News Summary
Estancia High School celebrated the grand opening of its $42 million performing arts center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This new facility, funded primarily by Measure F, features a 350-seat theater and enhances the school’s commitment to quality arts education. With modern facilities including a black box theater, dressing rooms, and upgraded athletic amenities, the center aligns Estancia with other high schools in the district. The opening honors the school’s rich drama history and is set to host its first production, ‘Frozen’, soon.
Costa Mesa – Estancia High School celebrated the grand opening of its new $42 million performing arts center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning. This milestone comes nearly 60 years after the school first opened its doors and almost two decades since a commitment was made to build this long-awaited facility.
The funding for the new center primarily came from Measure F, a bond measure approved by voters in 2005, allowing the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to finance essential upgrades across its campuses. With this project, Estancia aligns itself with other high schools in the district that have modernized theater facilities, reinforcing its commitment to providing quality arts education to students.
The center features a 350-seat theater, equipped for a variety of performances, and a 150-seat black box theater for more intimate gatherings and experimental productions. Supporting facilities include prop and scene shops, two dressing rooms, and a green room. Principal Michael Halt remarked on the importance of the new building as a creative space where students can collaborate and showcase their talents.
Construction of the performing arts center began in late September 2023 and was remarkably completed within two years, despite facing numerous challenges. Initial plans were delayed due to escalating construction costs, lawsuits, and protests regarding the preferred location for the facility. The Newport-Mesa Unified Board of Education President, Krista Weigand, expressed surprise at the expedited completion timeline.
The project also allowed for comprehensive upgrades within the school itself, including a fully renovated interior, enhanced technology, a new 50-meter swimming pool, and improved athletic facilities. These renovations have been part of a broader effort to modernize Estancia High School and improve the educational environment for all students.
Superintendent Wesley Smith provided a light-hearted commentary during the ceremony, acknowledging the acoustic interruptions that had resulted from the construction process, including noise disruptions and temporary water outages that occasionally sent students home early.
In a nod to Estancia’s rich drama history, the main theater was named after Barbara Van Holt, the founder of the school’s drama program in 1966 who directed it for over three decades. The stage within the theater is named for her successor, Pauline Maranian, who nurtured the program for 26 years until stepping back in 2022. Barbara Van Holt’s daughters were present at the ceremony and expressed that their mother would have been thrilled by the new facility.
Alumni and current students alike shared their enthusiasm for the new performing arts center, with students commenting on how it would enhance future theatrical productions. The first show set to grace the stage of the new theater will be “Frozen,” scheduled for performances from November 20 to 22.
The annual celebration not only showcased the new center but also acknowledged Estancia’s historic contributions to drama and performing arts, underscoring the deep emotional ties it holds for alumni and past leaders of the program. While primarily serving students at Estancia High School and others in the district, the new performing arts center will also be available for community events when opportunities arise.
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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.
