Cary-Grove High School theater demolition makes way for new auditorium

CARY In order to make way for a new auditorium at Cary-Grove High School, the 50-year-old theater had to be torn down. The fenced-off area at the school has piles of old concrete and debris.

In recent weeks, workers removed asbestos, members of the Cary Area Fire Protection District assisted with the teardown by holding a training session in the auditorium, and large equipment was brought in to perform the main part of the demolition.

Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 is in the process of building a new 650-seat auditorium for the school, with an accompanying lobby, multipurpose room, restrooms, dressing rooms and scene shop. The yearlong project also will include a reconfigured main entrance for the school to provide enhanced security during school days.

The $8.5 million project has been in the works in recent years.

Because of the yearlong project, the school has relocated and rescheduled several performing arts events throughout the year. Concerts are scheduled to take place in the schools gyms, and the annual spring musical is planned for January at the Crystal Lake South High School auditorium.

The traditional fall follies are scheduled for the spring.

A spring choral concert has been moved to October.

It was very important ... to preserve the performance opportunities for our students, Choir Director Kristine Hester said. We didnt want anybody to miss out on anything.

Hester added the change of venue also allows some creative juices to flow as they work out how to set up some of the performances, from seating to lighting.

Just rehearsing for performances will take some adjustment, Hester said. Sometimes performing arts teachers would use the auditorium for practicing choreography for fall follies.

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Cary-Grove High School theater demolition makes way for new auditorium