After more than a year of waiting, the new auditorium at Thomas Worthington High School officially opened to students and staff with a schoolwide talent show. While many students were excited to finally experience the updated space, reactions to the new auditorium have been mixed. Sophomore Phina Tiller attended the talent show and had also experienced the old auditorium. Although she enjoyed the event overall, she immediately noticed differences between the two spaces. “It felt smaller than the other one,” Tiller said. “I liked it, though. It was just very loud.”
The auditorium was designed to improve the experience for students involved in music and theater programs, but some performers believe the new space has created new challenges instead. Band student Natalia Katomero said the acoustics made it difficult for musicians to hear one another during performances. “It made it harder to hear other people in band, even if they were right next to you,” Katomero said. “The percussion sounded way too loud, and I couldn’t hear anyone in my instrument section.”
In addition to concerns about sound quality, several students have also criticized the auditorium’s appearance and lighting design. Some students feel that the updated colors, walls, and LED lighting make the stage look unusual from both the audience and performer perspectives. “From the stage, the new walls look really ugly,” Katomero said. “The LED lights also make the stage look strange from the audience.”
Some theater students agree that the technical elements of the auditorium still need improvement. Theater member Elijah Wehrle said the updated lighting and sound booths did not meet expectations. “The new lighting and sound booths are, honestly, meh,” Wehrle said. “I hope they make some improvements before next year’s shows.”
Although the new auditorium was meant to modernize the school’s performing arts space, many students believe there is still room for improvement. As more performances take place throughout the year, students and staff will continue adjusting to the new environment while hoping future updates address their concerns.