Performing Arts Campaign

Over the years, the TASIS Theater Department has performed miracles. Not just in terms of the productions it has staged, but also in its ingenious use of the humble facilities available on campus. As the lights have gone down, audiences have been so transfixed by the caliber of students' performances that they have endured the often crowded and uncomfortable setting in which the productions have taken place. Therefore, although the ‘temporary' space used to date has served the school well over the past thirty years, what with increased enrollment and an ever bourgeoning drama program, the time had come to construct a theater which reflects the importance of the dramatic arts at TASIS. In the words of Theater Director, Kay Hamblin, “We have a thriving program. Our students love to act. They need a stage. TASIS needs a theater”.

The Main Criteria
The main criteria for the new TASIS Theater are:

1. To support curricular and extra-curricular needs
2. To utilize existing space on campus for this critical expansion
3. To provide high quality acoustics and technical areas, plus enhanced seating capacity
4.  To create a space of aesthetic beauty and considered functionality

The Features
This project, led by award winning (for the M. Crist Fleming Library) architect, David Mayernik, aims to create synergy between the theater and those buildings adjacent to it, not to mention the unique, picturesque surroundings of Lake Lugano.

Through the construction of a 5.5m high (18ft.) auditorium, with 8 rows of seats accommodating approximately 135 spectators, the theater will provide enough space for at least 40 students on stage for each production. In addition, two technical galleries or catwalks will allow access to a lighting/technical area, and two levels of support spaces will provide changing areas, costume and prop storage, a green room, and a theater department office.

Moving Forward
The critical combination of David Mayernik's prudent planning and artistic know-how is what makes the Palmer Cultural Center the beatiful functional building that it is. Without the help of our alumni and friends, however, this undertaking would not have been possible. View a gallery of images from the Palmer Center construction site.

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