Page 37 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2020

Building a Performing Arts Center has been a dream of the Pascagoula-Gautier School District and its community-wide strategic planning teams since
2007. Now 13 years later, that dream is about to become a reality as the Pascagoula High School Performing Arts Center prepares to open its doors in late spring.
“This performing arts center will be a great hub of cultural activity for South Mississippi,” said Superintendent Wayne Rodol ch. “This center is something that has been on the list of goals for the school district with three di erent strategic planning teams, and the time was nally right for us to take that step.”
The $15 million facility is located adjacent to Pascagoula High School, and Rodol ch said the center can be used by the school district in a variety of ways – for viewing motion pictures, choral and band concerts, dramas, speech and
debate competitions and open to the community as well for dance recitals, receptions, etc.
The front of the stage also has ooring which can be removed to reveal an orchestra pit. Before the facility
was constructed, Rodol ch consulted with several dance company leaders to discuss the size of the stage to
ensure it was large enough to accommodate large dance performances. Lighting along the perimeter of the stage and along the rows of seats will help people nd their way when the lights are dimmed.
Not a Bad Seat in the House
The Performing Arts Center features 782 wide, comfortable seats in the lower and upper terrace of the auditorium
with ample room for wheelchair and handicap accessibility. Seating has been con gured so patrons can view the stage >>
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