OLCHS New Performing Arts Center Marks Beginning Of New Era

OAK LAWN, IL -- It was a long time coming, decades even, but Oak Lawn Community High School finally got a professional quality theater befitting of its award-winning drama and speech program -- considered one of the best in the state. Community members, parents, students, faculty members and district officials gathered Sunday afternoon to dedicate the new Performing Arts Center.

As the seats filled for the dedication, audience members were dazzled by the facility, which still had that new car smell. Most were amazed to be sitting in actual seats, as opposed to the years of being packed into bleachers to watch student productions in the OLCHS gym.

“No one is more deserving of this new facility than the students from our fine arts program,” D229 Board President Rob Loehr said. “For the last 12 years they’ve been bringing home the bacon all the time. They’re so much fun to watch.”

Loehr added that the OLCHS students were already good winning state competitions with minimal facilities, but now would be able to perform at a much higher competitive level with a state-of-the-art facility.

“We didn’t make the trophy case big enough,” Loehr said.

Audience members were treated to performances by the Spartan marching band, jazz choir ensemble and a sneak preview of the upcoming musical “Chicago.” Current students and alumni, who spent their high school years staging shows in the OLCHS gymnasium, reunited to perform “The Greatest Show” from the musical "Barnum." The historic performance marked the first time actors, singers and dancers used the new boards.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony and first-ever performance on the new stage

Community reactions to the new OLCHS performing arts center

~ Photo by Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson