Posted June 10, 2024
The Plymouth High School Fine Arts Boosters have launched a campaign called “Have a Seat” to help fund lighting improvements in the PHS Auditorium.
Original to the school built in 1967, the auditorium is a well-loved community space, used for PHS band and choir concerts, plays and musicals, and school assemblies. It also is stages elementary concerts and touring performances such as Kids from Wisconsin and Wisconsin Singers, and is rented to companies and organizations looking for a large, local venue.
The “Have a Seat” campaign will help fund a safe, efficient LED lighting system to replace the antiquated bulbs currently in use. These Source 4 lights are on for every performance – “the bread and butter of all of our shows here on the stage,” according to auditorium director Scott Bunyea.
Changing the lighting color has to be done manually with cellophane filters, which involves lowering the lighting rigging – so colors cannot be changed during a show. LED lights, on the other hand, could be changed from the control board at the back of the auditorium to provide millions of color combinations at will.
LED lights also are more energy efficient, using about a quarter of the electricity of the bulbs, Mr. Bunyea said. The LED lights should last for 50,000+ hours of use, compared to 2,000 for the current ones.
In addition, LED lights would throw less heat onto on-stage performers, drastically cut programming time for tech crews, cut expenses in the long run, and allow a whole new world of unexplored design opportunities, said choir director Amanda Smith.
To help fund the lighting upgrade, PHS Fine Arts Boosters are conducting the“Have a Seat” campaign to give parents, grandparents, alumni, and community members a chance to purchase seat plaques:
The 4-by-1-inch brass plaques will be affixed to one of 571 auditorium seat backs on the main level. Two-year sponsorships of center-front seats are $250; others are $200. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Orders are due by July 1 for installation at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Please note that seat sponsors still must purchase tickets for performances that charge an admission fee. Event seating is not guaranteed to chairs with specific names.
Learn more:
• Sponsor a seat online.
• Print out an order form to return with cash or check payment.
• Visit the Plymouth Fine Arts Boosters website.
• Explore The Arts section of our interactive, award-winning District Report Card to learn more about how our students excel at traditional and unique arts opportunities at all levels, both in and outside the classroom.
