News Summary
Estancia High School has officially opened its new performing arts center, a state-of-the-art facility funded by Measure F. The center features a 350-seat theater and a black box theater, enhancing opportunities for student creativity. Principal Michael Halt praised the swift construction, while the facility will host future productions, including an adaptation of ‘Frozen.’ This upgrade represents a significant milestone for the school’s drama program, promising improved experiences for students and the community alike.
Costa Mesa – Estancia High School celebrated the grand opening of its new performing arts center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marks the completion of a project nearly two decades in the making. The state-of-the-art $42 million facility was largely funded by Measure F, a bond initiative approved by local voters in 2005, and it aims to provide students with modern theater facilities comparable to those at other high schools within the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.
The new performing arts center features a 350-seat main theater and a 150-seat black box theater, along with prop and scene shops, storage areas, dressing rooms, and a green room. This extensive upgrade comes after years of planning setbacks, which included rising construction costs and various legal challenges related to environmental impacts. Principal Michael Halt noted the swift construction timeline, with the project completed in under two years.
Besides the performing arts center, the renovations at Estancia High School include updated technology, a fully renovated interior, a 50-meter swimming pool, and enhanced athletic facilities. Newport-Mesa Unified Board of Education President Krista Weigand remarked on the potential of the new space to inspire creativity and collaboration among students.
The main theater is named after Barbara Van Holt, who founded Estancia’s drama program in 1966 and led it for over three decades until her retirement in the late 1990s. The stage is dedicated to her successor, Pauline Maranian, who managed the program for 26 years before stepping back in 2022. During the ceremony, Van Holt’s twin daughters attended and emphasized their mother’s lifelong commitment to the arts. Van Holt passed away in March 2022, just a day after the city recognized a special day in her honor.
The transformation from outdated theater facilities has been a long-awaited change for the Estancia drama department, which has faced challenges in staging productions in cramped conditions. Alumni like Kathy Gordon, who attended the event, reflected on these conditions, celebrating the upgrade to a new, modern facility that is anticipated to enhance the overall quality of performances.
Students are particularly enthusiastic about utilizing the new theater for upcoming productions, including an adaptation of “Frozen,” which will be the first show performed in the new venue. Theater director Amber Reyes indicated that the improved space is expected to involve 75 to 80 students in future productions, thereby significantly enhancing the educational experience in the performing arts.
This performing arts center is intended primarily for Estancia students but will also be opened to community use, adjustable based on scheduling. The celebration not only highlighted the advancements in Estancia High School’s facilities but also honored the rich tradition in the school’s drama program and the lasting influence of its past instructors.
Despite the joy surrounding the opening, the project faced its share of challenges, including community protests regarding the site’s location and legal disputes with the city of Costa Mesa that delayed construction. These obstacles led to significant disruptions, such as water and power outages during the building phase, as humorously noted by Superintendent Wesley Smith.
The completion of the new performing arts center symbolizes a significant new chapter for Estancia High School’s drama program, enhancing student experiences while fostering greater community engagement and appreciation for the arts.
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Additional Resources
- LA Times: Estancia Drama Students Host Final Off-Site Production
- Wikipedia: Performing Arts
- LA Times: Estancia High Performing Arts Complex Work Begins
- Google Search: Estancia High School performing arts center
- LA Times: Estancia High’s $42M Theater Back on Track
- Google Scholar: Estancia High School drama program
- LA Times: Clue Comes to Estancia High Theater
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Performing Arts
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
