Students Gavin Ott, left, Ryan Clark, DeeDee Polk and Luke Henn work on building a set for the fall play, “My Heart Says Go,” during a Saturday set construction session. This activity is one of the many opportunities Warsaw Community High School’s Performing Arts Center gives its students to practice working in the performing arts. Photo provided by Melany Morris.

By Lilli Dwyer
Staff Writer

Warsaw Community High School’s Performing Arts Center, or PAC, was established in 2006 with a mission: to better prepare students for the performing arts, before and after high school.

“We have a great facility,” said theater teacher and director Melany Morris. In fact, its features include seating for 974 people and an orchestra pit.

“Ours is also a fully-functioning performing arts center,” Morris continued. “So we have outside vendors come in and rent our space for community events. But the school always makes sure that students come first, so we get to use the space whenever we need it.”

The theater department is equipped with amenities like a costume shop, and students have the chance to try their hand in any part of the work it takes to put on a good show. Beyond performances, they can get involved in technical work and even build the sets.

Gavin Ott, left, Raquel Brouwer, Abigail Fisher and Emma Ferguson practice their choreography in the PAC dance studio. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Along with theater, the PAC encompasses orchestra, band, choir and dance. Each of these departments has a busy season, with rehearsals multiple times a week and big public performances each fall and spring. Students also participate in other events, such as competitions. Many student performances at the PAC are free admission, with a freewill donation for the department accepted at the door.

PAC Director Kris Lake, who came to the position in August, is very enthusiastic about the program’s future. He is looking to create even more opportunities for students to engage with the performing arts in a professional capacity before they graduate.

“We’re in the final stages of securing an actor or actress from the Broadway production of ‘Hamilton’ to visit WCHS and work with students in a workshop atmosphere,” he said. “Many of the choir students are also involved in, or at least have an interest in, performing through music. So, our goal with this workshop is to give students the opportunity to see and hear from someone who has made their profession through this avenue. I am also in the beginning stages of creating a similar opportunity for band and orchestra students to attend a workshop with professional performance musicians from larger-scale productions on Broadway, but also through some creatively-designed partnerships with organizations, like the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.”

Another one of PAC’s current projects to foster the arts, is a full-length, old-fashioned radio drama production of “War of the Worlds,” which will be performed by students and aired Monday, Oct. 30 on 107.3 WRSW.

Walls around the PAC are decorated with art and signatures from student performers past and present. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Lake said the PAC has tremendous value to everyone, in school or otherwise.

“I often chat with community members about how fortunate we are to have a facility like the PAC,” he explained. “Theatre and performing arts were a huge part of my upbringing and schooling, but my school didn’t have a performance space of any kind. … We didn’t have a space where we felt our hard work was valued. Warsaw has that.”

Other upcoming events include the fall orchestra concert 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 and the fall play, “My Heart Says Go,” which will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3; 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets are required for the fall play.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit wchs.warsawschools.org/o/page/performing-arts-center or its Facebook page at Warsaw PAC.