Auditorium Renovations

Urbana High School’s Cobb Memorial Auditorium is undergoing construction this school year. Last renovated in the 1980’s, the space needed some work. “The stage’s paint was chipped, and some of the seats were broken,” said sophomore Makayla Perkins, a drama participant.
Construction was originally scheduled to begin in mid-July, however it was delayed.
Teachers expect to be in for a loud school year. As for the auditorium’s completion, it will be open August 15th of 2012. Meanwhile, the high school will hold their shows at the Urbana Middle School.
“The UMS stage has been given a new stage grid with full curtains and borders as well as a new sound and light boards, and also equipment. All of the lighting instruments from the auditorium have been passed down to be used at UMS, too,” says Tim Broeker, UHS drama director.
Sophomore and drama student, Sarah Follmer, said, “The main challenge I see is getting all of our materials and tools over to the middle school. Other than that, everyone will just have to adjust to a new environment.”
So far, three previous renovations have been done to the auditorium, with part of the original school building, designed in 1913 by local architect Joseph Royer, remaining.
Plans for the current remodeling include, “An entirely new set of lighting and sound implements that will allow us to turn our attention away from making repairs,” junior Zack Paquin says.
“The auditorium is seeing a whole new facelift, but we are also getting a drama classroom connected to the stage, newly organized storage space, state of the art theatre equipment and several other awesome features for not only drama, but music too!” Broeker adds.
The improvements being done this year will certainly improve the quality and experience of an Urbana High School theater performance. Drama students are anticipating the opening. Follmer added, “The new auditorium will be a great addition to the school, and will probably attract lots of new people to our shows. It’s going to be great to have everything brand new.”
Broeker concludes, “Having state of the art equipment will give us the opportunity to do things we never would have been able to before!”