North High launches theater with 'M*A*S*H'

Students performing in the production of "M*A*S*H," which opens at Fargo North High this week, are thrilled to be part of the historic opening.

The play will be the first full production in the school's new $2.1 million theater.

With 670 seats and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, the facility is a big change from the old theater that closed two seasons ago. To accommodate construction, last year's musical and drama productions were moved to Ben Franklin Junior High.

"We've worked so hard," said senior Nicky Fritz who plays Janice in "M*A*S*H." "Performing in this theater is a good reward for adapting to the circumstances of the past three years. We've waited a long time for this."

The theater is just one part of a nearly $11 million remodeling and construction project at Fargo North High that has taken 18 months to complete.

Space has been added for the theater, music programs, a library and more classrooms for family and consumer science. Wall coverings, floor coverings and lights were replaced. A cardiovascular lab and new locker rooms were built.

"Everybody's extremely happy with the changes," said Principal Andy Dahlen. "It's really nice to have new surroundings."

Finishing touches are still being made to some of the areas, Dahlen said. A couple of other projects will be completed during the next year.

The new theater is among the project's highlights. The room, which is designed for both drama and music performances, was used for the first time earlier this month for a choir concert.

"The acoustics are great," Dahlen said.

The "M*A*S*H" production will showcase many of the theater's other amenities.

Stage lights are easily accessible from wide catwalks, which makes them easier and safer to arrange during productions, said Donald Kress, technical director. In the old theater, students climbed ladders to hang lights.

An open orchestra pit on the floor, or what Kress calls a "floorchestra" pit, will benefit the school's spring musical.

The new wing also boasts dressing rooms, a scene workshop and a black-box theater, a room used for drama classes.

"There's a lot of flexibility to the space," Kress said. "It was designed not only for what we do now, but for what we may want to do in the future."

The new amenities benefit learning, said Bill Lucas, director of M*A*S*H. Although acting can be taught anywhere, it's difficult to teach technical skills when the light board is out of date, he said.

But more than that, the new space has energized students, he said.

"It gives them a sense that what they're doing has worth," he said. "In our society, you spend money on things that are important to you. By supporting a wonderful theater, the school district says it's important."

The construction project had a tumultuous start when cost estimates came in more than $2 million over budget.

Initially, the School Board cut the scope of the project to meet budget demands.

After parents and a citizens group led by board member Paul Meyers complained, most of the features were reinstated.

"We needed to make some adjustments and some things changed, but we have a functional facility," Dahlen said.

For drama students, the new facilities have been nothing short of finding the Holy Grail, Lucas said.

But some of the students old traditions have gone by the wayside, said senior Cole Benz, who plays Duke in M*A*S*H.

In the old theater, students painted a block on the "drama wall" to commemorate each show. Students ate meals together there -- food isn't allowed in the new theater. And a co-ed dressing room meant that while students dressed in bathrooms, they bonded while getting their make-up done.

Those things will be missed, Benz said. "But we have a brand new start here."

It's a place for new traditions to take root.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Erin Hemme Froslie at (701) 241-5534