Opstad auditorium will be closing its doors for construction beginning at the start of winter break, and will remain closed until March 20th. The school show choir and jazz band show on December 19th will be the last event held in the auditorium until its reopening in the spring. 

 Opstad will undergo several small construction changes to infrastructure, but the construction is mainly focusing on a full lighting upgrade which will allow Opstad to be changed over to a full LED system. 

“This will give us the opportunity to change the color of lights, but also save TONS of energy when the lights are being used. Currently, each incandescent instrument uses 575 watts to light, while the new LED will use around 280. 135 instruments @ 575w=77625w vs. 135 instruments @ 280w=37800w when they are on at full,” Doug Lestina said. 

The new lights will also be much brighter and more effective, so less light will be needed to light the stage. 

Along with the new LED lights, Opstad will also be getting new Cyc lights, spotlights, and the sound booth will be moving out of the auditorium to make more room for both sound and lights. There are also plans being made for future upgrades such as rigging, sound, and improvements in the lobby.

“I think these improvements will enhance the concert-going experience immensely. The lighting upgrades will allow greater visibility on stage and versatility in creating lighting design,” Mr. Hagy, choir director said. 

Shows and events January through March will be affected by the construction, including the mid-winter concerts held by the orchestra, choir, and band in February, the Large group speech show in January, and the show choir show, and orchestra’s dessert concert in the spring. 

“Though it is unfortunate that it will impact some of our performances, I am excited that we’ll be able to use them for our end of year concerts,” Mr. Hagy said. 

The music and theater department directors are currently exploring a range of different options for an alternative space for the shows that will be impacted by the temporary closure, however each department is doing things differently, depending on the show and their needs. 

“We are trying to be creative in seeking out venues that will be aesthetically and acoustically pleasing, while offering enough space for our performers and fitting within a reasonable rental budget. We have been in contact with the University of Iowa, various theaters in the area, houses of worship, etc. to strike that balance,” Mr. Hagy said.

The spring musical Frozen will be the first show to be put on following Opstad’s reopening. 

“There will be many great changes in the next few years to really bring the already great Opstad to another level.  We will have some of the top technology for our students to work with,” Lestina said.