Over the past weekend, East Theatre premiered its production of “Airness” at Bednarcik due to the closure of the Performing Arts Center (PAC).

Kathleen Belovsky is an English teacher and tech director at East Theatre, guiding students through the creation of the sets for the show.

“We accept the challenges and we get it done, because that’s who we are as a theatre family,” Belovsky said.

For around two months, East’s PAC has been closed for repairs related to the fire-retardant sealant. This forced the theatre program to reevaluate where its fall show would occur, choosing Bednarcik Junior High.

Senior Joseph Bocik has been part of East’s theatre program for the past three years as a crew member.

He said that there were a few complications with having the show at Bednarcik instead of at East. The majority of equipment had to be loaded onto trucks and taken to Bednarcik to practice and perform. There was also a recent band concert at Bednarcik that forced them to take down their props and sets, then put them back up the day of the first performance. There was a lot of logistical planning to make sure the production went smoothly in such a short time.

The communication about the closure of the PAC may not have reached everyone, confusing some about where the show would take place.

“Not everyone knew that it was going to be there,” Bocik said.

Not having the PAC available affects not just East’s theatre program. The band program, choir program, and even general presentations school-wide utilize the PAC to complete their tasks. As the repairs to the PAC progress, East Theatre looks towards its next show, hoping the PAC will be open.

East Theatre is confident that even if the PAC does not reopen in time or if other challenges are encountered, they will be able to make their next show, “Heaven Can Wait”, possible.