Colin Schneider

After waiting over two decades for a new West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, band director Michael Hammon stands on the stage of the new Performing Arts Center, gazing out at the facility. Thoughts of gratitude flood his mind. “Wow! This is truly amazing,” are among his first thoughts. Hammon appreciates that the school “supports the arts so well.”

  West Ottawa has waited over twenty years for a new performing arts center, and West Ottawa students and staff think the wait was well worth it. In an interview, Hammon explained the “long version of the history.” He said that when the first bond for the high school was made it included a new PAC, however, “that vote happened right after September 11th, 2001.”

   With such a tragic time in the U.S., the bond failed. Later attempts to start the new PAC also failed because of the horrible economy in the late 2000s. There was too much uncertainty in the world, and the risk of a multi-million dollar PAC was not worth it according to the voters.

  But after an estimated 200 shows in the old PAC, Hammon gets the long-awaited new PAC; a facility that will be used by various West Ottawa groups. With state-of-the-art design elements, the new PAC will enhance the sound of every musical group that sets foot on the new stage. There are updated features that can change to help West Ottawa’s bands, choirs, and orchestras. The sound shell can be moved, alternate curtain arrangements amplify the sound of different groups, and the proscenium can be set up in various ways. 

  For quite some time there have been problems for West Ottawa regarding the PAC situation. Before the brand new one, every musical group and theater production whether high school, Harbor Lights, or Mac Bay, has had to share the same PAC. With West Ottawa’s large school district, scheduling rehearsals, musicals, plays, and performances for all of West Ottawa’s 30-plus performance groups became difficult. That situation was a large reason for finally passing the bond for the PAC.

  There are also structural upgrades that favor the new PAC compared to the older one at Harbor Lights. “First of all, it is an absolutely beautiful theater,” theater director Joe Huber said. “The new PAC has a new, sleek, modern feel to it which I think our audiences will find appealing.” Huber later adds that the new PAC has a new full-fly system. “This allows us to make scenery fly in and out of the stage area. When our audiences see whole sets disappearing into the ceiling or appearing out of nowhere, that is because of our new fly system.” This new fly system will save student actors the time of having to pull entire sets on and off the stage while trying to be quiet.  

  He also talks about the luxury of the new lobby. “A beautiful and functional lobby:  With huge glass windows, the new lobby is stunning.  There is plenty of room for everyone who comes to see a performance or event.” With more space in the new PAC, students could invite plenty of friends and family members to see a performance whereas in the old PAC, students were sometimes limited by the amount of people that could attend. Along with the magnificent lobby, huge bathrooms on both floors.

  Huber also said, “The new PAC is ideal for the big high school musicals, for the annual collage concert put on by the music department, and for hosting musical festivals with neighboring schools.” The stage in the new PAC is measured 20 feet wider than the older stage, allowing “a band, orchestra, and choir all on stage at the same time!” Huber said. The walls can also be maneuvered to fit the stage to perfection.

  After years of waiting and construction, the PAC is finally done. Hammon, along with the WO community, is “really really excited!”