Last show wraps in school theater before renovations

Students at a local school wrapup their last theater production at Lanman Hall at Catholic Central High School in Steubenville before it will be fully renovated next year.

Bishop Mussio Junior High School put on a show adaptation of Disney's "Aladdin" for a two-day production Friday and Saturday. It was the last show before the theater gets a makeover in January. Show director Helena Muckle, who also teaches at Bishop Mussio, said the theater group will benefit from the improvements, especially after expanding their show budget.

"We first started out five years ago with a budget of about $600, a very minimal set," said Muckle. "This year, we spent about $6,000 on costumes and the set. We bought everything from scratch."

In January, Lanman Hall will have new rigging, curtains and a new lighting system. The current stage and production systems have been there since the 1960s.

With new horizons coming for the stage life, the young actors who performed in "Aladdin Jr." said they're excited about it.

"There's no A/C and you get really hot in your costumes," said Jacob Rigaud, who played Aladdin. "I just want lights to be digital and used by digital stuff."


Muckle said the theater had a several thousand dollar sound system installed by the opening night of their production, so the actors had the chance to test it out.

"I think it's going to be great. I'm just excited from of it because we already have a sound system," said Anna Luther, who played Jasmine. "It sounded amazing from a distance."


Muckle said the old auditorium seats are being sold at $200 to raise fund to replace them. People who purchase a seat can have the new chair engraved and dedicated.