The St. Helena Performing Arts Theatre Foundation, a chartered non-profit organization, was formed in 1997 when a group of parents and St. Helena residents met to discuss their concerns about the condition of the St. Helena High School auditorium.

Major electrical issues surrounding the lighting and heating systems, dry rot under the stage and ceiling and leaks in the roof present concerns. After consulting with architects, contractors, engineers and theatre consultants about making the space usable for students and audiences, it is clear that the building needs more than cosmetic changes or a remodel.

The building needs substantial, costly
reconstruction that could well exceed replacement costs. The research clearly suggests that total demolition of the auditorium and construction of a new theatre on the same site is the most viable option with respect to safety, feasibility, cost and benefit.

Our Mission:
To build an Academic Rehearsal classroom for the Performing Arts (Stage One) and Theatre Space (Stage Two) to replace the existing auditorium on the St. Helena High School campus.

Our Vision:
To be:
A place for our community to join together to celebrate the dedication and diverse talents of our students and faculty;

An educational and supportive environment in which students acquire life-enriching skills, discipline and inspiration;

A happy and productive place for students to enjoy one another's company;

A center for performing arts education offering a curriculum suited to a variety of interests including music, theatre, dance and film;

A technologically current facility where students participate in all aspects of theatre art, including staging, lighting, sound, filming, set design and costuming;

An asset to the St. Helena High School campus that complements historic Vintage Hall.

Our Core Values

Education

The immediate and long-term rewards of arts
education for our students;

Inspiration

Inspiration as a path to knowledge,
passion and a commitment to lifelong learning;

Community

The sense of confidence a nurturing community of adults bestows upon its children.

Our Commitment
To work in cooperation with the St. Helena Unified School District to raise the funds and engender the public support that will allow us to realize our Mission and Vision.

Project Details: Q/A

Q: Why do we need a classroom?

A: Despite an award-winning choral program that has spanned thirty years under the direction of our amazing choral instructor, Craig Bond, St. Helena's High School students have never had a music classroom. After three decades, the time has come to honor and support our students and faculty with an educational facility that is specifically designed for music education as well as dance and theatre.

Q: Why do we need a new theatre?

A: The existing theatre is in serious disrepair. Built more than fifty years ago, the St. Helena High School auditorium has never been modernized and is in very poor condition. The roof leaks and both the building and the stage have extensive dry rot.

The auditorium lacks modern heating and cooling systems and without climate control, students, faculty and audiences shiver from winter drafts and swelter in summer. In fact, when the building becomes overheated, the stage lights turn themselves off -- mid-performance! Many of the auditorium seats are damaged to the point of being uncomfortable or broken completely.

Our architectural and engineering studies indicate that renovation of the building would be very costly and would still leave the school with a mediocre auditorium and without classroom and teaching support space.

The recent bond funding was not sufficient to address the buildings deteriorating condition over time.