Pascack Valley High School is currently undergoing modernization renovations to its auditorium, which is expected to reopen in time for the school’s spring musical.
The most significant upgrades involve the sound and lighting systems. Visible changes include new flooring, a rebuilt stage, and the relocation of the sound and lighting booth—which will be on the auditorium floor rather than its previous raised position.
Additional improvements that are less noticeable to the audience include electrical updates and small structural changes backstage and within the walls.
Acoustic panelling will be installed along the auditorium walls, which will drastically improve the sound quality inside the auditorium.
Another useful aspect of the renovation impacts the backstage area, where the size of the door between the stage and storage area will be expanded. Previously, large props for theater productions had to be broken down and rebuilt on stage. Now, with the larger doorway, sets can be built backstage and moved on stage in one piece.
PVHS Principal John Puccio said he expects the auditorium to be ready before the spring concert and musical.
“I’m hoping that it’s going to be done in January, maybe February,” Puccio said. “But I think it’ll be done before spring, and we’ll have the spring concert in there.”
Theatre students are excited about the renovations but are even more relieved to finally have their own space again after previously sharing facilities with Pascack Hills High School and then using the cafeteria for the fall play.
“After an entire fall season with no home, it’s really exciting to be returning to a renovated auditorium,” PV Junior and PVHS Theatre Production Stage Manager Jesse Merker said. “I think it’s going to be super rewarding and the improvements are going to be game changers.”
When the renovation is complete, it should look similar to Pascack Hills’ newly renovated auditorium.
“Our package for sound and lights is similar to Hills, but we didn’t need to put a new ceiling in,” Puccio said. “When it’s done, it’s going to pretty much be brand new. It’s totally remodeled.”
Puccio added that construction is finished and the renovation is nearing completion, but the contractors need time to finish wiring, installing equipment, and applying the finishing touches before the auditorium officially reopens.
