The TASIS School in Dorado officially inaugurated its new Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Thursday, November 19. More than 500 parents, friends, and supporters attended the gala event, in which students of all ages in the PPK to 12th grade school performed a variety of musical and theatrical pieces. Following an intermission and dinner, the seats of the theater were retracted and guests danced to the music of “Sin Prisa.”
With a seating capacity of 528, the TASIS Dorado Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a state-of-the-art venue, designed by architect Otto Reyes. Acoustical engineers, led by Eduardo Cortés of the PRISA Group, constructed an aural environment suitable for concert orchestras, musicals, chamber music, a Capella music, lectures and more, supported by sound and lighting features to enhance any performance. The stage has a removable front platform, revealing an orchestra pit for 30 musicians and a double-height fly space for scenery and curtains. Its 528 cushioned seats are part of a telescoping system that retracts to provide a clear floor space of over 4,200 sq ft—perfect for exhibitions, dances and many other activities. The back of the house includes two fully-equipped dressing rooms, scenery workspace, loading dock and a full-featured control booth. The PAC will be a jewel in the Greater Dorado area and an important cultural and artistic venue for the community.
Artist Eric Tabales designed a special sculpture at the entrance of the PAC, where donor names will be inscribed. The sculpture is based on the majestic ceiba that was planted at the entrance of the school. Already, donors have given more than $280K towards the PAC and the school’s financial assistance fund, in large part thanks to the outreach efforts of Lourdes Solares and her team of volunteer parents. These benefactors will be recognized on the trunk, branches, and leaves of the tree, creating a lasting legacy of their partnership in growing TASIS Dorado.
Headmaster Tim Howard congratulated the entire school community for working together to achieve the addition of the theater to the campus. He commented, “The future is bright for our wonderfully creative students and the PAC’s potential role is huge. It is sure to be the setting for many memorable events in the lives of our children and community.”