THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504250133
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Mary Clough couldn't be more excited.
There are ballerinas dancing in her head. Students performing in major productions. Symphony orchestras playing classical music and show tunes.
And all of it, finally, is happening in the brand new, 850-seat Smithfield High School auditorium, due to open officially on Sunday.
Clough teaches chorus and drama at Smithfield High, and both groups of her students have been doing well without a modern auditorium. The drama club will soon present a dinner theater. The chorus earned superior and excellent ratings at the District VIII Choral Festival last month.
But imagine what both groups can do, Clough says, now that they have a real stage with lighting, sound and proper acoustics.
``It will be fabulous for the kids!'' Clough said recently, as she waved her arms across the expanse of the facility, as if directing already. ``We'll be able to train the students to do stage and lighting.
``It could open employment opportunities for them, scholarship opportunities. This is an incredible enrichment.''
Built in 1981, Smithfield's high school has been waiting for years for its own auditorium - and had to wait some additional months for the $2 million facility to be finished. Completion originally was scheduled for early September, but the School Board decided it had to hire subcontractors to fix some problems and to finish the job. A crew from the original contractor, Pepperdine Corp. of Portsmouth, also has been working under the direction of the board's construction manager.
A performance by the Continental Army Band was held in the auditorium for students last week, and everything was just about ready for the grand opening Sunday.
The facility features a wide-entrance lobby with two concession booths, a large, well-lit exhibition hall and a small gallery for more exhibits.
Inside there is a complete sound system with a sound and projection control room, where everything is programmed from a central panel. Lighting can be controlled from a catwalk just above the stage. The modern design, plus sound boards lining the walls, provide acoustics never before dreamed of at Smithfield High, Clough said.
Backstage, there are dressing rooms, a huge equipment room where a truck can drive right in and unload directly onto the stage through a rolled-panel door. And there is a central communications system connecting the auditorium with the control room and the school's central office.
The School Board and the Isle of Wight Educational Foundation are hosting the grand opening with a performance of the Virginia Symphony beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The performance is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Clough will be there.
``Culturally, this is so great for the community,'' she said.
But she'll be waiting for the crowds to clear.
``I see the ballet, the symphony, drama troupes. This will be a great boon for our children's self esteem.
``They finally have a place to perform.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Teacher Mary Clough shows off the school's new 850-seat auditorium.
by CNB