Royal Oak High School Honors Volunteers for Work on Auditorium

(Originally published on Oct. 24, 2016) ROYAL OAK, MI — The two co-leaders of the Royal Oak Schools Performing Arts Committee — Scott Brown and April Ozdych — have been recognized with Community of Excellence Awards forleading the fundraising drive to renovate the high school’s Kimball Auditorium, the Royal Oak Review reports.

Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin said the two raised more than $100,000 to replace the auditorium’s nearly 60-year-old seats and put aisle lighting in place.

Lewis-Lakin said the money also allowed the school to focus on the “boring” stuff, such as house and theater lighting, rigging and flooring. Other improvements included a new stage facade, painting, electrical work and acoustic treatments.

School officials said the whole project cost well over $400,000.

Among the major donors:

• Royal Oak Schools Foundation
• Holiday Market
• Royal Oak Ford
• Royal Oak Optimist Club
• Royal Oak High School Drama Boosters
• Royal Oak High School Band and Orchestra Boosters
• Royal Oak High School Choir Boosters
• Royal Oak High School PTSA.

Lewis-Lakin said the co-chairs’ efforts were “to not just renovate, but remake the auditorium at the high school so it’s a place that is as excellent as the performers who appear in it — the students who put forth their very best.”

» For more on this story, go to the Royal Oak Review.

Photo via Shutterstock