'It's a theater!' Public gets to see completely refurbished GHS auditorium
Goshen. Hundreds of former students, parents of former students, teachers, both current and retired, and many members of the community filed in to take a look at the newly rededicated Roy Reese Auditorium.
“It looks like a theater, it feels like a theater, we can certainly call this a theater!”
Those were part of the opening remarks from Goshen School District Superintendent Daniel Connor at last Friday’s rededication of the new renovation now known as the Roy Reese Auditorium. Hundreds of former students, parents of former students, teachers, both current and retired, and many members of the community filed in to take a look.
Connor thanked the multitudes involved in the project, from board of education members to administrative support staff, from the teachers involved in project design and those who were forced to rearrange their daily existence while the auditorium space was under construction. He also praised the architects and designers from LAN Associates, one of the main contractors for the district’s current capital improvement projects.
The interim high school principal, Thomas Heinzelman, said he “happened to be standing next to Mr. Reese when he first observed his name above the front entrance to this magnificent auditorium. To say that he was overwhelmed would be an understatement. I actually noticed a tear of joy in his eyes. The naming of this beautiful auditorium in his honor is a testament to the countless hours, days, weeks, months and years that he has devoted to the students and advancement of the performing arts.”
Former stage crew members Nick Bechard, GHS ’07, and Morgan Cummings, GHS ’11, highlighted the intensity and sense of commitment to perfection that Reese instilled in stage crew members. They said they felt that they owed Reese for the many valuable life lessons he taught them all while changing light filters or adjusting light positions for the umpteenth time. Patience, preparedness, kindness and sympathy were among the values they felt they took away from their experiences with Reese.
Raising Superman
At the onset of the demolition and subsequent renovations, GHS technology teacher Joseph Fedor had purchased a time-lapse camera and mounted it inside the auditorium. As the finishing touches were put on the interior work, Fedor and Kim Longo, the instrumental music teacher, set about editing it, adding individual photos they had both held onto over the years. They created an eight-minute video with music that encapsulated the transformation from an auditorium built in 1976 to a performing arts space outfitted for the 21st century. Fedor himself is a GHS graduate and has been the recipient of Roy Reese’s mentorship, first as a student and then in his career as a GHS teacher and advisor to the stage crew. Fedor told the audience he learned from Reese was “how to dream in color -- 16,777,216 different colors to be exact -- and that anything is attainable with dreams and hard work.”
Then, using the hydraulic lift in the new orchestra pit, Fedor raised Reese to stage level to cut the ribbon and receive his accolades from the district and local politicians.
The usually stoic Reese was visibly moved as he was lifted up to the strains of the “Superman” theme and a standing ovation. When it was finally his turn to take the microphone, he said how humbling it was to be honored in such a way, and that he was grateful for the outpouring of love since the announcement was made in June that the auditorium would be renamed in his honor.
Michael Aglione, a 2019 GHS graduate, and Caroline Swift, a current senior, spearheaded a petition to honor Reese by renaming the auditorium upon its completion. Reese was impressed they were able to garner 500+ signatures in three days without him finding out about it.
Two of Reese's four children, along with several grandchildren, made the trip up from Long Island and joined him on stage for the ribbon cutting.
The new auditorium is a far cry from the hard, uncomfortable seating and inadequate lighting potential and sound acoustics of the old one.
"The acoustics in the new space are so much better," GHS vocal music teacher Kristen Scully said. "I can’t wait to hear how our student voices will blend and will make their performances even more special.”
Instrumental teacher Kim Longo said “the additional space provided by the orchestra pit and expanded stage capabilities will be important as our ensembles, band and orchestras continue to grow.”
Reese said he simply loved being a teacher. In Goshen, he was called principal, interim superintendent, superintendent, and volunteer lighting director for the 34 spring musicals and counting. But through it all, he was only being a “teacher.” And as a teacher, it’s only fitting that after 34 years, he gets a new classroom, the Roy Reese Auditorium.