Allen Theater Redux

After a what can only be described as a lightening-fast summer restoration, Allen Theater reopened today with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Like all projects, this one began well before the doors opened.  Architect Steve Nelson (Berkshire Class of 1963 and lead architect of the Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center) led the design efforts, relying heavily on the collective wisdom of the administration, Art Department chair Paul Banevicius, Theater and Film teacher Jesse Howard, and Music teachers Clive Davis and Tasia Wu.  Project Manager Tammy Zerbe worked closely with Head of School Mike Maher and Assistant Head of School Bill Clough to make sure the project stayed on schedule, no easy task considering the short turn-around.  Bill Clough is pleased with the result: "This was a team effort, no question about it.  A lot of people had a voice in the design, and while we didn't agree on every detail, I can say without hesitation that this was a collaborative effort.  The design was complicated, in part because the space has two functions, as a theater and as a space for meetings and assemblies, but we kept coming back to this simple question:  how can this space best serve our students?  When you do that, it's easier to focus the effort and, in some strange way, the space tells you what it should be.  It was great to see everyone in there for the first time today."  Mike Maher opened today's meeting by inviting head prefects Kienan Brownrigg '12 and Corey Wisnowski '12 to cut the ribbon.  After he gave the first talk in the new space, the prefects led the community in a rousing rendition of the school hymn, All Hail to Berkshire.