There is much excitement in the air at John F. Kennedy High School these days, as an inauguration for the school’s long-awaited performing arts center is scheduled to be held on February 9.

Originally part of the school’s initial 1960s construction plans, the center was eventually eliminated from these plans and fell into the category of “plans for the future.”

Kennedy High School’s long-awaited, $8.2 million, 465-seat performing arts center will officially open. (Photo courtesy of Kennedy High School)

Now more than four decades later and with the 15-month construction project recently completed, the $8.2 million, 465-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium is nearly ready for use by the school, the Sacramento City Unified School District and the community.

The center’s inauguration, which will be attended by Kennedy High’s senior class, the school’s staff, local dignitaries and district personnel, will be a ceremonial type event, which will be held in anticipation of the official opening of the venue, which does not currently have a specific date.

Also participating in the event will be the school’s choir and orchestra.

Showtime at Kennedy

Being that construction on the building has been completed, the school is working toward what could possibly be the first event held in the auditorium, a performance of “The Wizard of Oz,” which is scheduled for the second week in May.

The school’s drama department is beginning preliminary stages with the play, but since the opening date for the center has not been determined, planning for the production remains challenging for the department.

Although the center may be officially opened as early as March, Kennedy High must wait until the construction company completes the final details of the building and the district approves the new structure before keys to the center are presented to the school.

Considering the possibility that the venue may open in March, an event is tentatively scheduled to be held at the center on March 2.

Currently, the building is undergoing its “punch list” stage, which consists of checking off all the permit processes and details that must be relative to code.

Kennedy High Principal Felisberto Cedros said that he is pleased that the school and the community are finally receiving the long-awaited Kennedy High performing arts center.

“It’s been a long wait and our kids and community are ecstatic that this is going to bring some cultural aspect and venue to the Pocket area,” Cedros said. “From the kids’ aspect, they can hardly wait to get in there. The new facility is going to add a lot of prestige to John F. Kennedy and the Pocket area. The teachers are delighted that years later, here it is. It’s a state-of-the-art building that’s modern, comfortable and has a lot of amenities.

“And from my end, I want to see my (students) do something with it, because it’s no good if it’s not utilized. Our drama department is really excited and the kids are really excited to get together and put their best foot forward. This is going to be an absolutely wonderful facility to hold not only school events, but definitely a venue that will be able to sustain cultural influence in the Pocket area.”

Although community groups and other local organizations will be allowed to rent the facility through a permit process with the district, Cedros said he does not share the same concerns of those who are worried about the possibility that school events could eventually have to compete heavily with community events at the new center.

“I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for us,” Cedros said. “Our facilities are for our students first. Obviously we coordinate that with permits, as well, but since I’ve been here, the priority has always been what’s best for John F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy students. And we map out and we calendar events and it’s always scheduled around what’s happening or not happening here at JFK. It’s always worked well, even with the Little Theatre and the (very limited) space available. It’s always staff first and community second and it’s a good partnership.”

The center’s specs

The performing arts center, which is located on the west side of the campus, will be a very large upgrade from the school’s previous performance venues, which were the aforementioned 75-seat Little Theatre and the gymnasium, which Cedros described as an “unflattering, unwelcoming (entertainment) venue.”

Unlike the space, lighting and sound-challenged Little Theatre, which consists of stage space for productions with no more than about eight entertainers, the new auditorium, which will also be used for music and drama classes, will allow for much larger productions, including musicals.

In relation to the Little Theatre versus the new auditorium, Cedros said that it is like comparing “night and day.”

“Now we have a facility that is exclusive for this type of entertainment, for plays, for music, for cultural events, so it’s night and day,” Cedros said. “This is an absolutely amazing project and well worth it for the community.”

The new, 13,775-square-foot, masonry block and steel superstructure auditorium, which was built through the efforts of the nationally-recognized architectural firm, Williams + Paddon as the architect and Roebbelen Contracting as the contractor, is located on the former site of the old M-wing portables.

Among the facility’s features are: theatrical lighting and lighting controls, a digital sound system, a lighting loft, control, sound and ticket booths, dressing rooms, a large backstage area that can be used for building sets, a motorized projection screen and an orchestra pit, located beneath removable seats near the stage.

Pride in the Pocket

Cedros said that Kennedy’s new venue is recognized as one of the premier performing arts centers in the Sacramento area.

“From what the architects have told me and the contractors that have been here, the two (auditoriums) that they compare (JFK’s new auditorium) to right now are (the auditoriums at) St. Francis High School and Natomas (Charter School). Those have been in place for about three or four years and this is just an upgrade of those, because this facility is obviously brand new.”

Maria Lopez, spokesperson for the district, said that the community is fortunate to be receiving such a fine performing arts center.

“The arts are very important,” Lopez said. “Certainly, this will be another great asset in the community for not just the Pocket area, but for the city to have this wonderful new theater to have another asset to help promote the arts and to make the arts a living part of what we all can enjoy.”

E-mail Lance Armstrong at lance@valcomnews.com.