PUSH ON FOR TRUE ARTS VENUE.

Byline: Carolyn Sinclair Special to the Daily News

SIMI VALLEY - Kelly McGowan, a 17-year-old performing arts senior in Simi Valley, puts body, voice and soul into her school dance performances, choir concerts and drama productions.

All she lacks is a place to shine.

``We're holding shows in the cafeteria,'' McGowan said of facilities at the Santa Susana Performing Arts and Technology Magnet High School. ``At one dance concert, I had to dance off the stage because there's not enough space for all of us.

``We have potential to put on high-quality shows, but we don't have the facilities,'' she said.

In November, the school board may decide whether to place a bond measure on a March ballot, and whether a $10 million to $20 million theater would be among the projects funded.

In the meantime, students and supporters are devoting their efforts to raising money and awareness for the project in the community. Sue Martinez has had two children graduate from Santa Susana and is president of the Performing Arts Center Team, a group of community members pushing for the center.

``The students that come to Santa Susana are outstanding talents,'' Martinez said. ``They're singers, dancers, actors and comedians. We're the only magnet performing arts school (in Ventura County) and the current facility is inadequate.''

Just Saturday, students had scheduled a ``Night Under the Stars'' gala, which included performances by current and former students, some who have gone on to become professionals and sign recording contracts.

PACT is also organizing a golf tournament to raise funds, and members hope to attract corporate sponsorship.

Brian Neiens is a graduate of Santa Susana High and an active member of PACT.

``I'm supporting my friends and helping the community,'' Neiens said.

``Santa Susana has a lot of talent and people could see the talent more with a PAC (performing arts center). If we had a state-of-the-art theater, this end of the county could really shine.''

Robert Thompson, principal of Santa Susana High School, concedes the project is expensive, especially in a time of budget difficulties.

However, Thompson and PACT members agreed that a state-of-the-art theater would benefit the entire community in Simi Valley.

``A facility built here is more than just a high school facility,'' Thompson said. ``It's for the whole community. We envision going far beyond Santa Susana. It would be used by Royal High and other schools, and we'd encourage that. It would be an additional point of focus for arts and culture, an exciting complement to the (Simi Valley) Cultural Arts Center.''

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(color) Santa Susana High School students perform a student-choreographed work in a spring competition. Parents and officials want a true performing arts venue built locally.