USD 408 performing arts center opens before storm hits years ago
Sports reporter
Jim Hefley walked into the new Marion-Florence USD 408 performing arts center Monday and summed it up in one word.
"Wow."
All he had seen was the lobby.
Hefley was one of hundreds of Marion residents who attended an open house for the building, one of two, along with an indoor pool/gymnasium, passed in a bond election during April 2006.
It was now open to the public, and was supposed to house the Marion High School Christmas concert, but that was postponed because of inclement weather.
Hefley was glad he had the opportunity to see the building at the open house.
"It's great to have a community come together and make a positive investment for our community and children," he said. "It's almost like walking into a cathedral."
USD 408 board of education member Kathy Meierhoff was glad to see the building completed.
"It's better than what I thought," she said. "It was hard for me to picture what it would look like, but I think it out-did the plan."
Meierhoff has a son, Brandon, in high school, and a daughter, Erin, at Marion Middle School.
She said Erin was anxious for it to be finished.
"She was wondering if it would be done for her concert next week," Kathy Meierhoff said.
Other middle and high school students toured the building Monday, and while they were impressed with the stadium seating and the stage, it was the dressing rooms that seemed to excite them the most.
That too, was nice for USD 408 musical and play director Janet Killough who knows the students will appreciate them.
One of those students is junior Matt Fine, who recently took part in the production of "Beauty and the Beast," the final musical in the city auditorium.
He couldn't believe his eyes when he walked in.
"I was as giddy as a little school boy," he joked. "It seems a lot more open. And the acoustics are amazing."
Although the concert was canceled, MHS activities director Tod Gordon is hoping it can be rescheduled for Saturday, which means it will share the title of "first performance" with the MHS Singers.
While there still needs to be a few finishing touches to the outside, USD 408 superintendent Lee Leiker said it should be 100 percent completed before the students leave Dec. 21 for winter break.
That means it will set empty for a few weeks while the students are gone. Although, it might be a needed rest for all the activity that will abound during the second semester, and as far as everyone involved is concerned, forever.
"It's just a culmination of a lot of hard work," Hefley said. "Marion needs to be proud of what it's done."
Clockwise from top left: A view of the stage from the highest seat in the northeast corner displays just how big the seating area is. MHS performers now will have actual dressing rooms to prepare their makeup and costumes. Architect Greg Tice, wearing tie, stands on stage with former USD 408 superintendent Gerry Henderson and his wife Kathy as they get their first look at the new building. Greg's father Martin, far left, and a Hutton Construction employee look on as well. The acoustic cloud ceiling in the center is designed to produce the highest quality sounds available. The seating in the building will be 550, exactly the same amount as the city auditorium.
Staff photos/Mike Norris
