians, while stage hands kept things running smoothly in the shadowed wings. The broad proscenium arch, its deep red curtains flowing like a shawl from wide-open arms, welcomed all to enjoy the show. Until it didn’t.
The exact number of years the theater space has been inoperable is debatable: The stage was still hosting one-act plays and musical rehearsals in 2014, but that was without a lot of essentials.
The below-stage dressing rooms looked like something out of a horror film, so students had to use restrooms or locker rooms for changing. The light/sound booth sat unused (except by the auditorium ghost) as technical theater students operated both from the wings. The ancient wooden seats were falling apart or have fallen apart. Plus, the restrooms are small, and the space technically isn’t ADA compliant.
Generations of theater-loving kids watched as Morgantown High sports and academic departments got new facilities and equipment and wondered, “When will it be our turn?”
Now it’s their turn.
The MHS Foundation is launching “A Stage of Excellence” — a campaign to raise $4 million to give the well-loved auditorium the makeover it needs to welcome the next generation. The hope is the Monongalia County Board of Education will jumpstart the effort by giving the first $2 million.
Truly, it would be a good investment. For at least 20 years, the Metropolitan Theatre downtown has had to be rented for spring musicals, Mohigan Idol and other large performances. That’s money the district could keep in its pocket by bringing shows back to the MHS auditorium. Not to mention all the band and orchestra concerts it could host, as well as induction or award ceremonies. And with padded chairs, it would make a much more comfortable place for assemblies.
And, as others have pointed out, there’s no reason the newly renovated auditorium couldn’t be opened to Morgantown’s thriving art and performance community, which would not only give purpose to the space, but also allow the district to receive some return on its investment.
We hope the BOE will agree that MHS’s theater is a worthwhile venture — and we hope others step up with their own donations. After all, it’s not just an investment in wood and metal and wires — it’s an investment in our community’s creative future.
