Auditorium Renovations for Fall Musical, Chicago

“Chicago” Brings Life to New Stage by Tayler Shobe

The Urbana High School auditorium is being fixed just in time for the fall musical, “Chicago.”

In April 2008, the UHS auditorium was damaged from an earthquake. The auditorium was closed off, and UHS used the middle school cafeteria for plays for more than four years. The auditorium should be open by October.

“I can’t wait to be able to mess with the tech stuff and get all the effects for ‘Chicago’ ready,” said Director Tim Broeker.

UHS had many problems to solve to get the auditorium fixed.

“The lights and elevator were a big problem,” Broeker said. “The lights we wanted, they didn’t make anymore. So we had to order new ones, and since those are going to take a long time, we have to use different lights. Then the elevator just had to be fixed a bit. Then all the technology stuff had to go in.”

Everyone is very excited to see the auditorium finished, and they are also ready for the black wall to be taken down that had blocked off areas of the hall.

“I am very excited to see what all kinds of things the new auditorium has to offer the drama people of our school, and I can’t wait to see what all the plays, and musicals will look like in there. I am just very thankful to have talented people who know what they’re doing working on the auditorium. And all we can really do is hope that something like the earthquake doesn’t happen again,” Eric Morrow, UHS dean, said.

Let’s all hope it will be done, that everyone will come to the grand opening, and see “Chicago” on opening night.