Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center - History

History

As Barnstable High School was being renovated in the late 1990s, the need for a new theater for the school became apparent. The old theater which is called the Knight Hall was only build for a capacity of 760 people (the population of the school at the time) when the school opened in 1959. This led to the inclusion of a new Performing Arts Center into the plans. The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra supported its construction because they wanted to move out of a smaller auditorium in Yarmouth so they could have less shows so they could save money paying the musicians. For their support the symphony got a substantial break in the rental of the facility. The new PAC was built with a capacity of over 1,440 people. John Sullivan the Drama Advisor and National Teachers Hall of Fame member, was instrumental in working with the designers from the start of the project to ensure that the Center would be good for both music and dramatic performances. The stage consists of an orchestra pit with a "scre-drive lift" (the only one in the New England area which holds the orchestra during the drama club's performances. The PAC is also used by the Chatham Woman's Chorale, and other Cape Cod organizations. It also hosts musical performances such as the All Cape and Southeast District music festivals. In 2008, the drama club produced The Wizard of Oz and they were recorded by Warner Bros. Company for webisodes of a real high school musical from start to finish.