Ronan school district plans new auditorium

RONAN — Design of the new Ronan schools' auditorium is underway, and planners aim to make it the best in the county.

Last week, teachers, administration staff, community members and the designers of the 474 seat auditorium met at the district office where they discussed how they'd like the facility to be used and pitched ideas for designers to take into consideration.

Plans for the auditorium date back to the completion of the Ronan Events Center when a plot of land was set aside just north of the existing facility. Superintendent Andy Holmlund couldn't estimate how much the auditorium will cost at this point since the design is in the preliminary stage, but he would like to break ground on the final phase of the project next spring.

"We need to show students that we are finishing what we started," he said.

Theater consultant Dale Ward of Seattle is handling the design. He most recently helped redesign the Missoula Children's Theater auditorium in addition to having input on numerous theater projects throughout his 17-year career. Also involved is John Evans of Architects West, who helped design the Ronan Middle School.

"This is the kind of quality we're bringing to this project," Holmlund said.

Chas Cantlon of Big Productions, a production company that brings about 10 to 12 musical acts a year to the Mission Valley, also attended the meeting. He and others said the facility should be available to the community, making it a venue for area theater groups, concerts and other presentations.

"I think there is a strong desire for this to be for community use as well," said Jay Preston, who donated toward the project.

The idea behind the auditorium is to provide a place with better acoustics than the Event Center, and provide a legitimate place for Ronan High's drama and music groups to practice and perform in. As it is, the groups hold sessions wherever available. They've even gone as far as Polson to stage a production at the Polson High School auditorium, said high school principal Tom Stack.

Last year choir director Cathy Gillhouse held a play in her classroom which was not adequate, she said.

"There is no empty class for it right now," said Gilhouse.

Nor is there a drama instructor, which could change when the facility is built, explained Holmlund. Even though the drama club is small (about 15 students), Holmlund speculates that an interest in drama and other arts programs would increase dramatically with the construction of a brand new auditorium.

"You're looking at about 100 students who would love to be involved in a project like that," he said.

In addition to a drama group, there are a number of middle school students actively involved in video recording projects in the SmartLab which has sophisticated editing and recording equipment. It was suggested that the facility have a media center complete with a TV studio and control booth — something Ward said the facility could accommodate.

Jazz band and show choir is especially popular among students, explained Gillhouse and band director Alicia Lipscomb, both of whom have had to make due with the Events Center as venue for their productions.

The problem with using the Events Center for such productions is that it requires custodians to spend hours setting up chairs and lining the floor with plastic sheeting, explained events coordinator Aaron Griffin.

"When they set up for a concert in the gym, it's an all-day affair," said Griffin.

The facility is expected to alleviate these concerns and eliminate space restraints. Lipscomb said she has had to turn away traveling professional and high school music and drama groups as there was no place to host them without interfering with other school activities.

"It's always a question of 'Can we give these kids the exposure without offsetting a portion of the school?'" said Lipscomb.

Still, jazz band and show choir concerts typically pack the house despite bleacher seating, which can be uncomfortable for senior citizens, they explained.

"We've had to adapt to our situation," said Lipscomb "but if we had a facility, I'd be amazed to see what we could do."

Seating is of utmost importance to Holmlund.

"I want every seat to be perfect," he said. "We don't want seats. We want every seat to be the seat."

Ward explained that auditorium will be situated on a downgrade slop allowing for optimal sightlines. Also, a specialist in acoustics will also be brought in to optimize sound reverberation throughout the auditorium. There are plans for a lobby which will double as an art gallery and a green room will be constructed, providing students a place to rehearse backstage.

Cantlon estimated concert attendance would increase by about 30 percent with the new facility.

Ward said the auditorium would be a big draw to neighboring communities as well.

"When we build a facility like this, people are excited and they all come out of the woodwork to use it," he said.

The design allows for some flexibility so the auditorium will grow with the students and their needs.

"We need to give kids a place to express the arts be it music, theater or dance, today, tomorrow and 30 years from now," Ward said.