On Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, the Las Virgenes Unified School District hosted the Gala Festival to celebrate the CHS and Agoura High School Performing Arts Education Centers’ official openings.  After beginning the process of creating the theaters 10 years ago, the center is complete and open to the public.  Students and community members attended the event to see the new facilities and watch student performances.

The PAEC offers many improved technological and functional components to its audience members and performers.  The Main Stage Theater holds 650 seats and the Black Box Theater holds 100 seats for audience members.  In addition, the Main Stage Theater has a hydraulic orchestra pit, catwalk and tension gridthat will allow students to adjust lighting during performances.  The amount of lighting equipment in the new theater is nearly double the amount in the old theater.  Another new feature allows students and members of the community to purchase tickets and select seats online at www.chstheater.com rather than on campus.

“Putting together the theater has been a lot of hard work,” said Performing Arts Director and theater teacher Bill Garrett.  “I hope students see the Gala Festival as a celebration of this unbelievable facility.”

The festival began at 7 p.m. Friday night, and performances included CHS students reciting a variety of skits, several written by the students themselves.  On Saturday the award-winning

Arthur E. Wright music program performed at 10 a.m., the Alice C. Stelle music program followed at noon, the CHS Jazz Program performed ensembles at 3 p.m. and the AHS and CHS Dance solo pieces followed.

Shortly after, the CHS Unstrumental and Bare Rhythm groups performed songs by Amy Winehouse, Pink and other artists.  The CHS Film, Broadcast and Academy Screenings and Panel Discussion then presented its works displaying in-depth discussions with

professional filmmakers.  The CHS

Comedy Sportz improvisation team began at 6 p.m., playing against AHS,  and the CHS Music Program performed at 8 p.m.

“One of the things I am excited about most with this theater is unifying the community,” said Garrett.  “I think the new theater will intrigue community members to see our shows, and after seeing the incredible performing art programs at our school, they will want to return.”

The high quality lighting schemes, vivid set designs and orchestra pit’s acoustic sounds are other features of the new theater.  Audience members felt that the theater provides a more professional setting with the addition of a box office, concession stand and Black Box Theater.  The abundance of seats also allow for a much larger audience.

“Performing in the new theater provided a completely new energy,” said senior Micaella Landers.  “I was ecstatic to be performing in a theater that had the ability to fit three choirs, an orchestra and a pit band on stage all at the same time.”

Tickets for the music concert portion of the gala sold out a week before the Gala Festival and many other shows also sold out prior to the event.

Photos by Lauren Sloan – Photo Editor, Sam Cohen – Photographer, and Ivory Ventura – Photographer