RENOVATION OF AUDITORIUM AT CHS SOUGHT

After nearly 40 years, the auditorium at Cape Girardeau Central High School is slated for a facelift.

The project calls for replacement of approximately 900 seats in the auditorium. In addition to replacing the seats, the project includes replacing stage curtains and adding carpet in the aisles and the front and back of the auditorium.

The entire proposal will be funded by donations. Basically, patrons are being asked to pay the cost of refurbishing one or more of the chairs.

Steve Lukens, an English and drama teacher at Central High School, is heading the project, which he said will cost about $90,000.

"This is the largest privately funded project in the history of Cape Central High School," Lukens said. "And every dollar donated goes directly to refurbishing the theater; there are no overhead or administrative costs.

"We think this is the kind of project for the year 2000, getting the community involved," Lukens said. "We are producing a mailing list of graduating classes, businesses, theater patrons.

"This project is needed," Lukens said. "The whole project has been in the works for two or three years. We really put this thing together this summer. We found a company to do the chairs. The company did the Fox Theater in St. Louis."

The auditorium was built in the 1950s. Upholstered opera seats in green and gray matched the color of the curtains and walls.

In 1976 a portion of the seats in the front of the auditorium were replaced with gold, plastic seats.

"The stage curtains went in in 1974," Lukens said. "Stage curtains take a lot of abuse."

Lukens said the upholstered seats, although nearly 40 years old, are good seats in need of repair. "The company said these are the best chairs they ever made," he said.

The seats will be refurbished inside and out, Lukens said. They will be painted burgundy and upholstered in a combination color weave material. The carpet will be a little darker burgundy color, and taupe is planned for the rest of the auditorium.

"We wanted to choose a color combination we could live with for the next 20 to 30 years," Lukens said.

One of the green seats has already been finished and Lukens has begun showing off the new look.

"I haul it in my van everywhere I go," he said. "It looks great."

Lukens said the project is called the CHS Theatre Chairperson Campaign.

For $100 patrons can restore one chair. An engraved nameplate will be affixed to the seat. For a $50 donation half of the nameplate will be engraved.

The price will leave enough money to replace the gold seats and do the other improvements.

Lukens said one concern he has heard is that students might damage the nameplates. "I believe that when students have respect for a facility, they wouldn't do that. Right now I don't think they have that respect. But one of our goals is to develop pride in all our facilities. This is one way to go about that."

Brochures outlining the plan will be distributed during the next few months, Lukens said. For more information call the high school office or the school district's central office.