School is just out for the day and dozens of students make their way to Harbor Lights to rehearse for the fast approaching musical. It is the last year this migration will be necessary.

   Among these students is Jr. Lauren Espy. “I’m excited because I won’t have to waste gas, and the space is beautiful. We can also probably start rehearsing earlier in the day,” said Espy.

   For over 60 years, the West Ottawa Performing Arts Center at Harbor Lights has served as the primary location for all music, theater, and public events. Many memories and amazing performances have happened in this historic location. 

   Christopher Meyer has been a large part of this incredible legacy. Meyer has been teaching the high school orchestras for 19 years and has shown his conducting abilities through many division one ratings and impressive performances. Meyer is a large part of many students’ musical careers as well. Meyer said, “Honoring the seniors that are going off to college and saying goodbye is tough but I get to see them through middle and high school and get to see their growth as musicians and people.” 

    Although there is a rich history of memories,  it is time to move on. In the summer of 2022, construction began on the newest addition to the WO campus: a beautiful $12.5 million performing arts center, one that would put all others to shame. 

   This new PAC seats 1,050 people, which almost doubles the capacity of the previous. The stage can be adjusted for ensemble performing, and seating is also adjustable for specific events. 

   WO theater director Joe Huber has directed for 24 years and has been a huge part of WO’s performing legacy. Huber has directed countless incredible shows and has garnered an impressive reputation. “My favorite shows were Lord of the Flies, because of the male and female casts. I enjoy the classics like Annie Get Your Gun and Crazy for You, which was a huge tap show, and more recently, Our Town,” Huber said.

   Meyer said, “Being attached to the school, not having to transport instruments, and being able to rehearse will give a better feel for the space before concerts.” This plan brings excitement to the masses and especially the individuals who will be affected the most. These individuals are the directors and students of the music and theater programs. 

  Sr. Rayne Reed is a dedicated percussionist in the West Ottawa band, and has been part of the band through all of middle school and high school. Reed has spent much time in the PAC at Harbor Lights and is understandably excited to experience the upgrades of the PAC to come. 

   Reed said, “From what I’ve been told, the new PAC will have better acoustics, which will greatly improve overall playing and listening experience. Personally, a higher quality PAC will let my section, percussion, shine. It’ll make the dynamics more dramatic and have a great effect on music. Especially during our percussion ensembles where every subtlety matters.”  Reed understands the deep importance of details and how the smallest changes can make an outstanding difference. 

   With the new PAC coming a while after the new stadium, we have seen the effect that new facilities can bring to a program. Following the finishing of the new stadium, the football program saw a huge increase in student

attendance and especially community attendance. With this precedent, people expect that the PAC will see the same sort of immediate growth.

   The theater program will also get to see the effects of the PAC. Huber said “I’m really hoping to open with a big show, something that will really show off the space. I hope that it is incredibly special for the music department to have all of the different disciplines on stage at the same time.” The new PAC also possesses a full fly system. “Set pieces and other things will be more impressive due to the system. It is going to be a beautiful theater with a full balcony.”

   Sr. Chase Veldink said, “Unfortunately, performing arts events are usually overshadowed by athletic events. I think about the attendance of a Homecoming football game versus any individual music program’s performance (excluding Collage and theater events), but the new PAC makes me hope that we can draw more people. I also am excited for the ease of access for rehearsals at school.” Hopefully the PAC is more than a shiny new building and truly brings more people to support the amazing programs at WO.

   “I’m hoping that the idea of going to the new theater will bring a bigger audience for our shows,” said Huber.

   The public has extremely high hopes for the displays and performances. Understandably so, there is attention focused around the development and preparation for this incredible space. Seniors in the music programs at WO are just hoping to be able to use the space, because of the delays in construction, the opening date has been moved multiple times and the anticipation just builds. 

   Sr. Tana Haveman is a Vocalaire, and she’s been a part of WO’s choir program since middle school. Haveman said, “I’d like to perform Collage in the new PAC because I think having a larger space will add interest and uniqueness to the performance that the smaller current PAC has not allowed.”

   The current plan is to open the PAC in the spring of 2024. There seems to be a consensus that the Collage Concert with all of the music programs in one space would be the ideal way to welcome in a new era of WO performing arts.