On September 20th, our new theater director, Mr. Noel Harris, held a parent meeting in the auditium to share a "facility and performance update". It was an important opportunity to hear about the current condition of our theater facilities and outline the future direction of our nationally recognized and award winning theater program.
During the meeting, Mr. Harris shared that, following a comprehensive assessment—including consultations with former director Jason Zembuch Young and Principal Mrs. Reis—it was determined that the technical infrastructure within the Paladin Playhouse is currently in a state that hinders the production of high-quality performances consistent with South Plantation High School’s standards.
The primary concern (but not the only concern) involves the stage lighting system. The Johnson lighting control system in place is over 40 years old, with only a limited number of functioning dimmer packs remaining. Certainly not enough to produce a quality show. Additionally, the auditorium has only three operational bulbs for over 200 lights, which is a significant limitation.
The biggest concern about the lighting, however, is that there is a major issue with the internal power control module that is causing dimmers to “pulse.” So even if all of the dimmers were operational, when lights are faded or are supposed to be out, there is a flicker that happens every few seconds. It is both distracting and extremely draining on the bulbs (these bulbs are EXPENSIVE!) since you can never truly turn the lights off completely.
We were fortunate to have Mr. Connor Hadel, Technical Director for all theaters in the Palm Beach County School district, present at the meeting. His expertise provided valuable insight, and he outlined two potential paths forward:
- Replace the entire lighting system at an estimated cost of $200,000 to $300,000
- Retrofitting the existing system for approximately $100,000.
Perhaps prophetically, the Broward County School Board recently approved an invitation to bid (ITB26-061) for "Theater Dimming Racks and Related Stage Lighting Equipment", with funding up to $200,000 for South Plantation High School, which may help offset some of the anticipated costs.
Mrs. Reis assured attendees that she will work closely with Mr. Harris to explore how to access this approved funding and get our stage lighting back up and running. While the immediate outlook may be less optimistic than initially hoped, Mr. Harris remains committed to the long-term vision for the theater program, including plans to debut his first mainstage musical in March 2026. In the meantime, Mr. Harris is looking at alternatives to a fall mainstage production that will still provide students the opportunity to exercise their creativity and explore their love of the theater arts.
Recognizing the potential for funding gaps, the Friends of the Theatre (FOTT) is mobilizing and will initiate fundraising efforts to support the theater’s upgrades. Our collective goal is to ensure that our students have access to a high-quality theatrical environment, fostering their growth and success. We hope you will be part of this through your time, your donations or both.
Thank you for your continued support of the theater arts at South Plantation High School. Together, we can work toward restoring our theater facilities and ensuring an exceptional experience for generations to come.
