New Magnificat Theater an impressive local gem
By Art Thomas
happenings
Published Dec. 8, 2004

Rocky River is a more arts-friendly community with the opening of the new Performing Arts facility at Magnificat High School.

The facility itself is quite impressive. With 1,000 seats, it can accommodate large crowds for a variety of presentations. The auditorium design is a classic architectural standard with a forty-eight foot proscenium opening. The backstage area is large and deep and connects to a shop that can construct and store large scenic units.

If the school decides to be a "presenting organization" they have the means to do so. Outside of the shop is a loading dock area for a semi truck to back into and unload on the shop and stage level. There is a straight path to the stage. This means that the school could present a touring orchestra concert one night, and a troupe of Chinese acrobats the next with no problems in loading.

The double-deck Magnificat Center for the Performing Arts opened this fall.

Backstage, there are dressing rooms, changing rooms, and showers. Underneath the stage, a flexible orchestra pit is accessed by removing sections of the stage floor.

These are things that the audience does not see.

What the audience does see is the building's distinct architectural element--a floating balcony. It doesn't really float, of course, but its curved surfaces suggest a cloudlike formation and there are no visible means of connecting it to the auditorium proper.

The large lobby area is a warm and welcoming gathering area for the audience before the show and at intermission. It can be used to display student artwork or even for a reception. It is next to the school's expanded bookstore, another nice feature. I like the mixture of brick, stone, and painted surfaces which give variety in color, form and texture to the area.

Magnificat has an active list of events in the new Performing Arts Center.

Tomorrow is an Instrumental Christmas concert and Dec 16 a Choral Christmas Concert. Later this school year is a night of classical music, a spring play, a series of one act plays and spring concerts.

In addition, Magnificat High School has some outside groups that they have sponsored. Pianist Spencer Myer has a concert on April 16, and there are dance recitals scheduled for June.

Undoubtedly, as time goes on the school will find more and more uses for this wonderful facility. I'll bet that student art shows will be much more popular with the work visible to thousands of visitors to the Performing Arts Center.

Most of the currently booked events are open to the public. Some have admission charges and some do not. For more information, call the school at 331-7227.