ARTS CENTERS EAGERLY AWAITED.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Drama and music teachers and administrators have been doing some overdue dreaming as plans progress to build performing arts centers at Canyon and Saugus high schools.

``Each school has different facilities currently in use. We wanted to hear from the staff: What do they want to change and what do they want to keep?'' said Leslie Crunelle, assistant superintendent for educational services for the William S. Hart Union High School District.

The difference in size and configuration reflect when the schools were built. When Hart High was built in 1954, full-size theaters for high schools were standard.

When Canyon was built in 1968, the theater requirement was no longer on the books. Saugus, built in 1975, was able to dedicate a large classroom space to drama and installed raked seating. In 1994, Valencia High opened with a 300-seat auditorium, the largest the state allowed.

Crunelle said that state funding for multiuse space is available, which is why flat-floored performing space is being considered. Each facility will include a raised stage, but seating would most likely be upholstered chairs on a carpeted, expandable and moveable base.

According to Crunelle, plans for Saugus High include renovation of

the choral and band rooms, with space for the dance team and cheerleading program. The current E Building theater will be renovated for use as a larger classroom or conference center. A new building specifically dedicated to performing arts would house a stage, drama classroom and dressings rooms, dance area and technical facilities.

After the completion of the two centers, the auditorium at Hart High School will remain the largest, with a capacity of 792. Canyon and Saugus will have 650 seats each.

Meanwhile, the dreamers are thinking out loud.

``I hope it has fly space,'' said Marilyn Pilkey, drama instructor at Canyon High. ``It was so fun to drop in special effects and scenery when we did 'West Side Story' at Hart High. We'd like backstage dressing rooms and a laundry room and showers and permanent cushy seating. That's our dream.''

Canyon Principal Bob Messina said that the performing arts teachers at his school have had to work around a lot of shortcomings and hopes their patience holds out.

He said that the plan is to take the building currently being used for the choir, band and theater and reconfigure it into a video and media center in summer 2005. Messina was cautiously optimistic about demolition or construction actually starting on schedule.

``Performing arts is one class you can't replicate in just any room like math or English,'' Messina said. Canyon's new performing arts center will house the theater department, choir and band programs.

Messina said that until modernization is complete, both schools will be working with make-do theaters that may restrict what students can produce.

Crunelle suggests that parents help out.

``If parents want to organize and start a foundation for the performing arts center, that would be great. We can guarantee that there will be needs that cannot be met,'' she said. ``No matter what our budget is, it won't be enough to do everything that everyone wants.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com