San Rafael High School in Marin County, CA, is in the midst of an extensive renovation, and part of it is a major upgrade to the production systems of its Hayes Theater—thought to be the oldest theater in the county. LVH was awarded the contract for the rigging and lighting work.
One condition, however, made our work more difficult: the walls could not be touched! Why? Graduating seniors find space on the walls to write their names and a list of their shows. So, the walls tell the history of the playhouse, and no one wants to lose that.
The renovation actually became a community project, when the bond money covered only slightly more than required structural upgrades. So, a group of parents and community members created the Hayes Theater Committee, raising funds for new lighting and sound equipment. They also sold chair plaques to pay for the new seating, raising a total of $60,000, the most ever raised by a volunteer group for anything at San Rafael High School.
