VCS Opens Newly Remodeled Auditorium With Ribbon-Cutting
On Thursday, November 3, 2016, Village Christian held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the official re-opening of VCS’s newly remodeled auditorium.
A primary component of the Fine Arts initiative of The Village Campaign, the auditorium remodel project includes retractable seating platforms, a brand new ceiling-mounted lighting grid, improved sound and lighting, new stage, and a redesigned exterior façade.
It is the latest in a line-up of improvements and on-campus enhancements funded by the school’s historic fundraising effort.
“In the last five years, we’ve done a lot of ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and it has been really fun to see our campus transform. Most importantly, it provides another great facility for our students and for our faculty to learn and grow,” said Head of School Tom Konjoyan. “This is one of those facilities that came through a lot of prayer, a lot of hard work, great vision by people, and a lot of sacrifice by all of you who made this possible.”
Donors to the auditorium remodel project were invited to the special reception, which was followed by a preview performance of “The Miracle Worker,” the first full production held in the revamped facility.
“You know the [Los Angeles] Music Center? You’ve got three theaters there – you’ve got the Mark Taper Forum, the Ahmanson, and the Dorothy Chandler,” said Theatre Arts Director Thom Babbes. “Here in Sun Valley, we have our own little music center. We have the Kendall, we have the Black Box, and now we have the auditorium. It’s amazing.”
Joining Konjoyan, Babbes, and VCS Fine Arts Director Natalie Taylor in cutting the ceremonial ribbon were Chinese Parent Group representative Ning Ma, Bob Swanson from the Board of Directors, Bruce Cacho-Negrete, and Shawn Eschbach from the VCS Patron’s Club.
Early planning for the remodel began in May, while repainting, duct rerouting, installations, and removal of the drop-ceiling were completed over the summer. Bleacher installation and exterior modifications were completed in October.
Junior Caitlinn Ayers, an aspiring interior designer, provided valuable support through the selection of interior and exterior paint colors.
In mid-October, Coffeehouse Choir and Fall Symphony Orchestra concerts were held in the auditorium prior to completion.
While funding is still needed for additional improvements, this exciting facility will be home to “The Miracle Worker” the next two weekends with shows November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13.
[Click here to purchase your tickets today.]
Prior to Thursday night’s preview performance, Taylor officially opened the auditorium with a word of prayer:
“God, we are so grateful. We know that all gifts come from you, and this space, this new opportunity for us to use for performances, we are so grateful for this. Thank you for providing the resources and the people to make this happen. God, I just ask a special prayer over every student that performs in this building, they would know you; that they would know that they are created by you; that they would know their worth is in you. God, I pray for every patron, every audience member, every person that comes to see a performance here, that they would know you; that they would learn something about you through what we are teaching here at Village. We give it all back to you, God. I just pray huge blessings over this space and every performance, every concert, and every event, that you would be glorified.”