School enables state-of-the-art

When some people think of school plays and recitals, visions of mothers piecing together costumes before their children take the stage in the school auditorium, or someone’s son or daughter playing the guitar using dad’s old amp at a school talent show come to mind.

But imagine children dressed in green suits to create computer-generated images through green screen technology for a film. Or instead of playing through an amp, a choral group is mixed with instrumental music performers who blast their harmonies through a Meyer Sound System with customized acoustics and assisted resonance.

Well, Sage Hill School doesn’t want parents and students to just imagine that reality. Rather, the school is bringing it home to its school with a new art studio — simply dubbed The Studio at Sage Hill — set to open fall 2009.

Sage Hill School, a non-denominational private school for freshmen through seniors in Newport Coast, broke ground on the project this year and is looking forward to the expansion project that will allow arts to flourish at the campus.

“One of the things I have found exciting is that one discipline does not stand by itself, but it is a collaboration,” said Sage Hill Chief Operating Officer Diane Shank.

One of the intriguing aspects of The Studio is its “living exhibit” design. Windows and passageways are designed to allow visitors and other students to see the action within classrooms.

“It is not just a classroom — [students] sit in by themselves and learn,” Shank said. “People are encouraged to look in and see what is going on. It is part of what we do as a whole.”

The project will cost about $18 million and will be paid in part by a $19 million bond sold by the school. The studio will house existing programs for art, theater, choral and instrumental music and dance in the 31,000 square foot, two-story facility. Two new programs will also be added as a result of the building: film/video and ceramics.

Previously, performances by Sage Hill had been done off site, at surrounding schools or facilities, or in past years in a large white tent built at the school. But once complete, the studio can push the tent to the shed. After all, it will add a state-of-the-art, 300-seat black box theater.

Flexible to adjust to various needs, the theater’s seats can maneuver to create different theater styles. Bleachers can roll out to create a more traditional stage, or they can be pulled back to create a theater-in-the-round — a theater where the audience surrounds the stage. The seats and stage can be moved around more to create a thrust stage, which extends into the audience on three sides while keeping its upper backstage connected.

Technology also plays a part in the theater experience, as well as classrooms.

Acoustics were heavily considered in all areas to allow for maximum use in film and music.

In the theater, computerized settings can change the acoustics in the building to suit a choral show, a stage play or a jazz concert.

“Students will be able to gain not only from performances, but they will also have the educational aspect in learning how to set something up because the building is right here,” Shank said.

FAST FACTS

WHAT: The Studio at Sage Hill

SIZE: 31,000 square feet

COST: About $18 million

ANTICIPATED OPENING DATE: fall 2009

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.