JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Plans for the Whitwell High School auditorium are currently in the initial stages of a complete interior renovation.
At the prior Marion County Board of Education meeting, the board approved initial plans for a complete renovation of the Whitwell High School auditorium, which is now in the early stages of development. These plans, prepared by contractor Randy Gilliam, will support the needs of Allison Payne, the Music, Theater, and Arts Program instructor, and Shelley Castle, the Theater Arts and Geometry instructor.
Board member Linda Hooper emphasized that this renovation has been a long-needed improvement for the high school and its theater and arts programs. “We got a 50-plus year old facility and it just needs to be upgraded. And it ain’t gonna be cheap. But it’s gonna happen.” said Hooper.
Renovations include new lighting, sound systems, chairs, and painting for the interior. Castle highlighted that the lighting and sound in particular are integral for the theatrical experience of the school’s various shows. “We just don’t have everything to be able to put on production the way that we should be able to.” she explained.
Initial funding for the auditorium and theater programs was through ticket sales and additional support from the community. However, according to Castle, ticket sales mainly funded the program and rentals for each show, leaving little to no additional funds saved for any renovations. “So everything we make in ticket sales, we can put it back into the program but it’s just gone at the end of every year because we have to pay for lighting for the next year. So that’s kind of a hassle.” explained Castle.
The theater and art programs first started in 2022 and since then have drastically grown in student numbers and involvement, with this year alone having over 50 students.
“We started our theater and arts program two years ago. And it’s been thriving ever since.” Castle continued, “it’s one of the biggest programs at our school.”
Hooper also noted just how integral the program is for the school and for the town of Whitwell. She noted expressing how the program helps further promote the community in a meaningful way. “Many times people look at Whitwell as the outcast of the county. And I think that this theater and arts program really shows,” she continued, “how important the arts are to people here. And it’s a continuation of a program at the middle school and it shows what our town really is.”
Hooper, Payne, and Castle are optimistic for the future of the program and auditorium. The next live performance scheduled for the high school will be on December 13 and 14. All plans for renovation of the auditorium are projected to be fully completed by next December.
